FAYEFUDGE
Well-Known Member
My boy goes out during the day and is in at night all year round.
He would get too fat if he was out 24/7 in summer...he is a connemara.
He would get too fat if he was out 24/7 in summer...he is a connemara.
does anyone have there horses in all yr round??
- Thread starter sallypops
- Start date
Merlotmonster
Well-Known Member
I keep mine in at night all year round. Partly because my old horse was kept stabled before I bought him and he feels the cold and partly because I want my grass to last the summer. I only have 3 acres for 2 horses, with a small portion of it fenced for winter use only so I have to look after it. I prefer them in a routine and means I can check them easily at night before I go to bed.
eriskaypony
Well-Known Member
All bar one of ours were stabled every night before we got them. Now they are all out 24x7x365 and they plainly love it and thrive on it.
I'm equally sure if we'd carried stabling them they way they were used to they'd also be happy. Now we only restrict them to stop them getting too fat, but we do that by strip grazing the fields.
We recently did have to keep them indoors over night for a couple of nights. Both times we were almost flattened in the cavalry charge as they headed for the field in the morning and proceeded to gallop round at full tilt for several minutes. This was coming out of a warm dry steading into snow btw.
Granted we have natives and a cob, but also a couple of warmbloods.
I'm equally sure if we'd carried stabling them they way they were used to they'd also be happy. Now we only restrict them to stop them getting too fat, but we do that by strip grazing the fields.
We recently did have to keep them indoors over night for a couple of nights. Both times we were almost flattened in the cavalry charge as they headed for the field in the morning and proceeded to gallop round at full tilt for several minutes. This was coming out of a warm dry steading into snow btw.
Granted we have natives and a cob, but also a couple of warmbloods.
PennywithHenry
Well-Known Member
I haven't had Henry long, but due to limited grass he'll be going into one of the three small 'grassy' paddocks for a few hours per day, then back into the pretty bare paddock for the night with haylage. I'm lucky as his stable opens into this paddock, if it didn't he'd be in at night.
hussar
Well-Known Member
QR
Before getting my Arabs I had a TBx ex-steeplechaser. He came in every night through the winter as otherwise I worried he'd lose the condition it had taken so much money and experimentation with feed to put on him. Also it was a routine he was used to. But in the stable he windsucked, stressed, panicked if another horse went out, went nuts himself once he was turned out - eventually I took the plunge, rugged him up to the eyeballs, and turned him out 24/7 with ad lib hay. He became a different horse. Grew a coat like a thatched cottage, relaxed, didn't get into fights, didn't windsuck, put on weight.
I then followed the same routine with my Arabs despite people telling me it wouldn't work in Scotland - too cold and wet. They took to it like ducks to water. I do serious endurance with the young one, from grass. They don't get grass bellies because I manage the grazing. They don't get mud fever either.
I accept some horses wouldn't thrive outside, but sometimes people bring in at night for their own convenience, not because it's best for the horse.
Before getting my Arabs I had a TBx ex-steeplechaser. He came in every night through the winter as otherwise I worried he'd lose the condition it had taken so much money and experimentation with feed to put on him. Also it was a routine he was used to. But in the stable he windsucked, stressed, panicked if another horse went out, went nuts himself once he was turned out - eventually I took the plunge, rugged him up to the eyeballs, and turned him out 24/7 with ad lib hay. He became a different horse. Grew a coat like a thatched cottage, relaxed, didn't get into fights, didn't windsuck, put on weight.
I then followed the same routine with my Arabs despite people telling me it wouldn't work in Scotland - too cold and wet. They took to it like ducks to water. I do serious endurance with the young one, from grass. They don't get grass bellies because I manage the grazing. They don't get mud fever either.
I accept some horses wouldn't thrive outside, but sometimes people bring in at night for their own convenience, not because it's best for the horse.
reddie
Well-Known Member
I agree with Hussar that some horses won't thrive outside or there are probs with laminitis etc, but that most people bring them in for their benefit. My TB was not turned out on a regualr basis before i got him. Nov to April he's in at night and out 24/7 mid April to Nov. For the first few weeks he spent alot of time hanging round the gate and didn't mix with the others, however he gradually got used to within a couple of months and now knows how to play and interact with the others. He thrives being out. Most horses will adapt to a routine.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Erm, the reason in this country we like horses to be out is maybe because its natural for them to live out 24/7?! Id say if your horse demands to come in you have serious issues which have been caused by how you manage them rather than anything else. No offence, but IMO when people say their horses hate being out the reason is likely because when they come in, they know they get a feed...
Sorry, but keeping horses in really is a peeve of mine, especially when its pointless!! One of mine comes in at night, but for health reasons. The ONLY other times any of the others come in are if I have a show early the next day. Ive kept Anglo Arabs, WB, TB x's out 24/7 in North Scotland! One of mine is a Luso x TB from Portugal who is extremely woosy, take his rug off and he'll shiver however as long as he's rugged up well and fed well then he's happy as can be. He used to be stabled all the time. Seeing my horses playing together, its pretty dreadful to think some never get to do that. Horses who are stabled permanently, never get to be horses and thats sickening.
Sorry, but keeping horses in really is a peeve of mine, especially when its pointless!! One of mine comes in at night, but for health reasons. The ONLY other times any of the others come in are if I have a show early the next day. Ive kept Anglo Arabs, WB, TB x's out 24/7 in North Scotland! One of mine is a Luso x TB from Portugal who is extremely woosy, take his rug off and he'll shiver however as long as he's rugged up well and fed well then he's happy as can be. He used to be stabled all the time. Seeing my horses playing together, its pretty dreadful to think some never get to do that. Horses who are stabled permanently, never get to be horses and thats sickening.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Tell me, if you have all competition horses how do you keep them athletic enough to perform in a particular discipline? Most horse that have grass bellies are usually not that interested in working hard.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry just read this post - OMG. One of my horses does Novice BE and BSJA 1.20s, (ok, not a hugely high level but still) he lives out 24/7. He is perfectly athletic! MORE so in fact because being out means he's mobile so keeps himself fit and supple. Ive heard this comment sometimes that competition horses should be stabled - what trash! No, they shouldn't be kept on lush grazing, THAT is the problem. None of mine ever have grass bellies! The only reason people seem to think its better to stable them is simply because they have more energy because they've been cooped up
Tell me, if you have all competition horses how do you keep them athletic enough to perform in a particular discipline? Most horse that have grass bellies are usually not that interested in working hard.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry just read this post - OMG. One of my horses does Novice BE and BSJA 1.20s, (ok, not a hugely high level but still) he lives out 24/7. He is perfectly athletic! MORE so in fact because being out means he's mobile so keeps himself fit and supple. Ive heard this comment sometimes that competition horses should be stabled - what trash! No, they shouldn't be kept on lush grazing, THAT is the problem. None of mine ever have grass bellies! The only reason people seem to think its better to stable them is simply because they have more energy because they've been cooped up
bensababy
Well-Known Member
couldnt agree more. My pony after 7-8 hours wants to come in - he looks absolutely exhausted and like he hasnt slept when he comes in. As soon as he does hes flat out asleep.
