Do some horses REALLY like to be in a stable the majority of the time?

I wonder what sort of turn out the horses who 'prefer to be in' are provided with. I'm fairly sure that my two would soon get bored with a small, square, featureless patch with not much varitiy in terms of plants and not much to look at.
 
FionaM12 said:
I think the only way any of us would really know if our horses prefered to be out or in, would be to have such a set up. Stable door kept open, bed made, hay in stable. My bet would be that in very bad weather or when the grass was poor, they'd use the stable. But if the weather's bearable and there's grass and company outside, most would vote with their hooves.
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I think that most horses would choose to be out even in really bad weather, but plenty would use a stable to escape flies.
 
All this thread has proved to me is how as humans we put our emotional needs upon our animals ie anthropomorhisise.

Those of you saying my horse likes to come in - yes youve made a routine for the horse, it may not involve a bucket feed but it will involve a pat at the very least from you, and usually hay to eat if nothing else.

Those saying ' my horse feels the cold' if it was fed properly, had natural or otherwise shelter available it wouldnt. Also is he actually feeling the cold or is it you thinking christ im freezing, the horse looks like a drowned rat he poor baby quick fetch him in.

As above - what set up is it when theyre out? Single turnout (hideous idea :mad:) bald paddock? Same sex companions? etc etc

How many of these horses kick at the doors, bite the woodwork, toss their heads when people walk past the doors, nip/mouth when you do things with them, are aggressive towards other horses when they are out or stand on their own, have ulcers/windsuck, whinney at activity on the yard etc etc
 
I used to be strictly for at least some turn out, but am really not so sure anymore. My horse goes out for a little while every day but at my yard most horses are stabled the whole time. They get the odd day in the field and they are turned out for holiday for a week or so every year, but I've honestly never seen a yard of happier, calmer horses.

I truly believe routine and sufficient work and a calm environment is more crucial than turn out. The horses get fed at exactly the same time every day, they are all competition horses so work hard (which I think is absolutely necessary if they aren't turned out), they are all hacked out, and they truly are all extremely happy with this little turnout. I was at first very sceptical, but I can honestly say that I've never come across such a happy yard.
 
I have one pony who used to break out of the field and into the stable if I left the door open while riding the horse who actually used that stable. She wouldn't want to be in there all the time, but loves to go in and have a roll and a sleep. Herd life is so tiring! After about 4 hours or so she's ready to go back out. She doesn't care if there's hay in there or not, she'll still go in for a sleep!

The others prefer to be out, BUT it isn't healthy for one of them to be out in the field all the time. She tends to get injuries one after another after another through playing too enthusiastically or running out of patience with the babies and having a go. If she only goes out for the day-time then she's too busy eating grass and she gets her break from the others at night. Then she stays sound and out of pain, still gets fun time with her friends, and is generally happier and sweeter to be around.
 
Fii-ling Festive said:
A lot of people say "my horse loves to be in his stable, he waits by the gate to come in" When in fact they are probably waiting to be fed, as most bring in and then feed, bucket and hay/hayledge.
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Disagree with this!

I had three weaner foals and three 2 years old out together and three brood mares in a different field
When it started to pour with rain and was windy too the mares were all stood at the gate, the babies were tucked under a hedge. I brought the mares in and as soon as I appeared at the youngsters gate they were charging across the field to come in. No feeds until much later in the evening and they are all wanting to come in rather than stay out in wet and wind and mud.

As for horses not using field shelters or stables when they are readily available, this is not uncommon. The only time they seem to use shelters is when it is hot and the flies are bad but get a donkey that will use the shelter and the horses will also be inside.
 
TigerTail said:
All this thread has proved to me is how as humans we put our emotional needs upon our animals ie anthropomorhisise.

Those of you saying my horse likes to come in - yes youve made a routine for the horse, it may not involve a bucket feed but it will involve a pat at the very least from you, and usually hay to eat if nothing else.

