does anyone have there horses in all yr round??

Is 'normal' one that conforms to a particular persons belief's.? I would agree that if a horse is given no alternative then it will adjust / doesn't know any different. 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.
 
I have one who, for whatever reason, hates being out for more than a few hours. When she came we were warned that she drops weight in winter and we'd find it difficult to keep her 'covered'. I have had no such problems as she has been in for most of the winter and is apparently much happier.

I would end up with three laminitics and a hatrack if I turfed them all out 24/7. My stables, though are all massive and almost outdoors, so they aren't confined quite so much.

None of them appreciate flies and I'm not prepared to leave them out at night, unsupervised.
 
Our two 'main' horses event at affiliated standard, mine did his first 3-day this september. They don't tend to get grass bellies. They only come in to be worked, and are kept fit. The only thing the grass tends to do to ours is to put the condition on them, they actually go without feed a lot of the summer as they don't need it on grass.
As I say, I would be seriously concerned at why my horses could not stay it, be it through the turnout not having enough shade/food/it being a conditioned response. I don't really have much else to say on that. You didnt' say they were bothered by flies..that is of course something that needs to be dealt with. Horses are not humans though, they are designed to be outdoors. Are you a dressage person?
 
Interesting that you think I may be a dressage person, but no I am a showjumping person. My fields offer lots of shade under trees, which in turn tends to be a haven for flies also. Droppings are removed by machine. Maybe they do become conditioned although not necessarily by myself when buying say a 10 yr old. Each & every one of my horses enjoy a romp in the paddocks. But I have never owned one in the last 15 years that did not let you know when it wanted to come back in. Is it possible that if you have TB's eventing this is how you keep them level headed? Also if you are away at a 3 day does this not cause them severe problems with such a drastic change in there management & diet.
 
My boy lives out almost 24/7 in the summer, unless its very hot. He has shade and a fly rug, he loves being out and is more chilled and easier to compete. At the moment, he really doesn't want to be in at night as the grass comes through. In the end though, it's whatever suits your horse, your schedule and yard rules surely? I feel very sorry for horses in all the time though, it really doesn't feel healthy for body and soul.
 
I must admit i hate it when i have to bring the little ones in, but i know its for the best and keeps them healthy. TBH i quite agree that i would be slightly worried if my horses were WANTING to come in. Yes they do canter upto the gate when i go for them but if for whatever reason i go later they are quite happy to munch away. They only come when they see me!!! ( more in winter tha summer!! )
 
Depends on the horse. As we usually have a fatty that means only a few weeks of 24/7 turnout (when the grass is frazzled) and the rest of the year I bring in either during the day (spring and early autumn when the flushes come through) or at night (in the winter). I do what is best for the pony, not me.
 
Would someone please tell me why you would be worried if your horses WANTED to come in. I really dont get this at all. Do all dogs like to be taken out on a lead for a 3 hr walk every day? Does the cat enjoy to be thrown out at night in any weather? If you are a veggie would you want to eat meat? I understand that they are horses but some people go as far as to say dont ride with a stick, dont wear spurs etc etc. Trust me I am not a tree hugger. But I can not see there is any rhyme or reason which defines that because a horse is a horse it should be outside 24/7
 
re:tthe 3 day-he did have to come in increasing amounts to prepare for it, obv didn't just whack him out of the field.
I would not be worried necc. if ONE of my horse 'WANTED' (and I put it in commas...) to come in. if all of them jumped out/were unable to be out for more than a few hours I would be re-evaluating my management. It is not normal for horses to do this.
Ours live in at night in winter due to lack of grazing, (so they can event either way really...) yes they wait at the field gate at normal feed time, but after a short while they wander off quite happily.
 
Mines in at night all year round.

Have them at home now and the donkeys would end up the size of whales while jack would get cold
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Sorry, but we will have to agree to disagree on this one. With regards to management all horses like routine & my management gives them just that. I feel it is far more detrimental to any horses well being to hoist one from its regular routine in order to go to a competition. Not all of them jump out of the field but most do. Why? because they can. You can not expect them to jump 1.50 classes on a regular basis then hesitate because there is a 4ft fence. The alternative is running at the gate etc. coming to a grinding halt on hard ground or sliding into the fence or another horse in the wet conditions. It's just not for my guys thankyou. Interestingly though they have never jumped a boundary fence or into another field. Just the gates that lead into the yard.
 
In Spain the horses were ALWAYS in, end of - didn't bother them, they knew no different.

Over here our horses are in from Oct - Apr minimum, again it doesn't bother them. Current mare would prefer never to go out, she is very happy in and if she is out and gets called, even after 5 mins she is at the gate ready and happy to get the hell out of there - I have to drag her to the field most of the time!

