has anyones yard stopped turn out due to the wet?

[loverly]

Last winter I was on a yard where they weren't allowed out if its raining and if its ok they had to be in by 2pm.

Now I rent a yard and fields so I can do as I see fit. But the TB is on box rest and her companion is attached to her so won't go out!

Normally they're out everyday 8-4

 

[CaleruxShearer]

Why don't people who set up livery yards consider provisions in terms of fields in case of prolonged wet weather? It's not that unusual in this country to have periods when it rains for what seems like an eternity and, in my mind if you set up a livery yard you should have adequate turnout that can be rotated for summer and winter so there isn't an issue of fields being 'trashed' for summer?

We have our own land and 3 of ours are out 24/7 in all weathers. We have 12 acres open up to them at the moment but one field will be shut off come the new year and they will be mvoed to that come March/April when the grass is growing and hence the field they are in now will get rested.

A livery yard across from us that has numerous horse is still turning out every day and they manage their paddocks accordingly.

I don't see why some yards seem to have so many problems with turnout in winter/wet - is it a case of too many horses being kept on too little space??

Although you have a point, for a lot of yard owners having separate winter and summer grazing simply isn't an option. Therefore they are often forced to say at some point that the horses either stay in until its dried out a bit and turnout in the school for an hour or so until it does or they can go out for an hour or so when its stopped raining. It also depends hugely on what sort of land your on. At home we're on clay so everything is totally waterlogged at the moment and nothings going out. However on the other side of the village there's a yard of dressage horses that are out everyday but their fields are on a decent slope thats a chalk/gravel mix so everythings running off it.
As someone has said above I actually haven't turned mine out now for about two weeks as it is just so so wet and I know he'll only be miserable if I do then he'll b*gger about and its just asking for him to get hurt on the ground as it is at the moment.

 

[Rowreach]

Why don't people who set up livery yards consider provisions in terms of fields in case of prolonged wet weather? It's not that unusual in this country to have periods when it rains for what seems like an eternity and, in my mind if you set up a livery yard you should have adequate turnout that can be rotated for summer and winter so there isn't an issue of fields being 'trashed' for summer?
I don't see why some yards seem to have so many problems with turnout in winter/wet - is it a case of too many horses being kept on too little space??

I've said it before on here and I'll say it again - I have a maximum of 12 horses on nearly 70 acres, and we do not have winter turnout (although we do have turnout pens so the horses can get time outside). Living in the wettest county in the UK (well, it used to be) it is simply not possible to turnout on the fields in the winter, and thankfully my liveries realise that.

 

[humblepie]

Our fields are wet but not flooded. It is rather left to us but if they do go out it is only for the morning. The retired horses are going out, those that are being ridden are generally staying in but if you want them to go out as well they can do. On the whole are ex racehorses or hunters who are probably fairly used to spending quite a bit of time stabled anyway.

 

[Marydoll]

I have my own place and have summer and winter fields, around 10 acres for 3 horses, but the weather has been relentless and the winter field is wet and cut up at the gate so mine are only out every day from 10-2 at the moment, enough time to stretch their legs and have a bit of grass, but then theyre in, my field although wet is still looking fairly good and hopefully itll last the winter by restricting daily turnout and managing it in this way

 

[Shysmum]

Some of the fields at our yard are ok, but some are not - I'm quite happy to keep Shy in if needs be (he has his smoking jacket and slippers on during the day, I kid you not, he loves it), as he is ridden most days. It must be harder with TB types though.

 

[miss_c]

I've limited my two to a few hours every other morning while I'm off work. When I go back in 1 1/2 weeks time I am hoping it will be drier and on the 4 mornings I'm in work they will go out, and will stay in the other 3 days.

 

[coffeeandabagel]

Since Christmas day they have been reduced to 2 hours a day - and it doesn't seem to be worrying my boy at all. When he is out he is socialising not eating, and then happy to come in when I call.

Field is muddy around gate and not too bad elsewhere.

