Horses living out 24/7

TigerTail said:
I love how the last sentence of your OP reads a bit surprised :p of course they blinking do! It what all their instincts and body are designed for, large spaces with a herd, not solitary in a 12x12 prison!
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Not necessarily :) My cob loved it but my ISH hated it, as did my OTTB.
 
my lot all live out 24/7, I have a stable block but use the stables to store hay in. They have access to the yard and hay barn 24/7 with a big bed and hay but still spend most of their days outside.
I don't have any behaviour issues with any of mine, they are all happy, well adjusted horses living as normal a life as possible.
 
Took my horse who has lived out 24/7 to big professional yard (where the horses get a max of 4 hours out) for a lesson today. "Wow, said the owner, hasn't your horse retained its condition, I wish my horses looked that good! Saddler came earlier in the week and commentated on how good my horses looked compared to most. Honest, they don't get that much hay, its surprising what they can pick from a bit of grass.

Solution, keep horses out as much as you can. Big mare (out 24/7) spends a portion of time in her shelter (she used to be in 24/7) but if you watch, she rarely spends more than an hour or so pretending she is in a stable before pottering out for a wander/snack. So even those of you who say your horses can't cope, really really observe them in their field. Bet you they never spend more than 2 hours in their shelters before a wander!!!!
 
Like Fells and Hills when I was young, all our ponies lived out, but as I started doing more competitions, and as my children were comepeting we had a routine of out in day in at night.

Now with two native youngsters I was so worried at start of winter if they would be able to stay out, and I am so pleased they have. As above they have access at all times to the stable yard and the stables, plus a stone barn in the field, which has good shelter.

During the ice and snow they have spent most of their time around the yard, no doubt because of the hay, but as soon as some grass appears they go off. It is great to see them moving around and sorting themselves out. I do think they spend some time at night in the stables due to the number of droppings, but it is their choice. They also keep together in one stable so that way keep each other warm, I could not do that if they were shut in.

Only real problem apart from the wet in the field has been frozen water, but today it has thawed it was lovely to see water run from the tap again!
 
Just another of the 24/7 turnout worshippers. For the last 20 years my own horse and whatever liveries I have at livery here are kept that way and I wouldn't change it for the world.

The concessions to creature comfort are that they have a wide track of concrete leading to the little stable yard, where they prefer to stand when not grazing, the stable yard itself is open and there's access to a large bedded box. On really nasty nights they all stand in together and keep each other warm, but the moment the weather improves they're off grazing. They're well rugged, have pleny of haynets of haylage hung under shelter in the yard, and eye contact with my back door (very important to ensure a constant stream of human visitors + extra strong mints.)

They're looking really well at the moment, never sick or sorry, no stable vices, and live calmly as a little herd (5 during daylight hours, 3 at night). Running costs for their owners are low, and when, as sometimes happens, liveries can't get through the snow or floods, I can manage them easily on my own.
 
We have stabling but keep ours out well rugged and they have a field shelter. Fab prefers being out so seems pointless stabling him for the sake of it.

We're looking at the moment for a horse for my OH and i'm amazed at the amount of horses i've rung up about where the owners don't think they would like being out 24/7! We've had a poor doer WB and a TB live out well rugged with no issues and held good condition. I appreciate that some horses genuinely like their creature comforts and like coming in to their stable, but i think a lot of them its more the owners doing what they think they'd like!
 
I prefer horses out 24/7 with shelter, but think you do need a stable available for emergencies. Wish I could find somewhere which had this, but sadly appear to be non-existent in my area :(

ALL horses cope well, provided the field is suitable, big enough and there is adequate shelter. Most will need hay in the winter, but again depends how much land you have for the amount of horses.

Not saying that most horses won't cope being stabled for part of the day, but I believe most prefer to be out.
 
My four year old is now living in for the 1st time in his life. And he is loving it, the knee deep mud and constant rain finally finished us both.

He is now out 7 till 3 and this will increase as the days do until summer when he can stay out 24/7 ( if he wants to). Feel so guilty not bringing him in before.
 
My 'metabolic' WBxQH/Arab is currently out unrugged, 24/7 on a track and seems very happy. Yes the track is fetlock deep mud as it has yet to have any surfaces put down but I don't believe it bothers her at all. Not judging by her behaviour any way - which is very bright, sprightly, very active, but super chilled. No mud fever, rain scald or thrush.

The mixed herd of four have access to a field shelter and some overhang which they choose to put themselves into if it is raining heavily overnight, but during the snow they voluntarily stayed out the whole time.

The field also has decent hedges on two sides, with more planted on a third so they have plenty of opportunity to browse and get out of the wind if they choose.

What I like is they have a choice of where to go and when 24/7. I never worry about them running out of hay (put down 2x daily) because they can always browse the hedges and my very challenging metabolic is sound as a pound whilst requiring minimal intervention.

What the yard owner likes (besides the happy horses) is the ease of maintenance, lower running costs and the bulk of the grazing is in perfect nick because its not been poached over the winter.
 
Happy H - I am lucky enough to have 24/7 turnout with a stable should I need it. I tend to bring madam in for a feed/hay whilst poopicking every weeknight, and in for a couple of hours at the weekend to dry out and chill after a ride whilst I run, poopick, clean tack etc. I am very fortunate to have the choice!
 
Mine have had the option of living out since we moved yards in November last year and all three of us love it :D. They come in when it is very wet or very windy, or if it is snowing etc, as their field is on top of a hill in the Peak District and is very exposed, with only dry stone walls for shelter. But other than that they stay out, and really seem to love it! The 20 yr old Arab mare is as tough as old boots, and so much happier when she's out :)
 
As explained I have only ever kept my horses on yards where the norm was little turnout. Some never went out. Mine had half day.

The transition from this to living out 24/7 was worrying me as it was an alien concept to me and I wondered how they would cope.

However both horses are happily living out 24/7 now.

Infact the horse I thought wouldn't be hardy is always warmer than my friends cob and has never looked so well.

The hard part has been giving up the luxuries that you get on a yard in return for more turnout but I would say its been worth it.
 
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