How important is routine to horses?

[rose bud]

I was just wondering what everyones thoughts were about how important a horses routine was to them?
I always thought that routine was important to animals (it definatly is to my dog!) but have recently been told its not so important to horses.
What are peoples opinions on this and what are your routines?
Do you groom, feed etc, at the same time every
day? I would be particulaly interested in peoples routines who have horses that live out.
Thanks.

 

[AmyMay]

I've always kept my horses to a pretty strict routine - particularly important when they are stabled, imo.

Horses like routine.

 

[StormyMoments]

i think its important, horses without a routine tend to stress a lot more

my 2 are fed at the same time each day, and brought in (when they are in not currently) but riding and grooming can be done anytime

currently they are living out 24/7 and they are fed at the same times each day and are ridden about the same too

 

[fidleyspromise]

Mine are out 24/7, not fed the same time every day (I work shifts) and yet when I drive up I can see them from a distance, both relaxed, both grazing. When the car gets close to their field, they come to the fence and by the time I take their feeds out, they're standing at the gate.
They're groomed when I'm there, they're brought in a handful of times a week sometimes one week more than others and I do different things with them.
No stress, no fuss.

I really think it depends on the horse. Both of mine are natives but the younger one can be very uptight and stress easily and yet she is perfectly content with this.

One of the other horses on the yard is very stressy, but whether this is due to having no routine or no buddy in her field, I'm not sure as I don't know her particularly well.
She doesn't catch easily, she constantly neighs and careers around when I remove my two (she has other horses she can see) and when I arrive in the morning, she is trotting in circles around her paddock.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I don't have any set routine with my horses, when stabled or out at grass.
The two reasons for doing that are firstly security, so that people don't see you arriving and leaving at certain times of the day.
Secondly for the horses benefit. Say if I was late in turning out/bringing in, giving extra feed and so on due to an unforeseen problem or emergency I would not want my horses to become unwell.
We cannot guarantee to be there at the same time every day to see to our horses. A big cheer to those that are able to do so though. Traffic problems and all sorts of reasons can delay our trips to and from a yard. Now unless you have a very kind person or persons who could see to your horses in an emergency then I'm afraid you are stuck.
Any delay for whatever reason could cause stress to your horse, be it stressing being out or in that bit longer, waiting for an extra feed or forage. This stress can then become an issue that can lead to colic. As I have a horse that does get colic from time to time, I am not going to risk him getting into a set routine. If I do this and plans go awry then I don't want to risk him getting colic and nor do I want my other horses stressing unnecessarily.

 

[PorkChop]

I've always kept my horses to a pretty strict routine - particularly important when they are stabled, imo.

Horses like routine.

This

 

[mcrobbiena]

I try to stick to a routine but the routine does change!! If they are competing the routine is more strict but at the moment they are all off work and I am hoping to have them out 24/7 over the winter. I can see them from my parents kitchen window in the field they are about 200yards away which you may say is very lucky but I end up rushing out every time they lie down thinking there is something wrong! But its great if its peeing down with rain and they are standing at the gate they come in, but if its peeing down with rain and they are stood out eating and seem fine I leave them until they decide they have had enough! They get fed around the same time every night but again if they look content I leave it a bit later or if they are standing about waiting i feed them. They will hopefully remain low maintenace and not get too diva-ish at being waited on hand and foot!Also good as you can tell when they get bothered by flies to go out and give them another squirt or fly repellant or bring them in for a rest from them.

 

[ihatework]

Most horses like and thrive on routine.
HOWEVER don't make the mistake of having of having them dependant on routine, there is a fine line.

I work my horses at all times of the day, from before brekkie to when it is pitch balck at 8pm at night. I expect them to not get brekkie/dinner at X'oclock on the dot. If they need to stay in their stable for a morning for whatever reason then I expect them to do that without turning into a hysterical mess .... if you get my meaning!

 

[Zimzim]

My horses are in a routine but thats because I work full time so its just how it is. Also I recently got a youngster who was just youst to being out in a field so I got him into a routine of coming in at night etc and he settled very quickly and learnt manners very quickly too. Its also kept him relaxed as Im in the process of getting him ready to be backed and broken in.

But they are not dependant on it as sometimes they have to be kept in a morning or have limited turnout due to the weather etc but its helped them stay relaxed when things do change, if you know what I mean.

 

[AmyMay]

Most horses like and thrive on routine.
HOWEVER don't make the mistake of having of having them dependant on routine, there is a fine line.