I have worked with all manner of horses and in my personal experience the majority are happy to be in a routine more than anything else, so if that means being in they are equally as happy - am still trying to get my head around the NEED for horses to be out in this country!

ETS: NONE of our horses are out 24/7 even in the summer, they would prob all die of shock TBH!!!
 
So would you mind telling me what you feel is lacking in my management, & what you feel I should do about it. This is a genuine question, not an argument. There are others who have posted suggesting there horses also dont want to be in fields 24/7 I feel it is simply a sweeping statement to generalise that this approach is always best.
 
What i meant was "I" would be worried if MY horses wanted to come in, purely because i would be worried that they werent socialising properly. Its my opinion on My horses and not yours though. I believe the whole thing of horses wanting to come in is really a routine thing. Im sure mine only come to the gate because they want a feed and not because they particulaly want to come in.

I dont think its a lack of management but its just routine for them to come in. TBH before i got the minis i was adamant that the best thing for a horse was to be out 24/7. Now i have been totally converted as i cant leave them out. I think the main thing is that they get SOME exercise whether it be a couple of hours or all the time.
 
My show jumper goes out first thing in the morning & comes in during the afternoon. In the summer he stays out a little later but is always quite happy to come in. He is stables every night. This is how I prefer to manage my horse & he thrives on it.

I cannot understand the obsession that some have in having their horse out 24/7. I suppose it saves mucking out the stable daily?
 
Horses evolved initially as forest dwellers, then to live on grass plains....so it is more natural for them to live out.
I agree that many horses will appear to 'want' to come in but think this could be due to a deficit in the field - no company, lack of food (esp in winter if hay is not supplied), inadequate shelter in the form of hedges/trees/rugs.
My three live out 24/7 all year...including my 19yo TB mare...
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My brood mare, who I show, comes in at night in the summer. Although she is out from 6.30am to 7.30/8pm most days so only a small amount of time is she in.

My 5 year old that is in work was out 24/7 while she was a youngster, however, since last summer when she started in work, I have brought her in at night as it helps me keep her fitter and makes it easier to feed her twice a day without being late for work.

During the winter they are in all the time as the only winter turnout on our yard is permanant turnout (you cant bring in to feed or work) and this wouldnt suit either of them.

With regard to the leave out/bring in debate, I think everyone knows their own horse best and unless a horse is obviously unhappy we shouldn't try to persuade others to do for their horses what we do for ours, just because our horses like it.

I have owned a few horses and worked on a lot of yards and each horse has to be treated as an individual.

One thing that is constant though is the way they thrive on routine.
 
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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.

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My mare is much fitter and more up for work competing from the field. But I accept that she may be an exception!

At home we dont have enough grazng to turn out for more than 8 hours a day. The horses are absolutely thriving and enjoy their time out but are always extremely happy to come in and carry on their routine. Through the winter they may go a few days without turnout and this seems to have no ill effect.
 
I have always done this, but have toughened up over the last three years, and now mine get to stay out for a least a month during the good weather (anyone remember what that is?).
Mine are quite content either way though, it just gives me a break from mucking out!
 
QR - My horse has to fit around me and the facilities offered by the yard I choose. I find when working a fit competition horse it is more convienient to have him in every night, of course given access to the right grazing and companions he'd happily live out all year, but this is not an option for me, I have to use livery yards where turnout is limited. That said I have sometimes swapped them in the summer to be out at night, but only if others on the yard do the same, so he's not out alone.
 
My horse comes in at night all year round. The yard we're on does not offer turnout 24/7 in the summer. I think it's fine and works well for my horse as it keeps the routine (he's a bit scatty!) and has a habit of jumping out of the field sometimes so don't think I would feel very at ease leaving him out at night!
 
Tyler is a wuss and likes his dinner too much to stay out lol.

I did consider Grass Livery over the summer, but have decided against it. I like the thought of Tyler getting his feed and making sure he gets a rest over night.

If you leave him out he hangs about the gate anyway to come in.
 
My boy has to come in at night beacuse of the dreaded
L-L-L-L-Laminits! I hate that word!!!!!

I know ideally they say lami horses should graze at night but this isn't an option for us, he won't stay out on his own so he out at day in at night
 
if i had a choice, my horse would be in during night all year round. If hes not coming in you cant catch him, and yes this is for my benifit, but I cant afford to pay livery for something I cant ride.
 
Yes I do my welsh cob mare has to watch her weight and the dreaded lami at the worst times of year spring etc she is on limited turnout. My Fresian X is out in the day and in at night he is not happy with wet weather and on some days if the weather is bad I have to drag him up to the field. I make sure they all get plenty of time out. Mucking out never bothers me I quite enjoy all horsy jobs. When I take my one week holiday a year my good friends keep my horses in the same routine and I do theirs when they are away.
 
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