horses living out?

[milesjess]

Woahhh long reply sorry!

 

[Mrs B]

If possible, I like to see horses out: large fields in small groups, with ample forage, appropriate rugs, fresh water supply and somewhere to get out of the wind.

However, I think the reason 'living out' can get a bad press is because, sadly, some owners think that if they're out in a field, they don't have to be ars*d to check them/water/rugs as often as they should. And if anything's wrong, someone else will notice and ring them.... Won't they?

 

[rockysmum]

If possible, I like to see horses out: large fields in small groups, with ample forage, appropriate rugs, fresh water supply and somewhere to get out of the wind.

However, I think the reason 'living out' can get a bad press is because, sadly, some owners think that if they're out in a field, they don't have to be ars*d to check them/water/rugs as often as they should. And if anything's wrong, someone else will notice and ring them.... Won't they?

I agree, if I had a lot of land I would try mine out with a field shelter, sadly I dont.

I really feel for the ones on inadequate land just standing around in mud. I pass two poor little things on my way to the stables. They are on about 1/4 of an acres of deep mud. Yes they have hay and water and are rugged but they just stand around looking miserable and have no real shelter.

 

[Enfys]

a completely non offense intended post, so please nobody take offence!
but i was wondering how different horses cope with living out? can all horses adapt or do some just need a stable? feet wise, yay or nay? can it affect them riding-wise etc? of course pictures of ponies that live out are welcome, in fact even pictures of ponies that live in are welcome! can you tell i love seeing pictures of horses?

The trick is to do something that suits both you and the horse, and to be prepared to be adaptable or compromise. Regardless of what anyone else has to say on the subject, if you and your horse are happy then that's all that matters in the long run.

Footwise, entirely dependent on the individual, the terrain and the weather.

Riding wise - you will probably have a slightly fitter animal, but possibly one that is more likely to be herd-bound. Unless rugged to the eyeballs in anti-mud gear you'll also have to make sacrifices on the turnout front perhaps, or hope for a lot of snow.

I have foals to ancients in their 20's living out, from minis, through arabs to natives, everything does just fine with plenty of food, blankets and shelter.


Summer in a part of their paddock, including the forest at the back there.

Early winter, apart from several woods, and the forest, that windbreak (about 25' long and provides shelter from every direction) is the only shelter my mares have.

 

[AngieandBen]

My three live out unrugged, aged 11, 19 and 21, they have hedge/trees all round their 4 acre field, never feed hay and they get a handful of FF with magnesium/linseed and Pro Hoof

The little couloured I have only had 5 weeks, she was in a very muddy field, rugged and was 436 kilos losing weight nice and steady now!

 

[indie999]

Oh yes riding wise it can affect them terribly, they become fat lazy plods, get covered in mud and sometimes don't want to be caught. Then you have to throw carrots at them which is very cruel to carrots

They can all live out. Natural exercise to be out grazing and moving around in herd if possible. Yes they will get muddy if its a muddy field so although I am anti rug I can understand if its to keep a bit clean if you are showing etc etc. Everyone comments how happy my old boy is being out...he seems happy old soul with a lovely fur coat..in the snow last year I have no worries...spent more time smashing ice! That was a downside plus trying to locate mushy poos when it all melted!

When it rains though hard he does get a nice clean coat out of living out! The colder the better he likes it.

I dont muck out and its far cheaper too. I work so it fits in with that well.

 

[NeilM]

We have two NF's out 24/7, 365. They have grass, more for fibre than nutrition, some hay and a small feed once a day, which is really just to give our 19 year old mare her supplements.

Fol hated being stabled when she belonged to her previous owner, Harry doesn't mind either way; he's not that keen on getting wet, but will happily live through the whole winter in a rain sheet.

We live in an area where keeping horses out is popular, and next door we have two NF's and an Exmoor. On the other side a NF, a Welsh A, a Shetland, a Cob x TB and a TB. All as happy as you like, and next to them, a couple more Exmoors (unrugged).

Not far from us, a Welsh D and a TB share a field, neither are rugged this year and they are doing fine, and near them are a pair of TB's who have never seen a stable in their lives.

 

[Alyth]

enfys - that is the perfect natural shelter!! There has been a lot of anthromorphism shown in previous posts!! Horses are naturally claustrophic, which is why stable "vices" show themselves in horses less able to cope with stressful situations!! Horses are well able to care for themselves turned out, especially if they have natural shelter available (not rugs, they affect the natural thermo regulation that horses bodies cope with naturally). Look at the native ponies out on the moors......the most important thing is to provide them with sufficient roughage - hay - not "hard feed"!!!

 

[ladyt25]

I totally believe that every single horse no matter what it's breed can live out 24/7. However, this is based on the 'ideal' - ie nice large field, plenty of field mates, decent grass/feed and good shelter.

We are lucky, we have this but many don't and a horse turned out in a small paddock with no stimulation or shelter could appear to be pretty miserable. My horse always 'wants' to come in in winter (he is stabled at night, 3 others are out 24/7) but, the reality is, he's not actually bothered about coming in to the stable, all he knows is if he comes in he gets fed! he would be quite content to go straight back out again i am sure.

 

[Faithkat]

I like horses out 24/7 provided they have adequate shelter, of course and if the field isn't a mudbath. Even NFs will hide in the trees and gorse when the weather's awful.

I believe the "wanting to come in" thing could be a habit and not a real need. I have to be off my fields in December and January so my horse has to go into livery for those couple of months. The livery I use (like everywhere round here) insists they come in at night. Now, mine had been out quite happily 24/7 from when we came home last Spring until the end of November when we moved to livery. The first night in livery and there she was waiting at the gate in the evening to come in!! I firmly believe that she was only doing that "because that's what we do when come here" (she is pure-Arab and very bright). We are going "home" on Sunday so she will be out 24/7 again. It'll be interesting to see if she's waiting by the gate in the evening . . .. . . . somehow I doubt it as she has never done so previously in our field!

 

[asbo]

my big lad HATES being stabled so he lives out and is happier for it, my little one has RAO and it is better for her to live out.
both rugged,both have haylage/water and the freedom to do what they want,rather than standing in waiting for me to get there.

 

[Queenbee]

I'm sure I will be labelled as cruel but both my TB x's have been in all winter, they are being turned out on the 1st of Feb as I am moving yards and will be without stables whilst the owner finishes building them, they will have a field shelter and high hedges and rugs... I am absolutely positive they will survive

 

[maree t]

Mine all come in at night during the winter if it is wet. They dont NEED to but I have to preserve what grazing I can and dont want to see them wading around in mud. Mine go out every day unless it is really really bad .