Does anyone NOT stable?

cobgoblin

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Goodness, I must have really skimped when I put the new stables in. Two 12x 14s and a 12 x 16. Sometimes they have to stay in them overnight :eek3:.

Til I read this thread I didn't realise how cruel I was to my poor neds.


I reckon you're OK for a couple of minis :)
 

KittenInTheTree

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I think we all try our best with what we have. But there's no doubt about it ... stable vices are there for a reason. Ideally we would keep them in fields all the time and have enough land to go around. I have rubber matting outside my stables to make hard standing easier on the old joints. I like the idea of opening up the manège for them though to give them a break from the stable and hard standing when my fields are too wet or if I've just overseeded, just want to know if I could muck it out or whether I'd lose half my surface over time ...

From my experience of using a small outdoor school for emergency turnout, mucking out the arena shouldn't be a problem unless there are any runny droppings, in which case you'll probably be too busy worrying about what's wrong with the horse to care about the surface!
 

AdorableAlice

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Well I am puzzled, nothing new I know. How do all these free range horses remain fit, clean, keep their shoes on, and be able to compete when they are kept in a field. I know it is not totally impossible but it must be a real struggle. My youngsters do low level dressage off the field but all have a stable and are taught to live in or out as needed.

The prospect of catching a covered in SH 1T, horse in a muddy paddock to try and get it looking good enough to compete would by my idea of a nightmare.
 

splashgirl45

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there are some people on here who have their own land and can do what they think is right for their individual horses...lots of us are at DIY livery and pick the best we can find which is not too far away in case of emergency... if i ever could afford to have may own place, my ideal would be unrestricted turn out with a large barn for shelter from bad weather or flies which they can access whenever they like.....i can dream!!!!!
 

TheMule

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Well I am puzzled, nothing new I know. How do all these free range horses remain fit, clean, keep their shoes on, and be able to compete when they are kept in a field. I know it is not totally impossible but it must be a real struggle. My youngsters do low level dressage off the field but all have a stable and are taught to live in or out as needed.

The prospect of catching a covered in SH 1T, horse in a muddy paddock to try and get it looking good enough to compete would by my idea of a nightmare.

I find that with enough land and good management the mud is minimal, a good turnout rug with a neck and a hosepipe do the cleaning and horses that live out keep fitter than those who live in. The time not spent mucking out, doing hay and water is spent riding instead- you gain time!
When my mare was eventing we made it to an Intermediate in March. That was a bit of an effort though, the dark mornings do make early times a bit tricky though I can shut the horses on the hard standing if needed
 

Achinghips

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Well I am puzzled, nothing new I know. How do all these free range horses remain fit, clean, keep their shoes on, and be able to compete when they are kept in a field. I know it is not totally impossible but it must be a real struggle. My youngsters do low level dressage off the field but all have a stable and are taught to live in or out as needed.

The prospect of catching a covered in SH 1T, horse in a muddy paddock to try and get it looking good enough to compete would by my idea of a nightmare.

Free range horses? Lol imagines chickens .... I think theses free range horses are just horses in a field with access to some hard standing, maybe on a yard and or a shelter. Nothing special. That means you get minimal mud and therefore save time on field management, stable management, bringing them in and grooming. They keep themselves fitter than they would in elongated periods stabled, especially if you keep the water source and additional feed on the yard too ....
 
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JFTDWS

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Well I am puzzled, nothing new I know. How do all these free range horses remain fit, clean, keep their shoes on, and be able to compete when they are kept in a field. I know it is not totally impossible but it must be a real struggle.

Field kept horses keep their fitness better than stabled horses - assuming a real field not a mud patch - and mine get worked as much as they would from stables anyway. Mine don't wear shoes, so I don't worry about losing them. They do need cleaning before competing in winter, but it's perfectly doable. I've competed mine from the field for years - although I've never been hugely inclined to show at any great level.