Those saying ' my horse feels the cold' if it was fed properly, had natural or otherwise shelter available it wouldnt. Also is he actually feeling the cold or is it you thinking christ im freezing, the horse looks like a drowned rat he poor baby quick fetch him in.

As above - what set up is it when theyre out? Single turnout (hideous idea :mad:) bald paddock? Same sex companions? etc etc

How many of these horses kick at the doors, bite the woodwork, toss their heads when people walk past the doors, nip/mouth when you do things with them, are aggressive towards other horses when they are out or stand on their own, have ulcers/windsuck, whinney at activity on the yard etc etc
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Whatever, we had 160 racehorses, and one did not like being put out in a muddy cold paddock, the others were OK.
 
You said it yourself - racehorses and muddy paddock.

Racehorses have the least normal (for a horse) life possible, so a clear example of being incarcerated at a young age. They're also fed high energy diets, made to run long distances and effectively have every natural instinct thrashed out of them at a young age.

Their diet wouldnt be optimum to heat their bodies being out, they also wouldve been on small paddocks quickly turned into bogs with no food so no point being out. *shrugs*
 
Driving past the fields this evening, in horrible wind and pouring rain, there were horses and ponies of all ages and breeds actively choosing to stand out in the weather, despite having free access to lovely field shelters. Who knows why, but they had certainly made their choice. Personally I couldn't wait to get indoors!
 
One of mine does not like to be stabled AT ALL, the closest she will get of her own choice is to stand with her head under the overhang of the roof in bad rain. Mine live out anyway though, they seem happy like that, and so am I.

I did see one of my mares with a new foal at foot, scuttling at speed up the field to the stables as it started heavily raining, she plainly wanted the foal in out of the weather as she doesnt mind rain normally.

Years ago at a different yard I left the stable doors open so the horses had access from the paddock and I came up more than once to find them all inside...crammed into one box...it was like, how many clowns can you fit in a mini :rolleyes::D
 
TigerTail said:
You said it yourself - racehorses and muddy paddock.

Racehorses have the least normal (for a horse) life possible, so a clear example of being incarcerated at a young age. They're also fed high energy diets, made to run long distances and effectively have every natural instinct thrashed out of them at a young age.

Their diet wouldnt be optimum to heat their bodies being out, they also wouldve been on small paddocks quickly turned into bogs with no food so no point being out. *shrugs*
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Whilst I agree with most of your post, I very much disagree with this "Racehorses have the least normal (for a horse) life possible".

I think as comp horse life goes, racehorses actually have quite a good deal, it's the SJers and dressage horses that suffer the most un-natural existance, particularly those on the continent.
 
Yep, the imported PRE stallions often can't wait to come in. But then in Spain they are usually stabled 24/7 from backing, so it is what they know. And over here they think our weather is rubbish! My boy would loiter by the gate when he was out, looked miserable and pathetic in the rain even rugged, and loved his stable where he would sleep and snore very loudly!
 
Fii-ling Festive said:
A lot of people say "my horse loves to be in his stable, he waits by the gate to come in" When in fact they are probably waiting to be fed, as most bring in and then feed, bucket and hay/hayledge.
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This. If there is nothing to eat in the field then why would they want to be out there? It might look like there is grass but it is not nutrient rich at this time of year.

Mine have the option to be in their stalls or out in their all-weather paddocks. I dot hay nets throughout the paddocks to motivate them to move. When it's cold they want to be eating but rarely stand inside unless it's for a snooze or the weather is terrible.
 
FionaM12 said:
I think the only way any of us would really know if our horses prefered to be out or in, would be to have such a set up. Stable door kept open, bed made, hay in stable. My bet would be that in very bad weather or when the grass was poor, they'd use the stable. But if the weather's bearable and there's grass and company outside, most would vote with their hooves.




