In in the day, out at night?

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Ava

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I have a fit eventer and my mum has a hunter who she wants to be calm. Recently she has changed the horse's routine from going in in the night and out in the day to in in the day and out during the night. I thought this was more of a summer thing and when the nights become darker and colder they should come in in the night and out in the day. I have said to my mum that I am happy with this new routine until the clocks go back and it gets colder. However she is saying how she will keep her horse in in the day for the whole year because it makes her horse calmer. I do not agree with this and want to prove to her that she is wrong for the winter! However if what she says is true and backed up I will abide by her rules! Opinions....?
 
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My horse lives out during the night and in during the day all year round. Its uits him really well. Its tough (on me!) during the winter but he doesnt mind as long as he is warm. As to whether it keeps him calmer - he is certainly more settled being out for longer.
 
I do this mainly because 2 of mine have to share a stable. It works fine, and is especially good for my boy's prat faced field mate. He is a complete and utter idiot if made to stay in at night. Last winter they were out 24/7 and coped absolutely fine which was better than we would have expected. We don't plan to change, because the welsh fool is so much better to deal with on this routine.

I think you should try it and see how you go. I think they will be fine. My personal view is that your mother is correct.
 
I do this with my horses. they come in at 7.30 in the morning and go out at 2 o clock, i find it suits me, and i dont have as much work to do cleaning stables out, i wouldnt have it any other way.
 
Some very active horses are often calmer and less stressed when they are out in the field and can move around freely rather than being confined in a stable too long, so I can see your mother's point. Usually, horses that are out at night tend to have more hours in the field, than those that are out during the day, particularly during the winter months.

Whether it works for your horses will depend on how sheltered your fields are, what you do with regards to clipping, rugging etc., and how well-drained and whether the grazing is good or whether they have access to hay/haylage in the fields. What time are the horses brought in and turned out everyday? My only concern would be if they are turned out in the dark every night and brought in before the sun rises, they could be missing out on daylight hours in the field.

Our horses spend most of their time out in the fields, but in the heat of the summer and the wettest time of the winter, they come in for a few hours during the day. They all compete and hunt regularly, and the routine seems to suit them all.
 
For years now my veteran (28-ish) has been in from about 9am to 3pm and out all night, summer and winter. Properly rugged and fed it suits him just fine and it also means he's always in for farrier, vet, riding (before he was retired). Routine doesn't change summer or winter which is easy for horse and owner. Very natural lifestyle. Even in the ghastly winter before last we only had to keep them in 2 nights and that was because it was snowing heavily and we weren't sure if the grazing would be buried too deep overnight. Grazing pretty much lasts although by April it's down to nibbles only but it's exactly as nature intended for horses to lose their summer fat over the winter and go into the spring grazing leaner and safer. My 2nd riding horse and all my shetlands/miniature shetlands have exactly the same routine and all are thriving.
 
I am interested in the replies because I have recently moved to a new house with land and stables - I am very lucky:D:D. My 2 boys are currently out all night and in during the day and I am thinking of continuing all winter - the main reason being that I have to often ride one after the other and they are better being in than charging about in the field on their own. In fact they seem to love their routine and are very settled with more turnout.

The other advantage is that they are in and dry for riding, farrier etc. I might have to have a rethink if it becomes a very cold winter as we are quite exposed with no hedging from the prevailing wind.
 
Bree is still on this routine, but will need to swap soon. But I am very concerned that she will be more of a handful as she will need to be in part of the day for her training as well.

I would be tempted to leave her longer on that routine, but she's had a touch of mud fever on her heels so it depends on how that heals.

Paula
 
My two ponies have always had this routing; out from 5ish or just before it gets dark in winter, in around 7.30am, it works very well for us;

They are in for when you want to ride, they are usually much quieter as usually pooped from eating /running around all night :) they eat far less hay and the stables are less mucky, so win win far as I'm concererned, plus the grass is less rich at night time.
 
My horse comes in around 8am and goes out again at around 5-6pm. It means less time stabled overall, and enables me to keep him off the grass when the sugars are at their highest (has previously had laminitis), while still making sure he gets plenty of forage with ad-lib hay in his stable. However, the land he's on has good drainage and enough growth that he's not standing in a bog- I may have had to do things differently if this was not the case.
 
I think if you gave it a try you would be pleasantly surprised. I have always followed the usual routine of in during the night and out during the day but I am looking to change that when I get a new horse.

Most horses I know in this routine are usually a lot calmer and more focused when being ridden. Are in and dry for vet, farrier, riding etc. Eat less hay and make less mess! They also have the comings and goings of the yard during the day for entertainment, rather than a dark empty yard at night.

When it gets cold I would rather have them out and moving around for warmth, than stood still in a cold stable, so long as you have adequate shelter and grazing.

My only problem is finding a yard that I can do this on, as most are in during the night and out at day!
 
I guess it depends too on your routine of when you get to the stables. Because of work commitments I naturally get to the stable at 5.30am and between 6pm and 7pm at night. So my lads turnout would not really be that much different which ever way I did it.
I prefer him to be out in the day as he does not settle well when stabled in the day and I like him to get any winter sunshine on his back wherever possible...good for vit D as he is not rugged.
 
My big older horse stays on that routine all year round.. in during the day, out at night. He was hunter clipped and hunting last winter, and was fine. He's creaky because of his age so he's much better the longer he is out. They had adlib hay in the field (he had company) and he was rugged up well enough. Suited him perfectly well and he was much happier than when he was stabled over night.
 
Ditto on the positives of out at night. Plus, horses stay warmer out at night as they're allowed to move, as opposed to being confined to a cold stable unable to move to keep warm, and usually with hay that's run out by midnight.
 
At our farm we have a 'front section' which is less muddy but it the route that people walk up to the barn door ... the people I used to share with were petrified of my horses yet I needed them in this bit due to mud-rash ... soooo I did this for a few months until they left (lol) actually better for me as Id do my jobs at night, throw them out ... then a 2 second job in the morning - jkust a case of bringing them in and swapping rugs ... plus during the day their legs would dry off and be ready to brush off dry by the time I got home at night ... x
 
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