How important is routine

[Ceriann]

I wfh due to CV-19. Normally by this stage they’d be coming in at night - lateish and then out early morning. Now they stay out or come in as I choose - partly as weather just hasn’t quite turned but also because I can. Is a lack of routine disruptive - they seem happy enough (In or our) but ridden one is livelier to hack at the moment (a bit fresh but more than manageable). Would a clear routine help (more for her than me)?

 

[Cob Life]

I like to not keep in a routine as my job isn’t particularly forgiving so if for some reason I can’t stick to their “normal” routine it doesn’t upset them.

they go out in the morning anywhere from 7-9 then come in in the evening between 4 and 6 sometimes later and that’s as much routine as they get. If I ride both in the morning sometimes they don’t get turned out until 10. They both seem happy with this, and it doesn’t affect how they work depending on what time Of the day I ride.

 

[eggs]

We were always taught how vital routine is but over the years experience has shown me that a strict routine can be more detrimental if there is an instance when the routine has to be broken.

I have a loose routine of being on the yard between 6:30 and 7:45 when the horses get fed. Some days they will go straight out but on others they will stay in until ridden or the farrier has been, etc. They will then go out and generally come in between 2:30 and whenever it gets dark. Sometimes they are ridden and other days not. They all get dinner but not at a set time. If the weather is really foul they may only go out for an hour or two and rarely not at all.

 

[Lucky788]

Mine live out I have a rough routine but don’t stick to exact times and that works for me
Think it depends on your set up and horses

 

[Lucky788]

For example I’m generally up between 7-8 on miserable days they will likely wait at the gate but nicer weather I’ll have to go and fine them

 

[rextherobber]

I have a routine with regard to feeding times, but being in or out is entirely weather dependant, and being ridden can be any when from 6am to 9pm. They don't seem to mind, so long as they're fed, they're happy!

 

[Equi]

If they are not trying to kill you, stick with what you have. More time out of a stable is always preferable in any case and i don't think being in with less energy being spent will help. Yes some like routine but i think its a herd mentality thing..my lad would be bonkers on a yard without a set routine as he wants to do what everyone else is doing be it come in or out..but i think at home with my littles who either come in or don't depending on my level of empathy that day he would be equally as happy. But he would not be happy if i brought them in and not him etc.

 

[nikicb]

My routine is not to have a routine. My horses live at home so that probably makes it easier. They get checked first thing when I get up and last thing before I go to bed. That could shift 3-4 hours either way depending on what I am up to, but they are never left much longer than I sleep. None of them have what I would call hard feed, but my new mare does have breakfast unlike the others, but she is having it any time between 7 and 9.30 at the moment. They rarely get let out in the dark, but they often come in in the dark. None of them fence walk or bang the stable doors and it is a very chilled yard. I prefer it that way, but understand if you are running a business with staff and clients, it is a very different matter. x

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Mine have no routine now as I go up the farm at all times as I work a shift pattern plus they live out with the odd night in, they never really 'expect' me at a certain time, so there's never any anticipation or the behaviour which comes with it. When they were out by day in by night on a routine years ago, I found it a lot harder & stressful as I'd have them waiting at the gate or door hammering in anticipation - but the yard & 9-5 job weren't flexible at all at the time. Do what works for you - they mostly adapt.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have to have a routine as I work full time. If I didn't my jobs wouldn't get done and I wouldn't have time to ride.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The only bit of a routine mine have are they are always fed before 9am - this could be as early as 4.30am or as late as 8.30am. And in the evening they dont get hay before 5pm or hard feed before 6pm. They can be fed any time between 6 and 11pm depending on where I have been away racing.

I prefer not to have a strict regime, it makes them more chilled and not anxious to get in or be fed on the dot etc. Even my exracers quickly adapt and have never had any issues.

 

[dogatemysalad]

It depends on the horse and their environment. Generally speaking, I like routine with some flexibility, depending on weather.

 

[meleeka]

Mine have a routine in that they get hay twice a day and feed once. They are still out too but have had a few nights in, They don’t hate hang in the mornings but are always by the gate when I arrive in the evenings (still grazing but always at that end of the field). That can be anytime but they know I’ll be there at some point.