I work my horses at all times of the day, from before brekkie to when it is pitch balck at 8pm at night. I expect them to not get brekkie/dinner at X'oclock on the dot. If they need to stay in their stable for a morning for whatever reason then I expect them to do that without turning into a hysterical mess .... if you get my meaning!

I think you've put it really well, thank you.

Most of us are forced in to a routine, because we do our horses around our working lives. So Monday - Friday we're always going to be on the yard at X am, because we have to be in work an hour or so later. This shouldn't mean that arriving half an hour later at the weekend causes our horses stress out - but I would expect the horse whose owner turns up an hour or so later to be pretty peed off.

Likewise, horses get in to a major routine in the winter around brining in time. Most yards have a bringing in curfew - so it's inevitable that from around X pm horses start to gather near a gate awaiting collection.

Essentially routine is good for us and good for our horses.

 

[stencilface]

I think a lot of the winter hanging around at gates is more to do with the lack of food in the field than the time. If there was ample food/grass I think less would wait. I know ours wait for us, but then they are greedy pigs!

 

[AmyMay]

I think a lot of the winter hanging around at gates is more to do with the lack of food in the field than the time. If there was ample food/grass I think less would wait. I know ours wait for us, but then they are greedy pigs!

Not where I've kept my horses - grazing has always been excellent, regardless of time of year.

 

[stencilface]

I think grazing can be excellent in coverage, length etc, but still in winter it is not the same as the nice rich spring/summer/autumn grass and horses just want a nice bit of tasty hay or hard feed.

 

[Sarah1]

It's an interesting one this is - we have 5 now, all are very happy, not stressed and all very chilled - even the ex racehorse. They are in a routine but if that routine needs to change for whatever reason it does and the horses take it in their stride.
They are not always ridden at the same time every time and during the winter when they come in at night they're turned out 6am ish during the week but then probably not until 9am at the weekend (they are of course provided with extra hay & water on those days). None of them are climbing the walls to get out & all will walk out calmly and/or be ridden straight from the box.
A friend of mine has a very sensitive mare who is in a fairly strict routine and if that routine changes the mare gets very upset. My friend advises me it's not just her mare - all of the horses on the yard (who are in the same routine) are the same.
We joke that we are very lucky ours are so relaxed but I rather think that it's a bit more than luck - we have 5 which are all the same after all!!!!!! Maybe too strict a routine is not good?!

 

[jenki13]

My horse doesn't have a routine. She's out 24/7 and doesn't get fed, she gets ridden at different times and on different days every week.

I think if horses are brought in exactly the same time, ridden the same time & fed exactly set this can cause problems as the come to expect the routine & get stressed/ill if this doesn't happen for example if the owner is ill/away/has to work late/traffic problems etc.

Having routine in the fact that they get brought in over night / day, get fed in the stable, put in with the same horses is good and can possibly increase confidence as long as it isn't very strict & doesn't lead to the above.

Fine line... but mines always happy munching in the field!

 

[JenTaz]

taz has a routine while he is living in, he's been out since we moved yards but will come back to live in when i return from my holiday on friday, i aim to be at the yard between half 8 and nine, feed and muckout while he's eating, good groom then ride usually about an hour atfter he's been fed, if not he gets turned out, and brought in about five...if not ridden in morning will ride in afternoon and gets brought in early settled in stable with dinner hay and water for about 7pm, luckily i can manage this due to being signed off work due to injury when i can go back to work i will be working nights so should be ok

 

[PitPony]

I think it really depends on your horse and your circumstances.
My horse depends on a routine to be sane and relaxed! She can cope with an bit of time either side and prefers things to be early rather than late...it is just the way she is. She was even known to count the horses going out or coming in and if they were done in a different order would stand at her field nearest the yard and scream at the people as they walked past!
She doesn't do that now but she still watches...keeps them humans on their toes!
I can't have her in an indoor stable as she becomes depressed...I just learnt various things along the way with her...she doesnt even like it if you do her rug before taking off her bandages...she stands and tuts and stares at you as if you are a moron!! she likes things done in a certain way and a certain order most of the time...the proper way as she sees it!!
Luckily the other horses on the yard are not all so particular...
One mare went in to freefall when her owner bought another horse mind you...couldnt cope with it...took ages to come round to it...she is another sensitive mare!!
I dont think when ridden is particularly important to a horses routine...but they generally like to know when things are going to happen like food being delivered!!
I am now looking after about 15 ponies each morning and it is interesting to see their reaction to my routine...

