How important is routine to horses?

I am one of those bad people who has a different routine in the week and at weekends but my native is fine on it. Weekdays I am at the yard (private yard, less than half a dozen horses and only two of those are in, the other is a stallion) by half past six in the morning and she is fed and out by seven. She gets ridden in the evenings but the time I get there to bring her in varies from four until eight and she is never waiting at the gate - she is always stuffing that last mouthful of grass in when I wander over. She sometimes comes in for a bit in the day if YO wants to put the stallion in her field for a bit.
Weekends are completely different. YO feeds and hays her at 7.30 ish (but it might be 5 if she's going to a show!) and I don't get there until maybe 10. I know it sounds bad but I am knackered by the weekend, I like organising myself in the mornings and not rushing to the yard in the dark and I am always greeted by a perfectly content pony with a half empty haynet so why not? She gets ridden then goes out usually (but not always) - delightful, easily managed creature. Love her.
 
JFTD said:
My routine is to have no routine. My horses are all out 24/7 and really aren't bothered -
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I do think that's completely different though. And for horses out 24/7 I would agree that routine is almost irrelevant.

For the stabled horse, though, I think it's terribly important. My biggest bugbear is those that can't drag their sorry backsides out of bed on a weekend, and expects their horse to wait for them patiently in their stable until the owner can be bothered to turn up. That, in my eyes, is really unacceptable.
 
Our horses seem pretty relaxed about our routine, or lack of it. Two prefer things to happen every day, such as being worked, so we make sure that happens six days a week.

With winter coming they will be stabled at night from next weekend. We don't have a curfew, so they will come in as late as possible, due to a couple of them needing to spend less time in a stable (stiffen up). The actual time will no doubt vary.

When stabled they always have extra water and ad lib hay just in case we are late up in the morning for any reason. When that has happened the horses have not stressed, but that could be because they have food, water and company.

I think that as two of the gang are stressy by nature, if we were to have a strict routine (as in set times), then if we were to miss those times for any reason (can't call a horse and explain when one is going to be late :cool:), then both horses would get very worked up. Our way of doing things seems, at the moment, to work - as with all things, one has to keep revieiwing :D
 
It is "traditional" to view routine as important, reflecting military roots. However, I think what stresses horses if it is missing is predictability. They don't like events that are unexpected.

In the context of a feeding routine, for example, they are happy when sounds of feed being prepared are followed shortly by the arrival of their feed. If they have learned to expect feeding at a certain time of day (typically signalled by other things happening), then they will naturally become upset if it's delayed beyond the usual time. In this case, having established a routine, it's important to stick to it for the wellbeing of the horse. On the other hand, if there is no routine in the first place, there isn't any expectations to be thwarted. So I think routine is fine if you are diligent in adhering to it, otherwise horses may be better off without it.
 
amymay said:
My biggest bugbear is those that can't drag their sorry backsides out of bed on a weekend, and expects their horse to wait for them patiently in their stable until the owner can be bothered to turn up. That, in my eyes, is really unacceptable.
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I get 1 lay in a week if I'm lucky - I work full time, have an 11 month old daughter who thinks sleep after 6am is for losers and have my horse on DIY livery and so if my horse has to wait for an extra couple of hours without getting his pants in a twist then that's what he has to do! He has adequate hay & water and company.

However, unless something drastic has happened then I don't get there later than 9am if I know he's in his box.
 
Sarah1 said:
I get 1 lay in a week if I'm lucky - I work full time, have an 11 month old daughter who thinks sleep after 6am is for losers and have my horse on DIY livery and so if my horse has to wait for an extra couple of hours without getting his pants in a twist then that's what he has to do! He has adequate hay & water and company.

However, unless something drastic has happened then I don't get there later than 9am if I know he's in his box.
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I'm not saying I'm right - but it's my view point. And goodness knows having a young family and a horse is hard work - especially when they're on DIY. I've watched several of my friends raise their families around their horses and know just how hard they work to strike the balance.

Do horse owners get a lie in? I certainly never do - and I don't have kids, ;) - but then thankfully I don't have to work out that balance - hence perhaps my opinionated viewpoint;)
 
I think routine helps a lot and is particularly noticeable with youngsters. That said routines do get upset and horses need to be able to cope with that. I do have a routine because of work but work requires me to be flexible with my hours sometimes and the horses have to adjust. They cope better with changes now they are out 24/7.
 
amymay said:
I'm not saying I'm right - but it's my view point. And goodness knows having a young family and a horse is hard work - especially when they're on DIY. I've watched several of my friends raise their families around their horses and know just how hard they work to strike the balance.

