Does your horse have a routine?

[FleabittenT]

Does your horse have a routine? Do they get 'upset' if it's disturbed?

I've read a lot lately about how routine is good for horses, knowing when feed time is & so on.

Due to my work commitments (I travel a lot), my horse has no routine to speak of, although you could set your watch by most people of our yard

My horse's routine varies week to week. If I'm away for a few days, she's out 24/7 & a friend checks on her in the field. Other weeks, when I'm home, she's ridden most days & comes in a couple of days/nights a week to get her off the grass (she's a good doer). But there is no real pattern to this. Feeding may be any time between 4-8pm.

Have to say, a lack of routine doesn't seem to bother her, she has no vices & seems a healthy, willing & contented little horse. But of course I can't know this for sure.

How important do you think routine is? Should I be trying to make different arrangements to give her more stability?

Just wondering about it all

 

[Kenzo]

The only routine they have at the momement is coming in, tied up, groomed while picking on net, worked, washed off, back in the field, hayed and fed as there still out 24/7 till next month, the new routine starts, that's boyo will take a month to settle (go on his hunger strike and kick the living day lights out of his stable ) until he realises he's back in his winter routine and that's what all the other horses are doing, then he's a happy bunny again.

 

[AmyMay]

Not really at this time of year to be honest. Some days I have him in - but the majority of time he's out.

In the winter, yes. This is the time that the biggest problems occur, in my experience, if routines are upset.....

 

[Bug2007]

Yes......mine!!!!!
Generally they are fed and sorted the same kind of time each day as working full time they are done before work and after work....weekends they are done serveral hours later as i'm not getting up at six!!!!
They are out this winter but when they are in, I make sure they are done at eight on the weekends as I don't like them to be in the box longer then they have to be, but then Friday nigth i'd bring them in later to compensate.

They are happy with other horses being fed around them as they know I feed them no one else.

A horse will fit to your routine. My TB is an ex racehorse therefore used to a strict minute to minute routine, but she has adjusted fine. I find if she has a routine that is too one time she starts getting grumpy as she is expecting her dinner, so I started to sometimes feed as soon as I got there other times I'd pooh pick first then feed, she is now happy to wait until I am ready rather than trying to attack me for food the second I walked to the gate.

If your horse is happy with his relaxed routine then, keep with it.

 

[cobface]

Just starting my mare off into one again seen as the kids have gone back to school. She likes routine, stressy and bolshy without it!

 

[martlin]

None whatsoever. In summer they are out as much as possible and come in when I need them, they are fed their bucket feed whenever I feel like it and are ridden whenever I feel like it, they have constant access to grazing when out and to fodder when in.
In winter they are out as much as possible/convenient for me, have constant access to fodder and all the rest is done as I please.
They never expect getting fed/brought in/turned out therefore don't get 'upset' when something changes.

 

[Rose Folly]

I wouldn't worry too much, so long as her feeds are spaced out to sensible gaps and she's not without hay, water checked etc. for any long period, or in too hot/too cool a rug if used. There can be routines within routines, and animals quickly learn them. For example, our dogs always have a morning toddle about 9am, except on a Sunday, when we go to church. They quickly learnt which day Sunday is, and don't nag for their walk that day. Am sure your horse will cope fine, so long as the people looking after her in your absence stick to THEIR routine.