In at night in winter vs out ?

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jehsb

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I have recently moved to a yard where there is a field shelter, which is something I've never had available before. My horse has always come in at night over the winter and been turned out all day then lived out 24/7 over the summer months. He is rugged, well fed and seems happy with either option but I am struggling to get my head round leaving him out at night when it is dark and wet ! He will come in at night if the weather is really bad but wondered what everyones thoughts were on which their horses were happier with ?
To add, we are on sandy, very well draining land so no mud :-)
 
If you have a field shelter and they're happy to use it, out out out!
Then they can make their own choices which will frequently surprise you, and it will save you so much work in the cold and wet.

I put a big deep straw bed in so they always have a dry spot for a lie down, poo pick it as much as possible but essentially deep litter it, and do a big dig in the spring.
 
If i wasn't on a llvery yard and as such party to the rules, I'd defo leave out, with appropriate rugging and shelter obvs.
I fail to see any major benefits to stabling at night for the horse and/or owner. Ours have only been in now a week and I'm fed up already of mucking out, turning out, rushing to bring in at 5pm, filling more multiple buckets of water, soaking haynets, etc.
 
We tried it with ours last winter, the yard imposed a new regime of in during the day and out at night over winter....long story short we all hated the regime, complained and the horses went back to in at night by mid december! We had lots of injuries, lost shoes, escape through fences etc...they had NO shelter at all, the fields could not cope with the constant pacing at the fences etc. Even the vet said it was a bit bonkers given the set up there.

Ultimately our horses were used to being in at night over winter and did not like the alternate given the environment. I think all you can do is try and see? Many do like it....

Personally I hate the thought of them being out in terrible weather, I know that's me and I've always had them in at night in winter....but I pay the bills and want to be happy with the situation!!
 
My retired boy is out with a herd 24/7. They have hard standing (compressed soil and grit) to stand on during the night where they eat ad lib hay from large hay feeders so out of the mud and wet underfoot. There is no shelter to get out of the rain but there are high hedges and a brick building and wall to shelter against. I know its not ideal but its the best I can do for him. There are also rubber mats to stand on for those horses who might find it uncomfortable standing on concrete. Horses are adapted to live out 24/7 and many times its probably better for them to be moving but it does depend on the environment and if they can't get out of the mud at all then that is not acceptable.
 
Highmileagecob said:
See what your horse wants to do! If he's waiting by the gate as soon as it gets dark, and asking to come in......well, there's your answer! Mine would be under a hedge in the furthest corner of the field if winter overnight was allowed.
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I think that very much depends on their routine though. They just get set in their ways a bit. My retired horse was always at the gate to come in at the correct time in the morning and happy out over night. He is now out 24/7 and so never stands at the gate.
 
Thank you all for your replies. Will see how we go. He is happy being wherever his hay is really, has shelter and as we are on sand it is always dry underfoot and while I am trying to convince myself of the benefits of him being out 24/7 I know I won't be able to do it when it is really wet and windy !
 
Definitely leave him out, it’s far more natural and healthy if he has plenty to eat and it’s not over his fetlocks in mud. Give him a week or two to settle into the new routine but I’m sure he’ll let you know if he doesn’t like it.
Also don’t be surprised if he doesn’t use the shelter much in winter, a lot just use them for shade in summer
 
Sounds like a good set up. I would let the horse tell you. Mine live out most the time but do like to come in when the weather is particularly wild. Cold doesn't seem to bother them at all.
 
Ours are at home and after we were down to 2 we started to leave them out with a shelter - the land couldn't sustain 4 out 24/7. They are much more relaxed being able to make their own choices. We rug in the very worst weather, especially if the wind is from the east, as the shelter is open to the east but we haven't had to bring them in since before Covid.
We do a sort of semi deep litter system in the shelter and have bins attached to the walls for hay which they often leave and come back to in dry weather.
I check them over the gate as I let the dogs out first thing in the morning, (still wearing my dressing-gown), with no.pressure to get them out before I've had my breakfast.
Yes in winter, they are peering through the house windows looking for the next hay sometimes but they aren't interested in coming in, they just want to be fed which ime is the main reason that horses hang around the gate, whichever system they are kept in.
I wouldn't go back to stabling without a very good reason such as needing box-rest.
 
I much prefer out. A field shelter is good but mine prefer to shelter against the hedges and trees, they use their shelters far more in summer. As long as they have enough to eat to help them keep warm and you’re not knee deep in mud, go for it.
 
I leave out as much as I can. They come in when the weather is bad regardless of whether it’s day or night. Last winter they did start coming in at night every day last year from December - almost April because it was so wet but I have a field shelter this year so going to try and leave them out as much as possible.
 
I am very fortunate to now be able to do what I like really, so far at least. But although my horse is in a lovely big field (about 10 acres) we are on heavy clay. If it's a winter like last year's that won't be fun. If it gets really wet and windy I prefer bringing in. Likewise if it gets too boggy out in the field (mine doesn't hang by the gate generally) I will bring in to give my horse's feet and skin a chance to dry out. There are a few trees in the field, but those and the hedge are the only shelter - and it's already getting a bit churned up under the trees.

If I were on well-drained soil and there was more shelter it'd be a no-brainer - mine would be out unless it was really vile weather.
 
jehsb said:
I have recently moved to a yard where there is a field shelter, which is something I've never had available before. My horse has always come in at night over the winter and been turned out all day then lived out 24/7 over the summer months. He is rugged, well fed and seems happy with either option but I am struggling to get my head round leaving him out at night when it is dark and wet ! He will come in at night if the weather is really bad but wondered what everyones thoughts were on which their horses were happier with ?
To add, we are on sandy, very well draining land so no mud :)
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Where is this amazing sandy well drained place - I'm moving there asap...

(on clay here)
 
Mine are all out 24/7 - if you watch them they use the shelter a lot, but definitely like to stretch their legs every hour or so.

One thing to be wary of though is, if the field gets wet you need to manage slightly differently to reduce the risk of abscesses, etc.
 
If my field would sustain Faran being out 24/7 with a shelter and he has pals I’d do it but he wants in when everyone else comes in, so he wouldn’t have any company and would fret.

I have a field to suit myself and have been able to make a track system and divide it up as needs be 😊

If I ever had my own field and he had company in it I’d leave them out 24/7 with a shelter if the land would sustain it 😁 you have a great set up at that yard if you have that choice 😁
 
Mine live out all year but around Feb when the grass has gone and the field is grim my littlest cob goes on strike at tea time and says its stable time. It's usually when it's wet, cold & miserable and so they come in overnight for a bit.

I have a new shelter in the winter field and a tonne of grass this year so it'll be interesting to see what she thinks. Play it by ear.
 
I’d certainly try it for a working horse provided the field could sustain it without getting trashed and the shelter was good. If the horse is happy and settled with the arrangement then great. If not switch back to stabling. Nice to have the flexibility!
 
MagicMelon said:
You're struggling in your own head, do you think you're horse would struggle? I can think of very very few horses who would opt for being stabled over living out 24/7. Seems like a super easy decision to be honest!
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Thank you, you've hit the nail on the head !
 
If it’s not horrific weather, and the field isn’t constantly wet/muddy then most would prefer to be out. If this winter is like the last and it’s weeks of endless rain in a boggy, muddy field - in for a break is good for hoof health if nothing else.

My current field is already getting wet in the summer paddocks. Winter paddock is now in use but won’t last forever. Planning on buddying up with a friend in a better draining field, but if that fails they’ll be in at night.
 
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