I've no inclination to compete at the moment though. They're all feral.
 

windand rain

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I show my white pony from the field successfully It is just a question of appropriate ruggng and a saved clean field for the night before I now have mud free land so it is easier but we were on knee deep clay and still managed to keep a clean bit for the night before a show mostly because the land was managed in such a way as to keep areas big enough for them to not cut it up too much I now am on sloping sandy land which has its problems too as the soil is orange
 

Achinghips

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Well, I turned mine out into the yard and left the arena gate open last night! Poo picking was easy as they went back to yard to do it! Can see where they all laid down in the sand and rubber like horsey snow angels! Brilliant, I will be doing that from now on! Don't know why I didn't think of it before! Might have to Harrow it a bit more often but I think they liked it !
 
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Peter7917

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I'm not a fan of stabling. For a few reasons. That's not to say that I think they are cruel and indeed many horses seem to enjoy their stables.

I dislike routine. I know they say horses are routine animals however I personally think most horses are happier out of a routine. The stress of an owner turning up half an hour late for turnout, or all crowding the gate desperate to come in. I'm just not sure it's what's best for our animals.

Ventilation. I find this a concern. I seem to suffer after having mucked out so can only assume it may have a similar affect on a horse who is in that environment for long periods. Sure we can use dust free bedding, haylage etc but I'm sure that can't be as good as being out.

Lack of movement. I've seen horses in the past whose legs swell after having been in. That can't be good surely.

Lack of socialisation. Seeing a horse in the next stable just isn't the same as having a gallop together or a bit of a groom.
 

MuddyMonster

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I consider myself fortunate as my farm offers 24/7 turnout early March to mid/late November usually and November-March they are in overnight.

It might not be perfect, but it's a lot better than some of the alternatives. At my old yard we had to stable all year round & had limited winter turn out in bad weather - plenty of yards near me have very limited turn out.

My native is good doer and there are times I'll bring him in off the field though & he'll be stabled during Spring/Summer/Autumn if need be.There are the odd occassion it is easier to stable than turn out, so he might stay in.
 

Shooting Star

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Me!

I started with a field kept, tried lots of types of livery over the years having what I though were great facilities of stables, multiple schools, horse walkers etc. but now right back at the start without electricity or a school and I've never had happier horses or a happier me:)

No it wouldn't work on some soil types and I've done more than my fair share of years on heavy clay but now on sandy loam with hacking & schooling on grass miraculously I find my vet loving horse has given up his crush (and very expensive shoes!) and not on my nelly would I swap what I've got:biggrin3:
 

Goldenstar

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Well I am puzzled, nothing new I know. How do all these free range horses remain fit, clean, keep their shoes on, and be able to compete when they are kept in a field. I know it is not totally impossible but it must be a real struggle. My youngsters do low level dressage off the field but all have a stable and are taught to live in or out as needed.

The prospect of catching a covered in SH 1T, horse in a muddy paddock to try and get it looking good enough to compete would by my idea of a nightmare.

I have one who hunts out of the field and properly hunts he's field masters and does a bit of whipping in .
He's happier out and his bedding bills where £10 a day last time he was in in winter .
He's exercised like any hunter on non hunting days and on the day before hunting we bath him plait his tail hair and knot it up leave him in a box with a big bed for a roll and to dry then he wears a snuggy hood if it's muddy the night before .
In the morning we feed him on the hard standing as usual and one hour before we leave we catch him wash his legs towel dry him groom him etc tack up,on the truck and away .
On return he's first in to the wash bay then in to a rolling box in one or two thermatexs we feed him he will usually decide after forty minutes or so he wants out he has a 'after hunting ' outside rug and a fleece that fits perfectly under it in that it does not slip back like most wicking rigs do . Out he goes with his food ATM I have others living out with him so it's a pain as I have to catch those as he likes to storm about having mouth fills of his hard food until it's all gone .
It's his third year of this , shortly he will be alone at night but he does not mind he has a shed which he does use in the worse weather he's a high energy person and this life suits him.
He was in plaster cross tied in a stall most last winter and he was very good although I did need to sedate him when the hounds where around .
He eats a huge amount of hard food three times as much as my others .
Funnily in sumner he's happy in the stable when I what him in autumn arrives the morning get a chill and then he flips to being an outside person .
I have a grey ID hunting out the field ATM as well thats harder work rains forecast for Monday I think he will come in the night before from then he's happy with that he's an easy person when the mud gets bad all but Mr outside will be in at night with turnout during the day .
I think it does not really save much work it just shifts it around a bit the biggest thing is once you are finished in the late afrternoon your finished no late night stables .
 
