horse doesnt want to stay out in the field

[jnb]

I'm probably going to be controversial here and say, I conditioned my old cob to "want" to come in first, not be out long etc etc. I bent over backwards, jumped through hoops because he'd have a Lipazzaner impression being bought in if he'd had to wait.

 

[doodle]

Absolutely Robin would rather be standing in an area with unlimited food. This time of year the field does not provide food and his stable does. It is also cold and wet to lie on. So yes he would rather lie on somewhere dry which I can’t provide outside but again can provide in a stable.

He never runs out of food in his stable and it is dry so he would prefer that. In an ideal world with a huge field with unlimited grass, with hay provided again unlimited and somewhere dry to lie and shelter he would be happy to be out more. I can’t provide that unless I have lottery win.

 

[Polos Mum]

I had a live out 24/7 gelding - always happy. He then had an injury and had to have 3-4 months box rest. When I was allowed to slowly introduce turn out - he had become agoraphobic. It took months to slowly adjust him back to being turned out

 

[Annagain]

I had a live out 24/7 gelding - always happy. He then had an injury and had to have 3-4 months box rest. When I was allowed to slowly introduce turn our - he had become agoraphobic. It took months to slowly adjust him back to being turned out

Monty spent 5 months on box rest - for the last 6 weeks he was allowed into a small turnout pen in the corner of the field to start adjusting back - we gradually made it a bit bigger. When he was allowed back out in the field, we were terrified of him galloping about so put him in the pen, opened it up quietly after about half an hour and let him wander out. We then shut it up behind him. When he realised he was out of it, he spent an hour trying to get back into it! The others had got used to him being in that general area so paid no attention at all until Archie wandered over. M then followed him back to the others.

 

[J&S]

My ponies are at home and come in at nights in the winter to save the land as much as any thing. I have a little job to augment my pension and, now with WFH, on the evenings I am working,I can take a break at 6 pm and pop down and put them to bed. When I had to go to "the office" I didn't get back till 8.30 pm and on bad weather nights they would be quite frantic. I don't know why they didn't just go and stand inside and wait for me as the stable doors are always open! I don't leave hay inside though as the companion pony is in charge of food and could trap the retiree.

An old aquaintance of mine had a TBx mare who literally could only stand about 30 minutes of turn out. Mine are really stoic during the day and just find the best place to stand out of the wind and rain then pop out for a bite to eat, they love to sunbathe in the winter sun. If I had an extra acre I would let them live out even in the winter.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I have discovered Toby is none too keen on being out for long when it's cold and wet. A couple of hours is plenty. I'm glad he's not the only one as I was feeling bad about him being in so much. But any longer than that and he paces. He is ridden everyday and he seems relaxed and happy. Dolly is happy either in or out. Amber is out 24/7. She seems fine with that but then she doesn;t have any option so who knows what time she would ask to come in if given a choice.