Do horse owners get a lie in? I certainly never do - and I don't have kids, ;) - but then thankfully I don't have to work out that balance - hence perhaps my opinionated viewpoint;)
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Trust me - when you have kids and you never have a night of unbroken sleep you need the occasional lie in! :D

ETS - It's also very difficult in a morning to just get up and go when you have a baby to feed & dress before you can leave the house!
 
I also meant to add that it's a little short sighted to say that those of us that don't get there at 6am on a weekend 'can't drag our arses out of bed' and our horses are 'waiting until we can be bothered to turn up' - some people have other commitments!
 
If you mean routine of exact times then no, I don't have routine and the horses don't seem to mind. However, there is structure to our days in so much that we do certain activities at roughly the same parts of the day, in at night, out during the day, ridden usually in the morning etc. They know that they will be fed at some time in the morning, they will come in at some point in the evening, and there's a night stable check after dark, apart from that things can change and they seem quite chilled and happy with the arrangement.
 
Sarah1 said:
I also meant to add that it's a little short sighted to say that those of us that don't get there at 6am on a weekend 'can't drag our arses out of bed' and our horses are 'waiting until we can be bothered to turn up' - some people have other commitments!
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Lord, even I don't do 6am on a weekend - that's strictly weekdays only. I aim to be on the yard by around 7.30 on a weekend.
 
Our horses get done later at the weekends than in the week. Why? Because I don't need to get up that early and think my OH appreciates two days a week when my alarm doesn't go off at 5.50am. Do the horses care? No. They get extra hay on weekend nights to last them through til 8.30. My horses fit around me as much as possible, if I didn't work they wouldn't get fed and lie ins make me a happier person :D
 
So...everyone with very strict routines do you compete?? If so how do you cope with feeding them if you have a 3 hour journey and need to leave before their feeding time but have to feed an hour before this to avoid colic?? Or what if you have to leave early to compete with one horse but have another at home what do you do then??? I try to keep a routine but it isnt strict, I work full time and I compete I also have a pony with sweetitch who has to be in at a certain time before flies etc or of it is particularly bad he stays in 24/7 only being excercised while still remaining covered up. The horses are all healthy, none have had colic (touch wood) only had one lameness for a week or so i think it was just a bruised sole as she has no shoes. Also what do you do if you are away on holiday or away at a wedding or something does someone else looka fter them? and how do you know they stick to your routine??
 
Routine is very important to horses. However, they can also be extremely flexible. For example, I keep them out 24/7 for most of the summer, but if the conditions are too windy, rainy, thundery etc then they will come in for the night. They usually seem very pleased to come in, but do not expect that just because they come in one night, they will come in the next. They are chilled with either.

But feeding times should always be kept very regular, I think.
 
So...everyone with very strict routines do you compete??
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Good question. I guess you only have to look at big competition yards to know the answer to that one.

Things run like clockwork and to time, however, routine often goes out of the window when away competing, with the exception most often of morning stables.
 
Well, I have worked in a few yards myself all competition yards, and teh horses going to shows always got fed an hour before leaving and the grooms did the rest as usual but the competing horses were sometimes being fed 2 or 3 hours early sometime 5 or 6 hours later than usual at night and I never had one die on me or be in the slightest peturbed. It is all very well to say look at the competition yards but some yards are really NOT doing things right so not always good to take their word as gospel and also if you are on your own with your horses they need to fit around you. It annoys me how some people are so closed minded-yes horses like routine but they will not die if they are fed later one morning or later at night and just because you don't agree doen't mean to say it is wrong. i dont have horses to prove how disciplined I am, I have horses because I love the sport and I love my horses. I am sure your average old nag who hacks out every day at the same time, sees the same face every day lives on its own or with the same horses day in day out would welcome a mornings hunting or a wee gymkana even if it does mean it is getting fed an hour early.
 
Daisy dancer said:
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.
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Well, I can only speak for mine - who thrives on a strict routine and lets me know when I'm late or deviating from said routine - how he tells time I don't know but you could set your watch by him!

He isn't so fussy about when he's ridden - but he does like to go out/come in at the same time and expects his meals/haylage to turn up at the appointed times. He also knows which rugs mean what . . . as in turnout rugs mean outside/play time, stable rugs mean snooze/relax time.

What's funny, though, is that he doesn't seem to mind if he doesn't go into the same field every night - or with the same horses - just as long as he's out, has access to grass and has adequate company. He has his favourites who he would prefer to be with, but he isn't overwrought if he doesn't go out with them.

P
 
mcrobbiena said:
It annoys me how some people are so closed minded
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I don't think you need to be annoyed about it. Just accept that people only want the best for their horses - and for me that means a routine that I pretty much stick to.

