Horse in by his choice, why is that bad?

FanyDuChamp

FanyDuChamp

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Hi
Captain has made it very clear he does not want to go out, he is happy in his stable. If he is lead out he plants his feet and refuses to budge. He will take off the gate to get back to his stable and is perfectly happy, not getting frisky, in there. He gets exercised in the indoor school and is happy. So why am I condemned for giving him his wish?

Do you think all horses should be out or do you allow them some choices? I might add Fany is happily going out everyday because she enjoys it.

FDC
 
I am in the lucky position for my stables to open out onto my fields so I can if I wish leave the gate open into my yard and the boys can come and go as they please. Ali (ginger on the left) will frequently (in all weathers may I add) on his choice come in and stand in. If he is happy, I am happy and it's noone elses business!
 
Yes, while ideally he would be out there are only so many gates in the world and he is happy to destroy them to get in. Seriously though, I don't want him hurting himself just to get me to listen.
FDC
 
Ignore whoever it is!! If your boy is happy in, then leave him in. Some horses just prefer it esp in these conditions. There are certain people who think their way is the only/right way and the fact is they are wrong - some horses suit different "lifestyles" to others!!

(If I was a horse I'd want to stay in in these temps but it seems most of mine prefer to be out in it until about 3pm when they change their minds want to come in! ;) )
 
It's not bad...forcing him to be out when he will obliviously be miserable would be bad...What's it got to do with the PM'er anyway...how odd?

My lad is the same and i'm glad he's like that as today his field mate was dragged across the ice to the field, turned out and has now come in with tendon damage due to slipping over the rutted gateway...and now faces weeks of box rest anyway...at least mine can go out on Tuesday (weather is meant to be improving) if he wants to!!!

You do whats best for your horse...end of.
 
Thanks guys. I am a really confident person about my horses usually but it just touched a nerve because I would prefer him to be out but he just won't stay, is not miserable and is not getting filled legs etc. I think he is just a guy who likes his creature comforts. Bit of a wossy WB.
FDC
 
If he's happy in - then whats it got to do with them.

My YM's welsh cob (who has been at the yard since a colt and she helped break and now owns) is like that. If you put him out he'll jump out of the field after an hour....no matter who you put him with or which field he goes in...so he stays in, with a run in the school when theres chance. He's happy - he plays with his buckets and toys, he gets lots of fuss from people on the yard and licks them to death...he doesn't nip, he's polite when you do in his stable (never tries to get out when you leave the door open - infact not even bothered by it being open) and to be led and his only bad habit is rubbing.

And yet liveries (new liveries - only been at the yard for 4 months or so; like to do things their way regardless of the way the rest of us do things) still make comments about how bored and 'unhappy' he must be, started interferring when the YM went on holiday, they even started buying him thinks like likits with out talking to the YM first. Despite several of us telling them that he is happy and he doesn't particularly like being out. Their responce is usually along the lines of 'thats just because he's used to being in and doesn't know different' But he went out as a young colt - before he moved down to our yard - and one of the stallions got in to his field and helped him escape (I think he ended up on his own in the woods as the stallion then clocked mares) and ever since he's not been keen.
 
My mare has always been quite good at telling me what she wants, she will literally either walk into her stable or nudge the door open to come out. She only likes to be in for a couple of hours just to munch some hay, she much prefers staying out as a general rule. If your doing what your horse wants then sod the person saying otherwise...
 
They are all different! Mine is always out. Brought him in for 30 minutes on Saturday for a bit of respite from the snow & ice, he had a roll in the stable, then wanted out again. However, I also understand that many horses prefer to be in. The person in the best position to judge what is best for a horse is the owner. Don't worry - I've come in for plenty of flack for turning mine out without a neck cover, but I know what's best for him. Trust your own judgement! Ignore the idiots!
 
My girl loves being in when the weather is bad. She does not like the rain or cold at all. I am happy to leave her in if the weather is bad, just as I am happy to turn her out in the bad weather is she is restless in her stable.

Listen to your horse and do what you think is best for them. As already said, you know your horse and as natural as it is for a horse to be out, those in the wild have the freedom to find a warm spot sheltered by trees and hedgerows. Post and rail fenced paddocks dont provide the same natural luxury.

If you feel you are doing right by your horse then who is anyone else to tell you different!
 
Why on earth do people send PMs to berate someone? Its so rude - if you can't say it on the forum, don't bother. As others have said they are all different. Our elderly pony is in with only a little bit of turnout each day and she is very happy. Content to stand and much in her stable and still behaves well when daughter number one rides her. Our little highland youngster normally lives out but on Friday I discovered him fast asleep in his bed after he finished a hay net. Now, I would had to have been really hard hearted to wake him up and throw him out in the cold. So he got to snooze all night in a warm stable, much all morning on a big hay net and went out again at lunchtime. I'm sure when he is ready for another break from the cold, he will let me know.
 
I have a horse that if you put him out in the rain, he just stands in the gate and gets mud fever... so if it rains he's in... If anyone tells me it's not natural then I tell them well neither is worming, anti biotics, riding, fencing, horse dentists, vets etc etc... I don't see an issue at all..

Bx
 
Agree with all others. Have the courage of your convictions. I have a couple of horses who don't like cold, wet weather and are constantly at the gate. I do what I feel they want! These who know best for everyone else are too closed mind to learn from horses!:rolleyes:
 
i know a horse who gets stressed out so he gets turned out in a tiny paddock with his owner or her staff standing with him and then he comes in again and calms down. he gets lunged and ridden everyday and is perfectly happy. horses for courses
 
I don't know who's condemming you but I agree with you... if he wants to be in then let him!

Mine have the choice of in or out (we can't shut the field gate atm) and they are just going out when we let them out, and coming in when they feel like it or they've finished all the hay in the shelter/barn!
 
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