How important is turnout to you when choosing a yard?

Personally, I would never stable at a yard where I didn't have the option of 24/7 turnout all year round.
 
Very, My horses would need to be turned out every day. I have two - one wouldnt HAVE to be turned out but he'd get p****d after a while and bloshy the other one would go nutty if she didn't have turnout i think..
 
Turnout is very important. At one yard I viewed that offered all year turnout but in winter horses had to be in by 1pm. If you worked you were expected to pay someone to bring in which was a rather sneaky way of making money.

I can understand the benefit of turning out in a corral though. A livery's horse has cankur and can't be turned out when it's wet. Horse spends a great deal of time stabled and for her, having the option of turning out in an indoor, sandy school would be better.
 
Ad should also include... will only accept bay TB geldings over 15.2hh with brown eyes. Owners must have blonde hair... wear Ariat boots and Musto coats and only eat cake on Wednesdays... Of course, my two do not meet the said requirements of the existing ad anyway!

On another note, turnout is paramount for mine too.
 
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24/7 turnout in the summer without a shadow of a doubt and daily turnout in the winter. When the weather is wet and windy I leave my two in by day as well which they are happy with!! If they stay in for more than 2 days in a row they start to get cabin fever and start pinging off the walls lol.

Also has to be on grass - can't beat the benefits of Dr Green :-)
 
We looked at a yard nr BSE Suffolk which had massive stables and great facilities. When YO said NO turnout in winter due to clay ground, I mumbled I'd think about it, didn't go back for second look. Next yard was very different. Massive fields and 24/7 turnout. BUT some distance from yard down a track and no manage. Third yard had turn out. School and stables by field. Facilities are very basic. Chose this one as I work and time is precious to be walking ten minutes each way to field and would hate no winter turnout.
 
Does turnout have to be on grass or would you be happy with an all weather corral? - MUST be on grass

How long (minimum) per day would you want your horse to be out? - Hmm, minimum 5 hours - preferably 8

Does the season alter how much turnout you would like your horse to have? - Yes, if it's wet and windy he turns himself inside out and I would rather not risk tendon/ligament damage so he comes in sooner . . . ditto snow on the ground . . . but if it's relatively nice (don't mind cold - that's what rugs are for) I prefer he stay out longer . . . also, if the grass is getting low and I have nowhere else to put him in the meantime, I will limit turnout (and hay in the field)

Would you be happy if your horse was barn kept (loose in a big barn with other horses) in the winter? Not really. I'm pretty sure that's how he was kept in Poland and that was fine given the winters there, but winters here aren't that harsh . . . plus I can see issues with bolshiness/kicking, etc.

Would you prefer your horse to be on individual turnout, or do you prefer group turnout (no aggressive horses in the group)? I prefer group turnout.

P
 
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