help needed - winter turnout/hay in fields and escapees!

[ChestnutConvert]

With 8 horses not all ones that can be turned out together, and the grass not growing i'm having trouble with winter turnout.
At the mo they are all happy grazing except one who for the past few days has jumped the main fence to graze on verges. I know that this is a habit hard to stop but fencing all the paddocks isn't a viable option and if poss i'd prefer not put hay out as then they will all have to have some. Plus he'd need a hell of a lot to keep him out from 9-2 as he's a scoffer.

I worry that it either a) winds up other horses and they prat about in the slippery mud or hard ground causing injuries or b) endangers himself with other vehicles that are around etc.

I know it's common to put hay out but is there any other alternative?? If we do have to then obv price will have to go up for them all, all because of one horse.
I hope this doesn;t sound petty just want to get it sorted before it's too late.

 

[be positive]

Theres always one Can you put a run of tape round just his paddock, give him a little hay to keep the peace. I had one that would do this last winter and had a high taped area but he now has a friend and is being good, for now at least.

 

[ChestnutConvert]

He shares his paddock so would have to put some out for matey as well. I think his jump is so good that i'd have to put tape quite far in as well!

 

[Clippy]

It sounds highly dangerous to me If this is one of your liveries, I think i'd be asking them to sign something to say they will assume responsibility for any injuries or damage their horse does if he escapes because it could happen easily!

 

[Enfys]

If I have a horse that persistently escapes or breaks through fences, then livery, or my own, the culprit goes out in the round pen - whether they, or the owners (if applicable) like it or not. Haven't had one even try to jump 6' panel fences yet.

It isn't ideal, but in the interest of safety and harmony that's what happens.

When you say he jumps out to graze the verges, do you mean on a public road?

 

[ChestnutConvert]

It's the verges to the fields which has a track that we ride on but there is farm traffic and other vehicles although it's private land.

I'd use a round pen if i had one!

 

[Tinypony]

Do they have enough grass to eat in the field when they are turned out? If not you might find that your liveries are happy to pay a bit more for some hay to be put out in the winter. I wouldn't see this as being the "fault" of the horse who is jumping out really, they need something to eat, if they don't have anything to do then there will be a risk of fights breaking out.
There are lots of ideas that you could look into to slow down the hay feeding and avoid waste.

 

[scarymare]

You probably realise this but there isnt enough to eat in the field. Not sure why you don't want to put hay in though. If its a money thing then you could put in a bale of straw which they could pick at.

I've only ever had mine jump out when they've been short of food.

 

[forestfantasy]

Do they have enough grass to eat in the field when they are turned out? If not you might find that your liveries are happy to pay a bit more for some hay to be put out in the winter. I wouldn't see this as being the "fault" of the horse who is jumping out really, they need something to eat, if they don't have anything to do then there will be a risk of fights breaking out.
There are lots of ideas that you could look into to slow down the hay feeding and avoid waste.

Agree with this, he's not jumping out and then going off for a wander - he's jumping out to eat so that tells me he's hungry.

The grass has hardly any goodness in it at this time of year but a few slices of hay should satisfy him.

 

[ChestnutConvert]

If he gets hay then so does his field buddy, then ones in adjacent fields would get wound up. I guess i might have to do this although it seems to be a habit now as straight after turning out he tried to jump right in front of me, after waving arms etc he gave up and stayed in his field all day grazing....

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

i would put hay out for them all!!