Horse's routine and clock change

[Smogul]

Following thread a couple of weeks ago on the importance of routine to horses, how do those of you who think it is very important deal with the clock change? Do you get up an hour earlier and leave work an hour earlier? I couldn't do this for family and employment reasons. Do you immediately shift the horse's routine by an hour and the horse has to adjust? Do you move the horse's routine by 5-10 minutes every day and hope they don't notice?
I am not being sarcastic - genuinely wondering.
One person said they always arrived at the stable 8.30-9, fed and mucked out. Do you now arrive at 7.30? What do you do if your yard doesn't open until 8?
Our two know they will be fed, exercised and turned out but don't really care when things happen or what order so it has never been an issue.

 

[nat_1]

Its a strange one isnt it,clocks change for us but not the horses.i went to mine an hour earlier bcause i was up an hr earlier lol,but shes still out 24/7 atm so wont make much difference.

 

[horserugsnot4u]

I'm not much help in the 'routine' department as mine are out 24/7 and I can do my own thing. Apart from going to the field later in the morning when the clocks change, there's not much difference as they are ridden at different times of the day and usually fed only in the evening before it gets dark, which obviously varies throughout the year. I guess in yards which might require a strict routine because of staffing levels, then they have to stick to what the clock says. Personally, I prefer not to have a strict routine as it has been suggested it can have detrimental effects on the horse's stress level if there is an unexpected change. As I do everything myself I can't do it by the clock so it's best not to go down that route in my situation. My ponies are happy, healthy and contented with no behavioural issues so it works for me but I can appreciate how yards have to have a routine - I'm just glad I'm not in one.

 

[Toffee44]

Getting dark means Samba has to be screaming at the gate to let her in at 4, she doesnt pace, just scream, I don't go up till 6.....

 

[fatpiggy]

I don't alter my clocks until after I've been up and fed and turned out my girl. I go up about half an hour later than a normal weekend and in the evening go up half an hour after "old time". Bless her though, she was stood miserably at the gate last night wondering why it was nearly dark and she hadn't had her supper. Once in her stable she only ate a few mouthfuls and then went to sleep over the door. Unfortunately she associates dark with being in so she is going to be really fed up this week until she has adjusted her internal clock. It takes me not far off an hour to drive from work to the yard so it will be nearly 7pm to her when I get to her tonight.

 

[Liostro]

I am sat here at working feeling miserable about how dark it's getting already and trying to figure how and when I will next ride my boy :-(
So thought I'd have a look on horse and hound and it always makes you feel better when other people have the same problems. I feel sorry for you 'fatpiggy' that it takes almost an hour to get to your yard. That definately makes me appreciate them being on my doorstep! Thinking I'm gonna have to try leave work early on Wednesday's to sneak in a short hack or schooling session. And as far as feed times/ routines go my 3 get it before and after I finish work between 7am and 7.30 in the mornings and 5.30 to 6.30 at nights

 

[ISHmad]

I'm not much help in the 'routine' department as mine are out 24/7 and I can do my own thing. Apart from going to the field later in the morning when the clocks change, there's not much difference as they are ridden at different times of the day and usually fed only in the evening before it gets dark, which obviously varies throughout the year. I guess in yards which might require a strict routine because of staffing levels, then they have to stick to what the clock says. Personally, I prefer not to have a strict routine as it has been suggested it can have detrimental effects on the horse's stress level if there is an unexpected change. As I do everything myself I can't do it by the clock so it's best not to go down that route in my situation. My ponies are happy, healthy and contented with no behavioural issues so it works for me but I can appreciate how yards have to have a routine - I'm just glad I'm not in one.

^^^ Exactly this, fortunately.

 

[LaurenBay]

Another reason I think Horses should not have a strict routine!

But good question, I've always wondered this to.

My Horse is out at the moment, she won't care though as she comes in at all different times.

 

[bananas_22]

Personally I am of the belief that horses should have a routine in that they should be exercised roughly the same amount each week ie not 5 times in one week and then not at all for 2 weeks, fed on a regular basis if they have hard feed etc and checked/mucked out etc on a regular basis. However if you get them into too strict a routine, when that routine is disturbed as it inevitably will be eg with clocks changing or emergencies, they are more likely to get upset about it unnecessarily. I therefore think that the argument that they need a strict routine by the clock to keep them happy is pretty counter-intuitive. Mine are basically happy so long as they are brought in on a cold winter night, but they don't wait at the gate if I am later than normal...they have even been known to have to stay out all night when I had to make an emergency vet visit with my dog and they were quite happy the next morning

 

[JennBags]

My old boy hates any change in his routine. Funnily enough, morning routine he is fine with (I will be at the yard anytime between 5 and 7 in the mornings, but he will get stressed if I'm much later than this & others have started going out). However, evenings he really doesn't like the change but it only takes him a few days to get used to it, he's quite often on services in the afternoon as there is no way I could leave him until I get back from work between 7 & 8pm! He's on box rest at the moment, but when he's out, if he's not one if the first to come in, he will start galloping up & down the fence line, calling.

So I guess it depends on your horse's temperament really! Horses for courses