Maybe there are a few exceptions! :D
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Sorry i havent read all of the posts but i got to this one and had to reply. I have this set-up, stable door open, bed made up, hay net in the corner and a bucket of water with access straight out to the paddocks. I have an ex-racer been with me for 9 months, 9 yo would have been stabled most of his life. He has a shetland for company, reasonable grass, 1 acre at a time to roam around with some natural shelter and horses in the next door paddocks, and a herd of cows.
Guess what, the only time he brings himself into the stable is in the summer to get away from the flies. The sheltand might have the odd snooze in there from time to time, but the big fella never brings himself in. I feed him in the stable, and groom him in there, but he cant wait to get out, what ever the weather! He does not like being in at all!
 
I think we should credit our horses with some inteligence.

Our little cob lived out 24/7 until we bought her. She has always loved the luxury of a stable once she found out what one was for. In summer she is happy to go out with her friends and come in at night. In winter she has to be almost dragged to the field. She is totally chilled and happy on box rest, whether she has company or not.

The other two love going out. They drag us to the field, even my 35 year old. Once it starts to get dark they are happy to come in, but neither of them like box rest.

If I am honest the little cob also hates rain, water and particularly mud. If the ground is less than perfect she tiptoes everywhere LOL
 
One of mine will absolutely not go out past about the last weekend in October! Try amd make him at your peril!

I moved him to this yard because it was unlimited turnout, and thought I was doing best for him....but some days it has taken three of us to get him in the field, and he will rear and fight to get away, and when he bets away he gallops flat out to hos stable and stands in there!

In tne mornings if I appear with a head collar he will dive to the back and bury his head, if I appear without a head collar he's happy as a horse can be!

However, he DOES have medical problems affected by grass and temperature so he isn't just being difficult for the sake of it, I'm I'm certainly not being fluffy by letting him get his way. Making him go out results in a miserable horse, bets bills (tying up) and other liveries and their horses getting hurt.

Leaving in results in a happy, well behaved horse, no bets bills and other liveries stay in one piece!

This same horse will happily live out 24/7 for most of the year.

My other boy would go out whatever the weather, but will also stand in without a fuss too.
 
Horse on my yard is currently on box rest and does not give 2 hoots that he can't go out. Owners are glad it's box rest and not turn away. As this horse will literally bring itself in when it doesn't want to be out anymore.
Never known a horse to like being in as much.
 
In summary (and I've not read beyond page one) I suppose some horses DO like being in most of the time in the same way that some people sit in front of the TV all day eating chips- Jeremy Kyle optional ;) Perhaps it's what they're used to, or it's a comfort thing, but just because they like it doesn't mean that it's good for them or that they shouldn't be encouraged to go out more.
:)
 
I <3 My Teddi said:
Horse on my yard is currently on box rest and does not give 2 hoots that he can't go out. Owners are glad it's box rest and not turn away. As this horse will literally bring itself in when it doesn't want to be out anymore.
Never known a horse to like being in as much.
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Come and meet my lad! He loves his stable, loves the warmth and comfort and is not remotely bothered about going our in the winter.
FDC
 
TigerTail said:
You said it yourself - racehorses and muddy paddock.

Racehorses have the least normal (for a horse) life possible, so a clear example of being incarcerated at a young age. They're also fed high energy diets, made to run long distances and effectively have every natural instinct thrashed out of them at a young age.

Their diet wouldnt be optimum to heat their bodies being out, they also wouldve been on small paddocks quickly turned into bogs with no food so no point being out. *shrugs*
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Sorry, you complain when they [racehorses] don't have a natural life, and complain when they do.
They would not exist without racing which is one of the top ten industries in the UK, presumably you bought in to the horse industry at some stage, so really you are not in a position to complain about something you seem to know a little about.
Drive round the country with your eyes open and you will see many "loved horses" huddled in a muddy field with mud fever, hopefully waiting for their owner to turn up with a bowl of sugar beet pulp.
Horses evolved to graze on the plains, they were Shetland pony size more or less, so not natural for them to have people sitting on their backs going round and round in dressage gaits, if anything walking, cantering and galloping on a relatively loose rein with no fancy gadgets could be seen as more natural.
Do you really think I would work in an industry which thrashes horses, get a life.
 