Only problem is mucking out, getting haynets and feeds ready, doing extra tidying etc only takes an hour or hour and quarter if I am creatively busy, and its not worth going home for 45 minutes so I am chatting and gossiping until its time to get him in again.

Will take tack cleaning stuff tomorrow instead of doing it in front of the telly at home.

 

[tiggybeans]

My livery yard went onto restricted t/o for liveries quite a few weeks ago as we are on very low lying, clay soil and the horses just trash the fields. They get out for a couple of hours if it's not raining, but stay in if it is - which has been most of the time this week.

While I hate the thought of my horse standing in all day, he actually seems fine - he's ridden every morning, has a play and a roll in the indoor school and goes on the horse walker in the afternoon.

All the horses on the yard seem to have got used to it as they have ad lib hay, are dry and warm and can see each other.

It's not ideal, but we don't really have much choice!

 

[Super_Kat]

My old yard used to stop turnout at the drop of a hat. Glad I'm not there so ponies can now have 24/7 turnout

 

[putasocinit]

Interesting to hear others are not happy when turned out, i thought it was only my two.

 

[monkeybum13]

Interesting to hear others are not happy when turned out, i thought it was only my two.

My mare loves her stable and would happily stay in all the time given the choice.
Yesterday she was out for about 20 minutes before I had to grab her in for the farrier (unplanned visit to replace a lost shoe) and she thought this was plenty long enough out, wasn't too impressed to be turned out afterwards. Diva horse.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Our fields aren't closed, but the farmer does expect us to use common sense. Those who do want to turn out have just been doing so for an hour while they do their stables. I am all for as much turnout as is possible and in an ideal world I would have my horses on lovely well draining pasture with a barn or large field shelter, but it's not ideal and I have to make do with what is on offer. My two are coping ok with this situation - both have had feed reduced to a minimum and at the moment are relatively sane. Hopefully the rain will stop in a few days!

 

[Tilda]

My yard manager actually said the horses can go out for a few hours if we want them to but she wasn't turning out any of the horses she is completely responsible for (eg her own, part liveries). We have our own allocated paddocks (4 sharing maximum) so basically it's up to us to manage whether they get trashed or not (YM does keep an eye though). I poo picked my paddock today as my horse shares just with YMs Shetland who has been out 24/7 and it is actually not too bad and as I know he doesn't bomb around I shall probably turn him out for a bit tomorrow after I've ridden.

 

[mirage]

The new pony is in and being free schooled and ridden every day.Knobberpony refuses to be stabled and the YO won't insist on it because he knows that she'll destroy his stables if shut in.So she is out and quite happy,despite the rain,all the rest are in.

 

[depurple1]

My yard has not restricted turnout, but most of the owners (all part/full livery) have decided to. My horse hasn't been in the field for about a month - his choice. He was utterly miserable in the field. Instead he goes on the walker then out in the lunge pen for a roll.

Last year he was at a yard where he went out all day, every day, and took up fence walking as he just wanted to be inside. New yard let's him stay in if he wants and he is a much happier horse this winter.

 

[unbalanced]

We are still on 24 hour turnout. YO's horses are out and they can't come in because she isn't well so we haven't got anyone to muck them out really - in an emergency if they got sick we would manage, but not for the field's sake. My pony is still out with them - much better for her arthritic hocks and she is happier for it. We have just started putting hay out.

To be honest if the fields get trashed and there is not much grass in the spring then so be it. Last year we had far too much. My pony is the only one on the farm that isn't a really good doer and she has cushings so will need to be on a track anyway. In the spring I will split mine and the other livery's field up to give the ground a month or two to recover, but at the moment the electric fence keeps getting trashed so there is no point putting it out there.

