During winter to box or live out?

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Quartz

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I keep my horse on livery at my local stables, where during the winter he is boxed and during the summer he is in the fields. I have a large field of my own just next to my house. I bring him here during the summer hols (July and August), as I don't have enough time to get down to the stables with kids off school for 8 weeks. Plus my field has lots of trees and shade which he doesn't get at the stables.

I would also like to bring him home next winter, for the worst months when the arena is too solid to ride in and he gets hardly any turnout as they do not put them in the fields during the winter months. I really struggled this winter with him, only being able to hack and with him being obviously, and with good reason v. v. v. fresh!!!

I think it would be better for him and he would be happier, and also much easier to ride. If I do this though, should I build him a shelter or would he be ok with natural shelter against the elements being rain, wind and snow? I have a little forest area I could fence off for him to get into, but how much space between trees would he need etc.

Hope this wasn't to much of a rambling, and what are your views for and against being boxed or living out?
 
I'm a big believer in horses living out as much as possible. You need to look at the shelter he will have available during the winter and not as it is now! A forest area sounds useful but, if it is deciduous, how much cover will he have in the winter months? You need to be aware of the prevailing winds and be sure that he will have cover against this. You could certainly look at building a shelter, but be aware that many horses will not use them. Providing they are adequately rugged and have the right feeding, most horses cope very well with being out all winter. The main issues are: what work will he be doing and will it mean he is clipped; the provision of forage is essential - it is the digestion of hay/grass that provides warmth so a plentiful, ad lib supply of really good hay will have to be a big priority.

What is his breeding - ie. is he a thoroughbred type or does he have native blood?
 
I didn't clip him this winter, even though he is worked he never seems to sweat too much, even doing the same amount of work as other horses who sweated more.

The forest area does have ever green in there too so there should be shelter all year round, but my concern is more how much room does he need to move around, what if he wanted to sleep in there, should I try and open up a space on the ground for him?

He is a Selle Francais, but there is also Arab in there too.
 
If you are in a position to build a shleter then it is always useful - at the very least it is easy that way to keep hay dry! I would understand if you want to avoid doing so and the trees would certainly provide some shleter. I wouldn't worry about clearing a space in that case though - so long as there is a sheltered spot large enough for him to turn around and lie down and to accommodate some sort of hay feeder, he will almost certainly be fine. If possible though, I would consider the shelter.
 
I would like a shelter and have sent off for some quotes for building one. Just wasn't sure if it was necessary with natural shelter. Thanks for your advice, its very helpful.
 
Mine was out 24/7 with trees for shelter. I did have use of a stable throughout though so brought him in as and when. I would recommend building a shelter though - as above you can always use it for storage.
 
Each to his own, suit the horse not what everyone else does.

Cappy, my lad, is in 24/7 over the winter and end of autumn and beginning of spring. Out 24/7 rest of the time.That suits him, he won't tolerate being wet, cold or out in mud.

Fany loves to be out 24/7 all year round, only likes to come back in for the evenings when her adopted "baby" comes in; otherwise she will stay out even in the snow/wind /rain anything.

So suit turn out to your horse is my opinion.
FDC
 
Quartz said:
I would like a shelter and have sent off for some quotes for building one. Just wasn't sure if it was necessary with natural shelter. Thanks for your advice, its very helpful.
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Basically - not essential but preferable. Good luck anyway - I'm sure he'll thrive as you are obviously a very conscientious owner!
 
I have a 20 year old pure arab who's been with me now for 11 years. This last winter was the first that he'd lived out 24/7 since I've had him due to the fact that his field mate has a locking stifle. I must admit I was a little concerned to begin with, but I need not have worried! He has come through the winter just as well, if not better than he has done when being stabled at night. I rugged him up well and he coped so well with the rain, wind, snow and everything else the weather decided it was going to do!!! There isn't a shelter in the field until next winter, but they had about 4/5 acres to roam around with huge big hedges and trees on 3 sides so had plenty of shelter. Ideally, a shelter would be a great idea, but I would definately consider leaving him out, they cope with the weather (as long as they're well rugged) better than you'd think!!!
 
My two live out all year , I have stables but they are mostly used to keep them off the grass when they are too fat. They do not have a man made shelter but we have proper big hedges all round our fields so they can shelter from the wind and ares of woodland which they mostly use when its hot. Both seem quite happy.
 
My mare lives out 24/7 365 days a year. She is a welsh cob that hunts every week. Fully clipped but well rugged. She is in a cider apple orchard (doesn't eat the apples they are to bitter!) so plenty of shelter & a couple of the trees have branches that hang down to the floor - dry in the winter, cool & dark in the summer.

She has ad lib hay and 2 good feeds a day.
She hates being in and if she put in a stable kicks merry hell out of it.

But at the same time I know of people who have horses that hate going out so all depends on the horse.
 
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