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I had one horse who came from an SJ yard she never settled to turnout she enjoyed 20/30 mins then came back to gate and pawed until rescued.Any form of bad weather and she was horrified but was happy to work in bad weather.
She did not like the company of mares but had gelding friends she did get better over the years but never really did turnout properly when injury prevented her being ridden any more I decided not to breed from her as she never would have settled and I did not think a foal should grow up inside so I PTS it was sad as I loved her lots and she was a super mare, I know she grew up outside so not the same as the continental horses who are barn reared but I never got to bottom of it and tried all sorts of things.
 
rockysmum said:
I think we should credit our horses with some inteligence.
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And with the ability to make choices! Captain makes his, he brings himself in if t/o in winter. Fany prefers to be out during the day but in at night. They are both out 27/7 in summer, just different in winter. They have their opinions and preferences and we should respect them as much as possible.
FDC
 
RedNosedFany said:
And with the ability to make choices! Captain makes his, he brings himself in if t/o in winter. Fany prefers to be out during the day but in at night. They are both out 27/7 in summer, just different in winter. They have their opinions and preferences and we should respect them as much as possible.
FDC
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THIS!!!

Humans were evolved to eat mainly meat......some people choose to eat no meat.

Just because horses "evolved" to be outside in all weathers, doesnt mean some choose to!

and anyway, our everyday horses are far from the ones who evolved to live out in the wild!!
 
if it's raining and cold my mare absolutely prefers to be in! during the summer she'd always choose to go out but in the winter it's quite the opposite, she'd much rather stay in the warmth and dry with unlimited haylage than stand in her field

can't say I really blame her ;)
 
MrsD123 said:
Sorry, you complain when they [racehorses] don't have a natural life, and complain when they do.
They would not exist without racing which is one of the top ten industries in the UK, presumably you bought in to the horse industry at some stage, so really you are not in a position to complain about something you seem to know a little about.
Drive round the country with your eyes open and you will see many "loved horses" huddled in a muddy field with mud fever, hopefully waiting for their owner to turn up with a bowl of sugar beet pulp.
Horses evolved to graze on the plains, they were Shetland pony size more or less, so not natural for them to have people sitting on their backs going round and round in dressage gaits, if anything walking, cantering and galloping on a relatively loose rein with no fancy gadgets could be seen as more natural.
Do you really think I would work in an industry which thrashes horses, get a life.
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Im not complaining when they do have a natural life - however natural doesnt exist of badly drained too small paddocks with too many horses churning it into a bog etc.

Im not entirely sure what the point about the racing industry was about so il leave that.

So owners that leave their horses out are cruel? Horses living in are far more likely to develop gastric ulcers and stress related behaviours - dont sling stones from a glass house.

You make a good point about the riding, save iv never seen anything race on a loose rein and that horses are sprint animals not long distance which is what racing makes them do.

Do I really think you'd work in an industry where horses get thrashed - well if you work in racing you do, whether they do it at your yard or not - however my point was that life instinct had been thrashed as in schooled/trained out of them from a young age, not beaten with a stick.
 
Some do, but I think it really depends on what they are used to. I am a manager at a livery yard and it is usually the cob types/hardier types which seem to prefer staying out for longer. Most of the Warmbloods and Thoroughbred types are waiting at the gate ready to come back in after a few hours! (Especially in the winter!) This is probably because in places like Holland most places offer none or little turnout so they just simply don't know what to do and feel safer in their stables. Of course there will always be exceptions to this (e.g a cob which loves his stable and a Warmblood which would happily live out 24/7) but mostly it does depend on what they have been used to.
 
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