 

[olop]

My fields have been closed for nearly 2 weeks now, more rain at the weekend is forecasted so can't see the light anytime soon for us

 

[Rebels]

I have restricted my ridden (ie useful horses) to living in and they have been for over a fortnight with about an hour every other day out. I had 6 out but as I'm on chalk and a slope it has gone very slippy so I have 2 on box rest, one suspect superficial digital flexor tendon and one has wrenched her hock badly. Those two have had to go into DIY stalls whilst the two retired plus foal and nanny are still out. 7 into 5 stables doesnt go but we are coping somehow. No arena and hacking isn't great ATM so trying to ride at least every other day . funny thing is that some have never been happier, ad lib fibre keeps them sweet, half hard feed rations keeps them chilled and hourly water refills keeps them hydrated.

 

[Lego]

Like a few other people here, my yard hasn't restricted turnout, but everyone has chosen to restrict themselves to some degree. We have 2 horses per pair of fields, and it's up to us how we manage that... Most of us have worked it out between us that we turn out in the morning, then someone gets in after lunch, and someone else does a later check to skip out and do dinners and top up hay etc.

The horses all seem quite happy, and most of them don't really want to be out any longer - the fields are sopping and most of the grass is gone, so they'd rather be in with hay on tap!

 

[Crazycob06]

I am really lucky, our fields at the yard I'm at are in great shape! A little muddy on the track to get there but that's it! They were well rested as not many horses until now. Another girl chooses not to turn out tho because she thinks horses should be rugged and left in, but her horses are going crazy!!! They have loads of grazing available in a mud free field! Most people would kill for that right now!

 

[Hen]

Turnout has been prohibited since 18th December: The whole yard is functioning well without it and we are lucky to have walker and an indoor as well as access to all-weather gallops; I just got a bit stroppy yesterday as I have a horse supposedly taking a R&R break from professional trainng and I really wanted him to get some turnout, even if just for an hour or so a day. Was told today we need 5 clear rain-free days before turnout will recommence so that's R&R gone for a burton, he has to be worked as per normal - but I do understand and TBH both of my horses are used to very extensive periods of non-turnout, up to months at a time; it is the climate to blame, not the landowner. Just disappointed really for my boy, I really enjoy watching him chill out.

 

[kerrieberry2]

if we had enough stables I would insist on them coming in at least at night! but its not an option! so trashing away!!!

 

[Antw23uk]

90% of ours stayed in today. A couple of mares went out, one i dont think should have her mudfever is so bad. Two geldings went out but they were clearly misserable and the boys field is totally trashed so they must have been hungry!

One of the geldings this morning was funny. I was watching the owner trying to turn him out with just a lead rope (she doesnt seem to own a headcollar which drives us all mad but thats another story!!) and he was having none of it and kept making a beeline for his stable bless him.

Mare seemed ok actually and got an hour in the school flirting with one of the gelding who were out

Most of us plan to keep in tomorrow but will lunge in the morning and ride in the afternoon to keep her level headed.

Sooo ready for the rain to ****** off now

 

[spotty_pony]

We've had no turnout at all for at least two weeks now due to the ground being so wet.

 

[OldNag]

Over the last couple of weeks we've had a couple of days per week kept in (horses are normally in at night anyway). Fields are incredibly waterlogged.

 

[Faithkat]

I've left mine in all day a couple of times (normally out during the day and in at night) as it's so wet. Over the first winter I had her (2009-10) I spent around £400 on sorting out her mud fever and I've had enough of that! She was quite happy in on her own, didn't trash her box and had plenty to eat!

 

[samsbilly]

I have been keeping my lad in. He has bee. Ridden or walked in hand and hand grazed though he is quite happy x

 

[measles]

My liveries have the option of turning out and the fields are wet but not muddy as there is a high acre to horse ratio. However, all have chosen to keep theirs in today due to the heavy rain and we have used our two sand turnout paddocks instead. All of the horses can still be worked in the arena and are content.

 

[joeanne]

Why don't people who set up livery yards consider provisions in terms of fields in case of prolonged wet weather?

Awww come on! In fairness this is the wettest year in about the last ten.....and its all fallen in one big spell. You cannot liken it to normal "wet weather"!
Its hard to make provision for the kind of weather we have seen the last six months!