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Achinghips

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I have one who hunts out of the field and properly hunts he's field masters and does a bit of whipping in .
He's happier out and his bedding bills where £10 a day last time he was in in winter .
He's exercised like any hunter on non hunting days and on the day before hunting we bath him plait his tail hair and knot it up leave him in a box with a big bed for a roll and to dry then he wears a snuggy hood if it's muddy the night before .
In the morning we feed him on the hard standing as usual and one hour before we leave we catch him wash his legs towel dry him groom him etc tack up,on the truck and away .
On return he's first in to the wash bay then in to a rolling box in one or two thermatexs we feed him he will usually decide after forty minutes or so he wants out he has a 'after hunting ' outside rug and a fleece that fits perfectly under it in that it does not slip back like most wicking rigs do . Out he goes with his food ATM I have others living out with him so it's a pain as I have to catch those as he likes to storm about having mouth fills of his hard food until it's all gone .
It's his third year of this , shortly he will be alone at night but he does not mind he has a shed which he does use in the worse weather he's a high energy person and this life suits him.
He was in plaster cross tied in a stall most last winter and he was very good although I did need to sedate him when the hounds where around .
He eats a huge amount of hard food three times as much as my others .
Funnily in sumner he's happy in the stable when I what him in autumn arrives the morning get a chill and then he flips to being an outside person .
I have a grey ID hunting out the field ATM as well thats harder work rains forecast for Monday I think he will come in the night before from then he's happy with that he's an easy person when the mud gets bad all but Mr outside will be in at night with turnout during the day .
I think it does not really save much work it just shifts it around a bit the biggest thing is once you are finished in the late afrternoon your finished no late night stables .
You say in or out. Do you have a middle ground ie., hard standing? .... I think with tha lack of grazing in winter, this is becoming more needed now and more liveries are realising it. Mine love mooching about the yard where I put my round bale, my stables are a bit small anyway. It does save not only mud, but land compression too.
 

Goldenstar

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You say in or out. Do you have a middle ground ie., hard standing? .... I think with tha lack of grazing in winter, this is becoming more needed now and more liveries are realising it. Mine love mooching about the yard where I put my round bale, my stables are a bit small anyway. It does save not only mud, but land compression too.

I won't use hardstanding to keep horses on unless they are say waiting for the farrier by next winter I will have a big shed 40 feet by 15 with either planeings or a old arena surface in front that will be great .they will have access to six acres from here .
I don't do horses standing about in small areas it's not healthy they need work and turnout with space to move to be in optimal health.
 

Hasdrubal

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Our old boy lives out with a shelter and enjoys his life.
Sometimes we get him out to graze on our garden, which is the highlight of the year for him. :)
 

SEL

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there are some people on here who have their own land and can do what they think is right for their individual horses...lots of us are at DIY livery and pick the best we can find which is not too far away in case of emergency... if i ever could afford to have may own place, my ideal would be unrestricted turn out with a large barn for shelter from bad weather or flies which they can access whenever they like.....i can dream!!!!!

I share your dream! Lottery ticket bought for tonight....
 

