Horses who don't like turnout

[IrishMilo]

Does anyone have one of these? I've had horses who happily go out and then want to come in when the weather is bad, but I literally have to drag mine out / bribe him with treats just to get him there. He'll plant consistently all the way there but as soon as I turn him for his stable he'll march back! He's out in a nice field with company, not picked on nor is he top dog. Don't think he's cold. It cracks me up but it's utterly bizarre. Turnout at our yard isn't great so even when they've been in for a while he still won't go out.

Pic of the doofus.

 

[Surbie]

He has a very cute face!

Mine is a bit reluctant to go out at the moment. He's muzzled, the grass is getting a bit short but I need more weight off him. I also think mine is a bit stiff in the mornings and the field is getting soft at the bottom of the hill which might make it harder for him. We have stops sometimes.

How much grass is there out there?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Mine hates winter turnout. He will walk to the field fine but wants to come in after 10mins. He runs round screaming. He has friends and no routine change. The first 2 years I had him he stayed in. It was to dangerous to turn him out. Its taken 4 years to get him to stay out until lunch. As the weather gets worse he will come in mid morning. It's not worth risking injury.

 

[Hannahgb]

I used to have one the same, hated bad weather, would go out if it was sunny, but planted if it was the slightest bit muddy or damp. He would tolerate going in the school while I mucked out. I just gave into his needs in the end as if you managed to get him out, he would then trash the field or himself trying to get back in

 

[Cortez]

I've had several, many of them Spanish and/or stallions who would have been kept stabled a lot and not used to being out much. I've only had one who was the opposite - didn't like being stabled at all.

I don't try and force any horse to live in a way they hate, so if they want to be in, in they will come.

 

[hock]

My bestest boy and I have a system! In winter he’d like to go out for a roll or 4 and then come back in pls to a fresh everything and then pop out for a roll later maybe in the menage. He has me well trained. Occasionally he wants to stay out but only if it’s a fresh haylage bale or some new grass and he doesn’t get muddy toes. He has trained me well!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Mine used to refuse to be caught in his stable if he didn't want to go out, nothing nasty but would just whirl round it and refuse to allow the headcollar on. Usually occurred if it was particularly wet or cold and had been known to happen a few days in a row. He was quite happy to stay in with his haynet

He'd usually be fine to catch in the afternoon for mucking out, almost like he knew he was "safe" from having to go out

 

[Barton Bounty]

BB wasn't fussed on turnout, I turned him out but he woulda stood in all day and night if you let him

 

[ycbm]

I had one who used to do a rugby feint to try and get back in the gate before I managed to shut him out, and one who would not under any circumstances stand out in the rain, but ran for the field shelter at the first drop. The latter had, I know, lived out 24/7 for 2 years before I got him.
.

 

[expanding_horizon]

Mine would rather not be stabled for any length of time. He is unbothered by any weather. He will come in to the stable and eat hay / bucket feed, but after 45 minutes or so he is looking very pointedly in the direction of the field. He's okay if I am actively grooming him / trimming his feet / doing stretches etc. But not being left alone once he's reached his being stabled tolerance.

Strangely he will stand politely alone on lorry travelling or stationary at the venue for any length of time eating hay, but doesnt have same view of his stable.

 

[claracanter]

My ex racehorse used to just stand at the gate when I turned him out when I first got him as a 5 year old. He’s 17 now and has been out 24/7 for many years, looks amazing and doesn’t like being in a stable too long

 

[expanding_horizon]

My ex racehorse used to just stand at the gate when I turned him out when I first got him as a 5 year old. He’s 17 now and has been out 24/7 for many years, looks amazing and doesn’t like being in a stable too long

My late heart horse had varying stages of strongly held views. He was not barely every turned out when I originally bought him. Within in a week daily daytime turnout was definitely expected and enjoyed. He was turned away a few years later after an injury. He came back into work, but had very strong feeling against being stabled, and preferred to live out. As he aged, and we had a wet winter, he then decided he would like to return to being stabled at night. (I moved yards to accommodate this). He was never shy about letting me know what he wanted.

