How much turnout do your horses get in winter?

I am moving to a new yard and mine are only allowed out for 4-5 hours everyday. I did hesitate moving there because of it, but to be fair mine were out 6-8 hours last year and they were more than ready to come in well before that. I think that as long as they are allowed to get out for fresh air and a gallop around for several hours and being ridden they cope ok.
 
Mine have always been out all day, in at night - reagardless of weather. Have just moved to new yard and he will now bw in during the day and out at night (only in winter, out 24/7 spring/summer/autumn). Suits me better as it makes fitting in riding a lot easier!
 
I leave them out all the time, ice, snow, blizzards the lot.

Saving the land from poaching really doesn't apply as I get comparitively little rain and the ground is frozen solid from November until at least March, sand as well so it doesn't bog up much anyhow, even in the melt.
 
They are out every day regardless of the weather as their fields are really well sheltered. If there is snow on the ground they get lots more hay put out to eat.
 
Mine have limited turnout in winter - we're far too near the coast and between the wind and the rain poaching up the fields we have little choice but to restrict turnout.

They do go in the school for a buck and a roll during the day though and are worked as well so it's not like they're totally stuck in their stables.
 
I have 66 acres on my farm however the climate on the island I live on a mile off the coast of Norway is terrible from around end Oct to May.

I have made a large wooden fenced area with sand/very small gravel with lots of drainage pipes running underneath situated between the barn and the bottom of the arena (you cant see it in the sig pic as it is well under the height of the end of the school but it runs the entire length of the building ending just before the white horse), they have shelter from the wind due to the buildings in a L shape and have access to the barn for shelter and hay. In the summer the large wooden gate is left permanently open for ease of access.

They also get loose schooled on the arena to get any excess energy out and ridden of course. This method saves my fields being ruined and my queen Oliver from screaming to any passerby if his feet get wet!

After 6 yrs of trial and error this is the best way for us by far! When snow is down (thick Norwegian snow ;-)) they go in the field by day and back in at night that way my fields remain intact with no mud.

Summer they are out 24/7 with the odd night in just to really rest and get away from the flies and midges. Winter they go out around 9am and come back in around 5-6pm.

Owning horses in Wales seems like a walk in the park compared with the climate here, our beach is just a few mins walk down the fields and boy the wind coming up from there is a force to be reckoned with. I have had to change my thinking here and adapt the way I have always kept horses before moving here.
 
4 hours every other day.Poor I know but its the only downside to an otherwise excellent yard.\they do get exercised every day and some turnout in the school on non turnout days.Hay is fed adlib.
 
All 24/7 as no stables. They're all M&M breeds so can handle it - although they do all get rugged and Saf seems to feel the cold the most - I don't think she gets such a thick winter coat as the others. We do have a field shelter, but this is as the bottom of the field. We can't get down there in the car to fill the water up in the winter, so the girls live at the top. They definately use the field shelter more in the summer.
 
I have as much turn out as I want all year round.
In winter I tend to turn out about 7 on my way to work and bring in around 5. I think my horse would be ok with 4 hours a day, but I wouldn't fancy the extra mucking out!

The key thing for me is that at least there is turn out every day. You know your horse best and whether that would be enough for him.
 
one is out 24/7 and the other one goes out at 7.30am and comes in about 4pm he could stop out if he wanted he just likes to come in!
 
24/7 unless ill. Did try barning them one year with limited turnout and they all went stir crazy
crazy.gif
so I just cope with them being out in the weather and mud now
tongue.gif
but they are very hairy natives so seem to love it!
 
out 7-5pm in winter.

We have 4.5 acres and 2 horses, use about 3 acres in winter (1 acre at a time) and it then looks pretty rough (not complete quagmire though like some!) but always seems to come back no problem, they came off it in march and we cut hay mid june this year. Mare would not be good if she didn't go out every day
 
Very little! If the ground is still okay then I will make the most of it and turn out for about 3 hours a day but as soon as the ground goes soft and they sink in more than a couple of inches they don't go out!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top