Achinghips

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I won't use hardstanding to keep horses on unless they are say waiting for the farrier by next winter I will have a big shed 40 feet by 15 with either planeings or a old arena surface in front that will be great .they will have access to six acres from here .
I don't do horses standing about in small areas it's not healthy they need work and turnout with space to move to be in optimal health.[/QUOTE
Yes, they so need space, yours sound very lucky. So many places these days have either in or out with only just enough space for them to turn around when they're 'in' and some places have them in all the time when they are off the fields ... Not healthy at all!
 

meleeka

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Indeed. I wouldn't keep horses in 24/7, other than for short term necessity, and mine live out as much as possible. We're on clay, on a livery yard (not huge acreage) but they're still living out. Realistically, that won't last much longer - when the rain comes, inevitably, they'll come in at night until spring. In this area, on clay, that's about the best I can do. Wherever they are, I ensure they're appropriately exercised, fed and managed for their needs - there are plenty of folk out there whose horses are considerably less well kept, despite being chucked in a field 24/7 all year round...

I agree with this. I have no problem with well cared for, well exercised horses spending time in a stable if that’s the best the owner can provide. I do have a problem with horses kept in a stable day after day with no exercise and no freedom to be a horse. I also have a problem with horses chucked in a field and forgotten about.

Mine live out with access to stables. Sometimes my old girl likes to be shut In to get a break from the other one and have a proper rest. I don’t mind either way so long as she’s happy.
 

rachk89

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I would keep mine out in winter if he didn't lose weight too much, but he does. I actually wouldn't have a rug on him at the moment as he isn't clipped yet and it's not that cold yet for him, but he's grey and I refuse to turn up to find he's rolled in the muddiest patch he can find because he would.

He can't stay in 24/7 either, not even for injury. He needs to have other horses in or he'll go mad. That was a problem we need he had kissing spine but the vets were happy for him to recover in the field as they had seen his tantrums first hand at their stables. He has done it before though but the fields at that place had little grass so it benefited him to stay in for the hay. He knows the new place has lots of grass and he's better fed outside. He's not stupid haha.
 
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Ambers Echo

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I haven't read all 11 pages of this but I have had horses that like being out and horses that prefer being in. I used to believe they were happier and better off out. More natural innit.... Well natural does not necessarily mean desirable. Being hungry all winter is natural! If they have not yet overcome their instinctive aversion to being enclosed, then yes they will be stressed in. But all mine have long since adapted to being in. I had the most nesh pony ever who HATED being out in the rain. He would try to plant on the way out if it was raining and refuse to go. Last winter there was a strangles outbreak and all 3 of mine had to live out in a quarantined herd 24/7 for 3 months. 1 was fine, the other 2 were utterly miserable. They had adlib haylage, natural shelter and plenty of space. They very soon stopped playing and just stood there looking fed up. I used to have very strong ideas about what was right and wrong but sooner or later you'll meet horses who haven't read the scripts or the books!
 

Goldenstar

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No horse should ever be stabled without proper work / turnout unless there's a medical reason it must be restricted .
It's unacceptable.
 

Ambers Echo

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Thought of this thread again today. My YO refused turn out as fields were too wet Sunday and Monday. On Saturday I loaded ponies and headed South for arena eventing but failed to make it due to deteriorating weather conditions - got turned back by police as accidents ahead. By the time we got back to the yard it was nearly dark and hideous weather so they went into their stables. So by this morning Amber had been in 2 days and the ponies for 3. Turned them out this morning. Amber bucked, hooned about, played. Max grazed. And Ginny stood by the gate. An hour later she was still stood by the gate having not moved at all! Lots of people in the past have told me that even horses who gate hang like being out - they are just creatures of routine so they gate hang at bringing in time. But this is not true of Ginny. She's not waiting to come in through habit, she just doesn't really want to be out in the first place! So this is a 5 year old pony who has never lived in before. She was pretty poor when she came to me a couple of months ago and I think having tried the 'natural' life and then having experienced indoor life she is making her preferences clear! I have left her out -it's sunny, she needs to stretch her legs and have a roll and a mooch. But I felt guilty about it proving to myself that frankly with horses I can never win..... I will ALWAYS feel guilty about something or other. In too long, out too long, under rugged, over rugged, worked too hard, not worked enough, too fat, too thin!! Basically I don't really think there are any hard and fast rules about what horses prefer or what is better for them. They are all different and there are many ways to manage horses. And if all else fails, ask the horse.
 