 

[meleeka]

..and one who would not under any circumstances stand out in the rain, but ran for the field shelter at the first drop. The latter had, I know, lived out 24/7 for 2 years before I got him.
.

I have one like this. She’s Welsh and came from Wales where I’m pretty sure it rains more often . Despite being well rugged, she thinks she’s an Aspirin and might dissolve if she gets rain on her.
If she had her way she’d go out for 20 minutes in the morning and the same again in the evening, unless it’s glorious sunshine, then she’ll be happy to stay out all day. When she’s in, I don’t even bolt the door, it’s just pushed shut (my own land so nobody else to worry about). The only time she’s ever opened it was when I was a bit later than usual in the morning.

 

[ponyparty]

Lol... mine plants when going out, but then she also plants when coming in too! I have figured out that sometimes, she thinks the route I have chosen is stupid ("too muddy, can we go round that patch please human?" Instantly walks as soon as I change course for drier ground... quite clever really!) but other times I really can't fathom it. Think she just needs a few seconds to think about what I'm asking her (and whether she does indeed want to do it or not) at times!

 

[JoannaC]

Mine don't like being shut in the field, i've got one paddock that doesn't come off the barn and they run round like idiots. The main field and other small paddock they can choose to bring themselves in and they are in and out all the time. I do find it interesting to watch and love the fact they can choose for themselves apart from a few weeks in the Summer when I use the other paddock.

 

[IrishMilo]

Oh so it's not just mine then! I've literally never come across it before. And it's not like he's trying to avoid a bad path as it's a walk on tarmac. I'd love to know what he is thinking. When I go to get him from the field he'll gallop over to come back in!

 

[P.forpony]

My institutionalised tb has taken 2 years out of racing and the purchase of a shetland to manage his agoraphobia, and associated vets bills!

He has now realised grass is nice.
Still likes his bedroom though

 

[dottylottie]

i’ve got a welsh princess pony similar, hates being out in bad weather even when it’s not actually raining! she lasted half an hour the other morning before she was shouting for me to rescue her, and tearing the field apart lived out for the first 7 years of her life! she won’t go out in the arena either, just stands at the gate shouting at me.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Yep.. could have described my mare! It makes me feel guilty, if that’s even a thing? In a herd with 3 others.. so she should be happy.

Now moved to rested grazing and she’s a lot better, but she never asks to go out like most do.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Oh so it's not just mine then! I've literally never come across it before. And it's not like he's trying to avoid a bad path as it's a walk on tarmac. I'd love to know what he is thinking. When I go to get him from the field he'll gallop over to come back in!

I wonder if we spoil them?

Livery at our yard events and keeps her gelding out 24/7.. gets in, rides, turns out. I’d ride, leave my mare in for a few hours to munch hay after as I feel guilty putting her back out, because she’s quite happy in.

Her horse is hardy, loves being out and majority TB and mine is a total wimp.. but I suppose it’s me that has caused it!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mine is happy to go out, he’s happier to come in though. I can’t leave him out 24/7 as he gets anxious and starts stressing, then he escapes.
I don’t want him out 24/7 though even in summer so it suits me.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

My boy hates being out in heavy rain and strong wind. I’m constantly watching the weather as if it’s forecast he will be in.

The only horse I’ve known that didn’t like being out for more than about 10 mins was had reared as a foal…

 

[Hormonal Filly]

The only horse I’ve known that didn’t like being out for more than about 10 mins was had reared as a foal…

Often wonder this about my mare, she was hand reared from day dot.

She isn’t that bad but hates any bad weather, but even when in a herd on good grass in nice weather.. she still calls to come in!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi was never bothered about turnout for years I think it was being out on his own when he was a stallion that made him like it, I used to have to hide from him whenever I was at the yard or he would scream and run to the gate and want in.

As his got older he has definitely got better and since living at home and with Louis who hates being in, I would say he actually prefers being out as much as possible now his still not keen on torrential rain though.