I only have one that’s ever actually put in a stable, the others are free range. I don’t actually lock the door so she’s free to go out anytime, but the only time she has is if I’ve been late in the mornings, so she must know what time I should arrive.

 

[ponynutz]

I tend to have a yearly routine rather than a daily one so they don't get as upset and can manage them around school and extra-curric stuff

 

[Annagain]

I don't deliberately have a routine, it's just sort of happened. The boys go out at about 6.30am in the week as M's owner, who starts work at 8 puts them out (she prefers to do mornings) and about 8 at weekends. We've always done this, even if we're riding because M won't wee in his stable so is desperate by the morning. We can't even just take him to some grass, he'll only wee in the field and even then only if he's not being held. A is surprisingly chilled about staying in and if M wasn't going out would be quite happy as long as he had hay. Charlie's fitting in with this at the moment. I've tried to give him less of a routine and leave him in if I'm riding but he doesn't like being left on his own so he goes out with them and I'll get him in after an hour if I'm riding. I've started riding in the mornings before work as it's increasingly difficult to finish work at a sensible time to ride. He goes out at 6.30, comes in at about 7.45, is ridden from 8-8.30 (he doesn't have the stamina in the school for much more yet) then goes back out for the day.

They come in by about 6 every evening. If I haven't ridden in the morning and I finish work in time, Charlie will come in earlier and be ridden while the other two stand at the arena fence and watch. It doesn't seem to make a difference to Charlie when I ride him, although I did have to lunge him first last week when it was still -1 at 8am. He didn't do anything naughty, he was just very on his toes and cantered round non-stop for 5 minutes. Normally I have to chase him to get him to canter on the lunge and it's a real effort to get more than a circle out of him! He just wanted to get warm I think. I haven't ridden him straight from the stable yet but I don't think it would be a problem.

They don't have hay in the field so they always come in to a full hay bar and a token tea and they always go out as soon as we arrive in the mornings. They're more bothered about going out as soon as they see us in the morning than coming in as soon as they see us in the evening. I'd love them to be free range, or out with decent shelter and plenty of hay but it's just not possible where we are.

 

[windand rain]

No routine here at all but they know before we turn into the lane we are coming no matter what time we turn up. It is a bit weird really as the lane has hedges so they can't see us but the regular walkers tell us they neigh and walk up to the food stations as few seconds before we turn in. Must be the car as they took a while to do it when we changed vehicles

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I think it depends on the horse. My mare is pretty laid back but when she was on full livery and herd turnout they had a set order staff would bring the horses in/turn out. My mare was something like 2nd to come in. God forbid an owner went to get their mare in before her, she turned into demon pony which is so out of character, my friends tiny 3 year old child can lead her, she's a poppet normally!

Now she's on DIY, still herd turnout but because it varies so much who comes in and when she isn't bothered at all. So in that sense I don't like to set too much of a routine. But otherwise she knows she will be turned out somewhere between 6-8am and brought in between 6-7pm. She knows her bed will be the same, her feed and hay will be the same and my riding will be relatively consistent!

 

[rabatsa]

Mine do not have a fixed routine. I shovel the poo at least twice a day and give a token amount of hay each end of the day. As I am giving a sugar beet feed once a day they are having that sometime in the afternoon as I will not leave it to freeze overnight, otherwise it would be given in the morning. As they are at home I just pop in and clean up any droppings if I am around the yard. They have a water trough and bale of oat straw in a ring feeder so I do not feel guilty if I only get to do them properly once a day. They are not shut in stables though, except to eat their bucket feeds, and have free access to stables, barn and loafing area outside.

 

[sjdress]

Now my horse is retired from competing and mainly living out she doesn’t have quite such a set routine. She is done twice a day, but times vary. She will come in if the weather is bad, or stay out if it’s ok.
she’s actually better like this. When in a strict set routine on a yard she would be waiting to come in at bring in time and get annoyed if I was slightly late. Same in the morning to go out to the field. Now she couldn’t care less and carries on munching until she sees me, so I think it is better for her in a way.