Cortez

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Thought of this thread again today. My YO refused turn out as fields were too wet Sunday and Monday. On Saturday I loaded ponies and headed South for arena eventing but failed to make it due to deteriorating weather conditions - got turned back by police as accidents ahead. By the time we got back to the yard it was nearly dark and hideous weather so they went into their stables. So by this morning Amber had been in 2 days and the ponies for 3. Turned them out this morning. Amber bucked, hooned about, played. Max grazed. And Ginny stood by the gate. An hour later she was still stood by the gate having not moved at all! Lots of people in the past have told me that even horses who gate hang like being out - they are just creatures of routine so they gate hang at bringing in time. But this is not true of Ginny. She's not waiting to come in through habit, she just doesn't really want to be out in the first place! So this is a 5 year old pony who has never lived in before. She was pretty poor when she came to me a couple of months ago and I think having tried the 'natural' life and then having experienced indoor life she is making her preferences clear! I have left her out -it's sunny, she needs to stretch her legs and have a roll and a mooch. But I felt guilty about it proving to myself that frankly with horses I can never win..... I will ALWAYS feel guilty about something or other. In too long, out too long, under rugged, over rugged, worked too hard, not worked enough, too fat, too thin!! Basically I don't really think there are any hard and fast rules about what horses prefer or what is better for them. They are all different and there are many ways to manage horses. And if all else fails, ask the horse.

This is the most sensible post on this thread. (Apart from you feeling guilty - that's not sensible at all).
 

Ambers Echo

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Haha. I know the guilt is irrational. But I just can't help it - especially with so many people around happily telling you whatever choice you make is wrong or cruel!!
 

eatmyshorts

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Mine two old retired boys live out 24/7, & always have. My cob gets very grumpy when stabled (even just at night) & my TB ex-racer box walks like a caged tiger. I've always found, even when in work, they are more settled living out.
 

SEL

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Well I'm feeling guilty about one of mine. Despite the fact he's got the coat of a polar bear he was enjoying his evening routine of coming in and stuffing his face full of hay. Sadly his job is to supervise my mare who needs to be out for the next 2 weeks. She's happy, but he looks a bit sad at bringing in time when he realises it's another night out in the cold with stroppy mare stealing all the hay.
 

laura_nash

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I don't stable, but that is because mine has a dust allergy and is much healthier out and my pony's main job is to keep him company. Its not a philosophical decision. I have known horses that are genuinely happier stabled (with some turnout and daily exercise), and a small group of perfectly happy horses who were stabled 24/7 but in heavy work. Mine is happy either way providing he has food, the pony would probably prefer to be partly stabled in bad weather, he tends to be the one hanging out in the shelter of a tree, but then he wouldn't be doing his job.
 

southerncomfort

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Mine have always lived out 24/7. I had a stable to use in emergencies but never needed it and both girls were a bit stable-phobic.

We've now moved and I have just under 3 acres for the 2 girls but the weather is a bit wild up here at times. I've started yarding them at night with free access to the stables and they have decided stables are brilliant and in fact one of them is very eager to come in at night now! I'm pleased because I think it's important that horses are happy to spend time in a stable in case of future injury or illness.

My land is quite wet and I've decided to turn them out in the arena on wet days to save the land.

I don't have a problem with stabling overnight or during the day but I don't think any horse should be stabled 24/7 except in exceptional circumstances.
 
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