It doesn't work for everyone - and it's not important to everyone. But essentially all any of us want to do is look after our horses to the best of our abilities, in whichever way we think works best for us.
 
well then why be soo annoyed at people who can't drag their arse out of bed in the morning?? Maybe their horse was given hay the the previouse night at midnight and will not starve to death if left a little later in the morning! Surely that is better than people who last see their horses at 5pm at night and don't see them until 7am leaving them 14 hours without anything... and if you get up 2 hours later at the weekend that will be 16 hours.
 
amymay said:
Lord, even I don't do 6am on a weekend - that's strictly weekdays only. I aim to be on the yard by around 7.30 on a weekend.
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Out of interest, when you're at the yard at 7:30am, at the weekend, what time do you have to get out of bed in a morning?
 
Sarah1 said:
Out of interest, when you're at the yard at 7:30am, at the weekend, what time do you have to get out of bed in a morning?
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Well, it's only 5 mins down the road, so I could get out of bed at 7.25. But I probably get out of bed at around 6.45. Feed cats, have coffee and some toast etc. have a little potter, then jump in the car. I'm naturally an early riser, so I suppose I don't find it difficult getting up, which does make a difference to my day.
 
mcrobbiena said:
well then why be soo annoyed at people who can't drag their arse out of bed in the morning?? Maybe their horse was given hay the the previouse night at midnight and will not starve to death if left a little later in the morning! Surely that is better than people who last see their horses at 5pm at night and don't see them until 7am leaving them 14 hours without anything... and if you get up 2 hours later at the weekend that will be 16 hours.
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Agreed.

My horse has a huge haynet I can actually fit in it without being curled into a ball!! On a Friday & Saturday night that net is filled to bursting and in the morning, even at 9am, he still hasn't managed to eat it all! He has the biggest tub trug bucket you can find - it's full to the brim & I can't even drag it to his stable on my own. He also has an automatic drinker in there.

He's in a mare & foal box so his stable is enormous - plenty of room for him to mooch about if he wants.

Do I think it's cruel - considering the above things - to leave him in his stable until maybe 9am? Absolutely not, he'll be ridden when I get there & then have the whole day in the field with another huge mound of hay, to do whatever he wants!

He has the life of riley - I don't think it's unfair to expect him to wait a couple of hours without turning into a crazed lunatic! ;)
 
amymay said:
Well, it's only 5 mins down the road, so I could get out of bed at 7.25. But I probably get out of bed at around 6.45. Feed cats, have coffee and some toast etc. have a little potter, then jump in the car. I'm naturally an early riser, so I suppose I don't find it difficult getting up, which does make a difference to my day.
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Well in my world 6:45am is a lie in so when you asked if horse owners get any lie in's I'd say, yes, they clearly do! :D

Ah the joys of my daughter! I wouldn't swap her for all the world but I kind of wish she'd sleep a bit more!!!!!! :D
 
amymay said:
Because it annoys me that someone can have so little consideration for their horse to do that.

You, however, are annoyed at a point of view - big difference.;)
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This is true, but is it not inconsiderate to leave your hours for 16 hours?

I am lucky, my horses are at mum and dads and the kitchen looks out onto the field so I can watch them 24/7 if they are out. The stables are up the drive so I can go out in PJ's and check them. We have ALWAYS fed hay and checked water etc alst thing at night any time after 10pm when we walk the dogs but not always early in the mornings-not early risers in my family unless there is something on. We are always out by 9am though usually before. Also between me and mum we go out to them 4 times a day. I am not sure why they are out 24/7 but because they are there and we take the dogs out it just happens! But my aunt babysite her grandkids and she sees her horses 2 times a day at 10am and at 8 or 9pm. I cant see how this is worse than sseing them at 7am and 5pm if we are talking about the dragging arses out of bed thing!
 
well if a horse is left from 5pm at night until 7am in the morning, he has been left 14 hours in a stable. If the owner were to get up at 9am it has been left 16 hours. This more inconsiderate than giving them hay and water at midnight and going out a 9, they are only left 9hours without hay or water or being checked. Basically, I don't think it matters how early you get up to do your horse. If you dont space the times out correctly its as bad as being down later and away later that being up early and away early? or am I being a bit mental?!:confused:

We have gone of the topic of routine but you get my drift...don't you?anyone?!
 
mcrobbiena said:
well if a horse is left from 5pm at night until 7am in the morning, he has been left 14 hours in a stable. If the owner were to get up at 9am it has been left 16 hours. This more inconsiderate than giving them hay and water at midnight and going out a 9, they are only left 9hours without hay or water or being checked. Basically, I don't think it matters how early you get up to do your horse. If you dont space the times out correctly its as bad as being down later and away later that being up early and away early? or am I being a bit mental?!:confused:
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Oh I don't disagree with you - and am very jealous of your having them at home.

Thankfully I've always kept horses on yards where evening checks etc are done. Which is very reassuring.
 
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