Field kept horses?

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Starskyx

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I am considering putting my horse out in a field that will be ready in a couple of weeks. I have never done this before but she has been field kept 24/7 until the bad weather set in.
What are your views on keeping them in a field? its a very hidden field which was my main worry but after having a nosey today its lovely, only £10 per week and the people who own it live right next to it and can see the forses from there living room/bedroom window!
I don't know what to do really. I've just started working from 8:30 - 5:30 mon-fri and i just wanted her out for a couple of months to get into working a bit as it's all new to me, then by winter when shes back in it won't be as bad.
What do you think?
 
Nothing wrong with field kept horses, after all it's as natural as possible.
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My boy is on field rest for medical reasons but before he was always stabled and rugged at night and pretty much treated like a poncy girl.
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He's a new horse, and has been babied all his life before me. So with the vet telling me the best thing to do would be to turn him out 24/7 I slowly started leaving him out for longer periods. He's now happy as a pig and he's a more horse relaxed too.

I think that as long as the field is secure, and you've got someone to look in on her when you're not able to then there's no problem. If your mare is like my boy, then I'd gradually introduce it or wait until some glorious weather and see how she goes.
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After all, summer is the best time to try.
 
well as it's how they were designed to live I think she'll be just fine.
have a good walk around the field and check for litter, wire and odd bits of stuff that could cause injury, check fencing and gates are secure, make sure there is either water on hand or you can get some there without too much of a trek and you're sorted and your horse will probably be happy as ... well a horse in a field really lol
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I wouldn't have mine any other way and judging by their reactions when they were last stabled, i think they prefer it too
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Ours are, and always have been, fieled kept 24/7/365
If the fences are secure, there are no harmful plants, and there is a hedge or something for shelter, he will probably love it.
 
my girl pretty much lives out 24/7, has done most of her life in fact, i find it serves her very well, she is a very healthy, young looking 18yr old, i love the fact she is out moving around all day and night grazing and in the fresh air, i feel its a fab healthy lifestyle for her and she seems very happy.
I am sure your horse would be fine
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Having the owners overlooking is great, at my last yard we had a large field remote from the yard and rest of fields but it was tucked behind some houses in the village and when we went up there we got a minute by minute account of everything our horses had been doing in the previous 8 hours! Except they didnt know about horse colours or their names so my Haflinger was called Goldie, and then there was Blackie and Snowy etc etc!!

it was great !
 
I prefer to keep them out in the fields for 24/7.... as long as there's shelter in the field and water, you be fine
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Well the owners horses go out there so i think she would have it nice anyway. But if there is the thing of having to take water then the yard is like right next to the field so it wont be hard work really, also having the yard there i think you can pay so much for an hour or something to ride in her paddock so she will still keep being worked!without having to trek to the local riding school and paying a fortune like a lot od horses who have field kept horses do around here! x
 
My ex racer lives out all year round and so did my pony who was well in his 30s with no probs at all, as long as their rugged up suitably. We also have stables which we leave open and hang haynets in, in the winter, when we actually shut them in the stables they absolutely hate it and kick the doors in, their much happier being out.
 
My lad has been turned out since May and is loving it. He does have a field shelter though but I am hoping to keep him out throughout the winter too as his cough was getting bad on the hay and being kept in. This has just about gone since being out, even though he is still on hay...it is so much better for them being out in the fresh air! I constantly check for ragwort and nasty things in the hedges.
I have to take water round a fair bit and manage that too.
 
What do you mean what are our opinions on keeping a horse in a field? Erm, thats where they're meant to be IMO! It still shocks me how many people have to ASK if its ok for them to be out 24/7... You're horse will be perfectly happy outside and far healthier than being stable-bound. The people can see the horse from their window so it sounds ideal.
 
I keep mine out 24/7 all year round, with a field shelter. we have a water bowser which we fill about once a fortnight .
 
It always surprises me too when people ask if a horse can be kept in a field!! Even my mother in laws TB used to live out 24/7, it is natural. It bugs me when horses get no turnout.
We used to have ours in at night many years ago, but they seem happier and healthier out 24/7. They have constant hay in winter. They are all ridden appart from the 2 yr old so they have a little clip and a rug in wnter. They range from 2 to 25yrs old.
 
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