individual turnout?...

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UKa

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Further to my search for a new possible yard there is a farm nearby that has liveries on DIY which is what I need. