How important is turnout to you when choosing a yard?

Meowy Catkin

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I saw an ad for a yard that stated 'Small amount of summer grazing while mucking out. Turn out in arena while mucking out.' The yard has good facilities.

It got me thinking.

Does turnout have to be on grass or would you be happy with an all weather corral?
How long (minimum) per day would you want your horse to be out?
Does the season alter how much turnout you would like your horse to have?
Would you be happy if your horse was barn kept (loose in a big barn with other horses) in the winter?
Would you prefer your horse to be on individual turnout, or do you prefer group turnout (no aggressive horses in the group)?
 
I prefer my horses to go out in a field everyday but its not always practical so if they have to stay in for the odd day so be it, I would be happy for them to be in a barn with hay on bad weather days but not everyday, I prefer group turnout but if they had to go out alone as long as the horse was happy it wouldnt bother me.

I think 2 hours minimum turnout for horses and just turning out while mucking out is really not long enough long term I dont think, my mare was on box rest from December to March and so my gelding had to go out alone, as I only have the two at home I had no option but to put him out alone, he would only stay out for about an hour then wanted in and after two weeks he just stood by the gate so I gave up, so he also stayed in for nearly two months I did worry at first as they are both used to being out everyday, but he coped fine and was happy enough his ridden everyday and I was supprised how little it affected him so I think sometimes we think they must go out but I think most horses can cope on very little or no turnout better than we think, plus point was all my fields got a lovely rest and they were under water for much of it so would have been a right mess with horses on them.
 
Turnout is top of my list and I prefer group turnout. Mine are out 24/7 so decent shelter when out is important. I prefer grass turnout though turnout of any kind is preferable to none.

The objection I have to barn kept is that the air will be less clean than in an open field. I have seen it done as an alternative to stabling overnight and it worked well. I would not want that 24/7 though.
 
Would depend on which of my horses I was trying to find stabling for...

Rio my stallion would probably be most happy if he was kept in all the time with little turnout as long as he was exercised as he doesn't really like being out - you turn him out he eats grass for about an hour and then he stands at the gate neighing until you get him in. He cant be turned out with anyone as he has no idea how to act like a horse really and he doesnt like them too close but is fine with the mini in the field next to him but doesnt care if he is there or not so it doesnt bother me so much with Rio..

My other 2 however I would rather have no stabling and 24/7 turnout then no turnout at all... I don't have a death wish and they are unsettled when stabled... I like heard or small group turnout but if its individual but with others close by i would still consider it.
 
Regular turnout is my highest priority for facilities when choosing a yard. Like Cocorules I would also prefer group turnout - I have never been at a yard with individual turnout. I look for at least four hours a day, and currently my yard does out during the day/ in at night so we get eight hours. They will go out 24/7 for the best 4-6 months of the year.

I would definitely prefer grass too, although I could live with all weather in the very worst winter weather.

Barn turnout would make me uneasy - if horses are turned out in a group I like them to have loads of space in case of arguments.
 
Group turnout in a field. I can't imagine any other way because that's what I've always had and I think it's the natural thing to do.
 
There's a full livery yard nearby that has very small paddocks and the horses rarely go out. They maybe go out for half an hour a day while mucking out. We call it prison. I want as much as possible as 24/7 summer, though can understand restricted turnout in wet winters.
 
Does turnout have to be on grass or would you be happy with an all weather corral? - Would absolutely have to be grass.
How long (minimum) per day would you want your horse to be out? - 12 hours but would prefer 24/7
Does the season alter how much turnout you would like your horse to have? - No, I feel it's important for horses to have as much turn out as possible.
Would you be happy if your horse was barn kept (loose in a big barn with other horses) in the winter? - No
Would you prefer your horse to be on individual turnout, or do you prefer group turnout (no aggressive horses in the group)? - Prefer turnout in a group.

I wouldn't even consider keeping a horse at the yard in the advert you've described. Horses are grazing animals and for me it is imperative that any horse of mine spends as much time out in the field as possible, for their physical and mental well being.
 
I saw an ad for a yard that stated 'Small amount of summer grazing while mucking out. Turn out in arena while mucking out.' The yard has good facilities.

It got me thinking.

Does turnout have to be on grass or would you be happy with an all weather corral?
How long (minimum) per day would you want your horse to be out?
Does the season alter how much turnout you would like your horse to have?
Would you be happy if your horse was barn kept (loose in a big barn with other horses) in the winter?
Would you prefer your horse to be on individual turnout, or do you prefer group turnout (no aggressive horses in the group)?

Not sure why anyone would choose to keep their horse this way! I presume then that they get NO Turnout in the winter then!? Even when mucking out...

Turnout is important to me. I'd say it doesn't have to be grass, as long as they can have a run about and can interact with other horses, I don't think it matters too much. There are plenty of horses in hot countries that don't get grass and they seem happy and healthy as long as they are not cooped up all day.

Minimum for me - 6 hours

Yes altered by season, but no less than 6

I wouldn't be happy for my horse to be in a barn all winter, they need fresh air!!

I prefer small group turnout, but understand why some people choose individual.
 
It would be top of my list. Mine are all kept at home, and sorting their turn out is always top priority. They are used to being out pretty much 24/7 and moved around different fields and areas. I only ever stable one, only in the winter and only at night, because she loses condition easily. I like my horses to live like horses and what you have described I would find very unnatural and would fear it would lead to an unhappy life. I'm a bit softy though!
 
turn out every day is a must for me, at least 8hrs per day when in work if not in work i would turn away 24/7, ideally live out in a herd, where i am currently they can live out till at least end of september (from 1st april) longer if weather good.

in reality my mare is on her own with others either side as the yard constantly moves difficult ones in and out of the group fields and the owners get no warning so no chance to be around or boot up.
 
Al's little one is pretty chill with whatever happens, as long as he's got friends nearby- he was just as happy in almost fulltime this winter as he is out. He's much less whappy ridden when he's out, but in terms of his stable behaviour and how he is in himself he was so happy in. He slept almost all day!

Reg however, must be able to be out most of the time. He's now advertised for loan and one of the key requirements is his new home must have good turnout with nice friends for him. He hates living in, hates it, and gets very stressed and upset. Which is why he's going up for loan- Al has a job at a pro yard where turnout is very limited.
 
For me turnout 24/7 is preferable but I do have large yards with barn and shelter access for turnout to restrict grazing or it's too boggy. It's easy for me as I have mine at home and they are a stable herd so no fighting etc.

I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about yards who don't have grass free turnout areas for horses with laminitis or who need serious dieting.

I start with the thinking that horses need to be able to move freely 24/7 with stable Equine company and work backwards from there. So if I had to use a yard and had one horse I would want grass free turnout with shelter available and a fairly stable horse population so herd living was possible and safe.
 
what an awful place that sounds! Grazing is top of my list with menage and hacking equal second. We have 24/7 available in 2 big single sex herds. I wouldnt want more than one or two good buddies in a barn in case of bullying. If it had good air flow then that would be better than a stuffy fully enclosed one.
 
I find loose barns and shelters need at least two good sized openings to the outside so much less chace of a horse getting trapped. I don't shut mine in the barn all together (no doors anyway lol) they can come and go as they wish to the yards. The hay barn has a section I can use if one or a couple need to be shut in/seperated for whatever reason and I can close gates to make two yards, one has an open shelter and access to the fields the other then has the group barn access. I don't have any stables!
 
A livery yard is my horse's home, not mine, so turnout is crucial. They need to be happy, social, with room to have a gallop and play in their free time.

If the yard in the advert was all I could get, I'd rather put up a couple of stables with some hard standing in my garden at home.

I have had to compromise with winter grazing at current yard as the land holds a lot of water in winter, but even so, they go out in the field everyday and can be turned out in the school if needed.

Agree with Amandap about facilities for Laminitics, so many yards make no provision for horses that can't cope with rich grazing. So much can be done with a little thought instead of just expecting owners to put a muzzle on 24/7. Muzzling continuously is as bad for horse welfare as the yard with no grazing.
 
I would not consider a yard without proper turnout. I'd accept a paddock paradise type set up for the summer or winter, but not a 'small area'. I have lovely paddocks where I am, but even then I have the urge to plant hedging. I compromise by letting them eat on hacks or taking up tree cuttings/hedgerow plants.
 
Turnout is top of my list and I prefer group turnout. Mine are out 24/7 so decent shelter when out is important. I prefer grass turnout though turnout of any kind is preferable to none.

The objection I have to barn kept is that the air will be less clean than in an open field. I have seen it done as an alternative to stabling overnight and it worked well. I would not want that 24/7 though.

Ditto this. Turn out is the most important factor for me.
 
I wouldn't accept this but otherwise it depends on the horse- my cob could cope well with 3 or 4 hours a day turnout - my young mare - not so much - I'm not sure how u can say 'good facilities' if you have no turn out...
 
Unfortunately all the yards I've been on that have good facilities such as walker, ménage, solarium etc all have had rubbish turnout.

Now I have a big field with a double shelter, electric and water. But the horses can be out 24/7 which is the main thing.
 
Turnout is crucial to me, at least out during the day and in at night. I would love to have the option of an all weather turnout area to help with weight control though.
 
In the past I've kept ponies out 24/7 in summer and in at night and in a yard/corral with hay during the day and even then I noticed the difference in temperament. My fantasy yard would have a barn set up with some tracks and a corral, as well as fields, for when the grass is too sugary/ or saturated mud but ideally out 24/7 with a shelter would do me. I hate hate hate with a fiery passion tiny postage stamp fields with electric fencing and no shelter or company.
 
Here's the link to the ad. It's been updated and now reads 'Sole not shared turnout in arena while mucking out.' http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/110775630/private-diy-stables.html

I'm glad that I'm not alone in thinking that turnout is vital when considering a livery yard. :)

is it run by a cult ??

10 x 12 foot box to stand in for all bar maybe an hour a day ??? and i though battery hens were bad off - i mean seriously, what type of person would keep their horse in this hell hole ? - unless you could ride twice a day, and put them on the horse walker twice a day (if allowed as use is "reasonable") how could you even consider keeping horses like this long term - unless they needed box rest for a medical reason.

That last bit made me laugh - no horses with issues - in brackets it should read - as they will have enough by the time you realise the owner is a control freak and you manage to pluck up the courage to leave ! lol
 
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is it run by a cult ??

10 x 12 foot box to stand in for all bar maybe an hour a day ??? and i though battery hens were bad off - i mean seriously, what type of person would keep their horse in this hell hole ? - unless you could ride twice a day, and put them on the horse walker twice a day how could you even consider keeping horses like this long term - unless they needed box rest for a medical reason.

This absolutely anyone that considers an hour a day out of a small cage should be arrested and prosecuted under the welfare laws that is absolutely abhorrent
Turnout of at least 8 hours per day 365 days a year is paramount and should never be compromised personally 12 or 16 hours but I know this isnt always possible no horse should be imprisoned in a tiny cage for hours and days on end
 
I agree GW.

I was actually trying to be tactful when I made the OP as the last ad I quoted, ended up with the person who wrote the ad coming on here very upset. Then i thought that I'm not being unreasonable thinking that I wouldn't want my horse on that yard (as so many others rate turnout as important), so put the link to the ad on. :)

You make a good point though, it might be perfect for a horse with an injury - i hadn't thought of that.
 
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