 

[Luci07]

Routine where food is included is very very important and even when I was on DIY I didnt deviate from the feed times. I would do friends horses in the morning during the week and they would bring in. Weekends we would swap. Occasionally breakfast could be delayed as I am up very early to ride so if I am tacking up at breakfast time he gets a handful. Grooming/exercise doesn't matter. Coming in and out does. Grass livery is a different matter but even then the GL at our yard know when they can expect their hard feed and are waiting for it.

 

[xRobyn]

If they need to stay in their stable for a morning for whatever reason then I expect them to do that without turning into a hysterical mess .... if you get my meaning!

Exactly this. Phil will happily graze on his own if left out last and doesn't stress if I am not down at exact times, however I do keep it between 6.30am-7.30am and bringing in after 5.30pm.

Routine is definitely good imo, but having a horse rely on routine to the extent where it is dependent makes things much trickier if emergencies arise.

 

[FionaM12]

I work really strange hours so it's going to be hard to stick to an exact routine. It's been okay so far, Mollie's been out 24/7 and entirely grass fed. But now she's in at night, and soon will be in all the time. I'm very much hoping that the slightly varying routine I can provide for her won't stress her too much.

 

[Megibo]

Horses enjoy a routine, they learn it and get less stressed.

Also depends on type, my college teacher has a warmblood that does his nut if his routine is changed a smidge, and my native is pretty happy with whatever! But all our lot are definitely more antsy on the days we get up the yard. And when they were stabled on livery apparently they'd be silent and good as gold until we strolled onto the yard and then they were kicking ten bells out of their doors...

 

[Lucinda_x]

My horses have a pretty strict routine coming in at 9 in the morning from the field (Soon to swap so there in at night!) and me getting to the yard at 4 after school and ride, feed and then out

 

[tallyho!]

Some people like to have a routine... some think it isn't necessary. Having worked at several yards, I can honestly say I don't think most horses really care.

At one strict yard, things had to change due to a sudden heart attack. Routine then changed dramatically and the horses just took it in their stride.

Although I appreciate some horses benefit from routine when in full work. I feel it is much healthier not to be too strict with them or ourselves.

 

[fruit03]

my two live out 24/7, in the summer there is no routine although i do see them in the afternoons and always have done. in the winter they get their feed after midday, some days it may be 2pm others it may not be til 5pm, they seem quite happy with that - although if they are fed just after midday and if i am unable to get up until 5pm the next day put it this way they are very pleased to see me i also keep an eye on the weather in the winter and tend to wait until later if rugs need changing. from my experience it is important to have a routine but not too strict or set in stone hope this helps

 

[ebonyallen]

I think its very important to have a routine, my girl thrives on it, she can almost tell you what comes next and does get a bit stressy if things are even a little bit off time. She will be waiting a the gate in the winter screaming when the car turns up if a little late, which I really try not to be as it seems to effect her. I have known other people who say horses do not need rountine but I think that they do

 

[koeffee]

i try not to be to regimental!!! im at the yard between 8 and 9 everyday, but i never hard feed first thing, always hay and water and alter who gets it first!!! i have one mare who on a previous yard was in such a strict routine that the first time they were 20 mins late she took her door off the hinges and didnt do it once either!!! its taken a week but the mare is now happy and settled doesnt go nuts at the door for food when i arrive. routine works to a point, but my lot know my routine and are happy muching about until there fed, all are happy healthy and settled!!

 

[Mince Pie]

Neither of mine had a routine until they went onto full grass livery. Over the summer whilst they were living out I never get there at the same time of the day and neither of them seemed bothered - including my ex racer!

 

[JFTDWS]

My routine is to have no routine. My horses are all out 24/7 and really aren't bothered - they get fed in the evening - any time between 6 and 9ish, they get worked in the evening some weekdays, mornings on weekends, sometimes weekend afternoons or evenings. If I'm competing in the morning on one I ride the other in the evening and vice versa. When they are stabled they keep "odd" routines - out about 9, in about 10pm because of work, but I expect them to accept any routine I throw at them (provided they have access to forage and get fed at some point). They aren't stressy, they're some of the most relaxed horses I've ever known - they seem perfectly happy with their lack of routine.

 

[Dancing Queen]

dogs, horses and children need routine.

My horses are kept in a fairly strict routine as they are stabled at night.

 

[pepsimaxrock]

I dont stress about routine so neither does my horse x