How much turnout do your horses get through the winter months?

SpottedCat said:
I would hate to be in your area as I would hate for my horses not to go out every day in a field, but I understand needs must!

I class 'turnout' as somewhere big enough for them to kick their heels up a bit - and I want my horses out as much as possible - mine live out 24/7 unless I have to bring them in (they did about 12 nights in last winter).
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Ditto. Field is best as I think a horse needs to graze, but if you spread hay about (ie. fed off the floor) then a wood chip is certainly far better than stabling.

I keep mine out 24/7 on grass (at home) but we're on good draining soil up here and mine also have a hardcored yard that they have full access to (so they can get into their stables whenever they wish).
 
One of mine is agoraphobic and it's not possible to turn him out at all in an open space. He came to me this way :( If he can't get over the fence, he goes through it to come back to the safety of the yard, even if there are no horses on my yard and they are all out. He's happy turned out in the indoor for a few hours a day though. It's also not possible to hack him. However, he is a smashing comp horse :) Trained to GP in Germany and competing Advanced with me now.

All the others are out 24/7 in the summer (weather permitting) and out from 7.30am until dusk in the winter.
 
I like mine out for some of the day which is normally out in the morning and in at lunchtime (mad dash from work and back again). Ideally it would be longer but yard tries to manage its fields. I don't really like getting in in the dark anyway although my old horse used to stay out at another yard til about 6 ish with a friend's horse and whoever was there first would get in.

I would always prefer a field though if that field is just going to be trashed to mud then the woodchip is a good option. I would want to put hay in a number of locations to try to recreate the wandering round the field effect.
 
Mine go out once the frost is off the grass, I won't turn out until it's gone as I have horses who have all had laminitus and won't risk it. Generally it means they go out anytime from 9.30 (if it's a lovely sunny morning) to 11, then they come in between 2-4 depending on light.
However I do have one who some days decides after only 10 mins he's had enough and wants in, other days he's fine.
I also won't turn out if the ground is absolutely frozen solid as I've seen too many horses slip and hurt themselves badly, I do turn out on snow though only for a short time as they get bored.
Also if it's heavy rain they don't go out as all they do is stand round the gateway, looking miserable, getting into mischief and poaching the gateway up!
If they don't go out they get ridden and they are all contented with the routine, none of them have any stable vices or get stressed if they've had to have a few days in.
 
mines stay out in summer 24/7 for as long as possible. Last year they came in the beginning of November. Once they are in they are stabled at niht nd go out in small pens during the day - maybe 20x20 and a sand/wood chip surface.
They are usually out for the summer in april/may again. they usually go thru a little crazy spell in january but other than that he do well on it. and its lovely not to traipse through mucky fields!
they are out in all weathers with appropriate rugs. they spent a few days in last year with the snow.
 
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