How many hours turnout?

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Archie73

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Summer and winter please. Dry or wet. Snow or not. This is aimed at horses that are stabled for part of the day please.
Thanks !
 
Summer = Around 7 hours.
Winter = Not to sure as not long moved to the yard but fields are kept in good condition so should have some turnout each day.
 
Essentially as much as possible. There will always be the odd occasion where they stay in because the weather is vile, though.
 
loads

summer 24/7 and winter about 10 hours a day unless really grim. Snow and rain do not = really grim. They go out in both just the same. They only stay in over the winter if it it has been windy and rainy for days and BH has obviously had enough.
 
In an ideal world, as much as possible, but despite having my own place and lots of land, it is wet clay fields, and we have two prone to mudrash, and had another two that got sweetitch, so turnout gets worked around their health! All of them are stupidly good doers too.

Winter - Out from 7.30am-6.30pm but on a chippings hard standing area due to muddy clay fields and one prone to mudrash. Out in real fields once or twice a week for a few hours. They seem quite happy on this, much more than standing in all day and going out for an hour or two, which is the other alternative..

Summer - Out all night, in during day - the reverse of the above. Suits them as one has allergic reactions to fly bites, an also they are fatties by nature! It also means that if someone else is riding my horse they don't have to chase her roun the field!
 
Summer 24/7 if possible, they spend time in during the day to keep out of heat, if we ever get any this year, to get fed and to allow me to work them without wasting time going to get them in.

Winter anything from an hour or two to most of the available daylight hours depending on the weather and the individual horse.
 
I do think that 24/7 turnout in the summer is vital - not only for the horse, but for the owner too.

Takes the pressure off us doing our chores, and gives the horse a well earned mental break.
 
Yard allows 24/7 365 days but as mine is a fatty I've found restricting turnout has helped lots with her weight loss (combined with soaked hay, muzzle and daily exercise). I do aim for 12hrs turnout though.

So at the moment:

Jan-Mar: Goes out approx 7am, comes in approx 6.15pm
April-Oct: Comes in approx 8am, goes out approx 8pm (depends on how long ridden for)
Nov & Dec: lives out 24/7
 
amymay said:
I do think that 24/7 turnout in the summer is vital - not only for the horse, but for the owner too.

Takes the pressure off us doing our chores, and gives the horse a well earned mental break.
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I totally agree. I am really struggling as my two are usually out by now but due to the weather I've been holding off leaving them overnight. I feel absolutely exhausted.I need a lie in!!
 
Summer 24, Winter between 10 and 12 hours depending on my working patterns - whatever the weather. They might come in a bit earlier in snow or torrential rain, but only if they're hanging around the gate looking miserable and somebody takes pity on them. They're normally last out as I work later than the other girls at the yard so sometimes do their best poor starving horsey look and hope for sympathy.
 
During the wettest winter months they go out for 3 - 4 hours in an all weather turnout with haylage. They seem really content on this. In the Spring and Autumn, they go out for ten hours on the paddocks, and during the summer they go out 24/7. Unfortunately though they are back on their winter routine now due to the terrible weather. Whilst they are very happy with this in the winter, they are not so happy with this in the Spring, and nor am I! I could cry to be honest.
 
I dson't have enough grazing to allow for 24/7 sadly....but in summer when at grass they are out for at least 12-14 hours. In winter in the trash paddock they are still out for about 10 hours.

I never ever keep them in....but if its foul they may come in a bit earlier than usual.
 
I run a small yard and tailor turnout to the individual.

Atm we have 2 throroughbred ex racers. In the winter they have turnout every day for approx 3 - 6 hrs depending on weather/ground conditions. When it is very wet or snow, they get turned in the school twice a day. In the summer (when it does come!!), they are out overnght and in during the day. This routine suits them and they are very settled - indeed if you try to leave them out longer in the winter they just stress.

The more cobby types have approx 8hrs winter turnout and in at night in the winter, and are out 24/7 in the summer.

The shetlands are out 24/7, 365.

Hope that helps!
 
Nov-March - 6/7 hours a day

From March - 11 hours per day

Usually end up on 24/7 by the end of April but not this year!!

They had about 8 days in 24/7 over Winter as the weather was so bad and grazing was sparse.
 
In the winter about 7 hours (9-4ish). If weather is horrific ie torrential rain and blowing a gale my older horse will only venture out for an hour or so then he just stands there calling his head off. Other 2 may come in a bit earlier in thisvweather if they look like they want to.
In the summer my older horse comes in at night still but has about 10 hours out sometime more. Other two come in for about 4hours in the day.
 
April till Dec 24/7. Dec-march usually out 7/7.30 till 6/6.30, maybe an extra hour in march. Minus riding/ grooming time.
 
The current horse is on limited turn out when the weather is bad - usually a couple of hours or left in all day (he gets exercised for at least 40-60 minutes on days he's in - proper intensive schooling). In the summer when the weather is good, 8-9 hours. I would love to keep him out all the time but he hates the rain and spends far too much time getting into trouble & injuring himself at the slightest hint of wind/rain and it's just not worth the risk. He's one of those horses genuinely happier in his stable on bad days.

But agree if the horse will cope with it, would much prefer him out 24/7.
 
Out 24/7 all year round, with a field shelter. Shelter will have a door put on for next winter incase my mare gets mud fever but apart from that, out 24/7 :)
 
Winter out by 5.30 am and in about 4 later if not riding. Summer 24/7 but because of weather mine are back in now and out at 5.30 back in about 6pm
 
24/7 in summer when it finally arrives! They are usually allowed out 24/7 from 1st May at our yard but at the moment the fields are far too wet and it's still pretty cold at night so still in at night. In winter 6- 8 hours the YMs don't like people going to the fields in the dark so offer assisted DIY as a minimum and get the horses in between 3/4pm. We have had a few days in when the fields are just too wet but this winter the most they have been in is 5 days so not too bad and now the 1st of May is here they are out everyday because the single farm payment is not applicable between may and October or something like that!
 
Winter 7ish
Summer 10 ish, although pony has piled weight on in the last few weeks on the spring grass so he's being brought in earlier now
 
24/7 in summer, 11 - 12 hours in the winter. I wouldn't keep a horse on a yard with grazing restricted to a few hours or where they couldn't be turned out every day.
 
Over the winter, Reg is off work totally so goes out in an enormous field (with lots of natural shelter, and a proper open sided field shelter) 24/7 and just chills. Then for the rest of the year (he has about 3/4 months off) the aim is 24/7 turnout. Not possible in awful weather as he churns the fields up, but by mid spring he's out and won't come in again really.

He probably isn;t a typical ex-racer in that respect, but the 24/7 turnout helps him keep really chilled and on an even keel.
 
Mine are out 24/7 all year round, even the good doer. I've always looked for livery that has good grazing with shelter so the fields can cope with all conditions. They have stables but rarely use them.

I just increase the good doer's work load in relation to the grass, which so far has always worked for him.
 
Summer/spring/autumn - up to 3 hrs but usually 2.
Winter - up to 5/6 hrs.

Littl'uns lamanitic and won't stay in on her own so my bigger mares on the same routine at the mo!
 
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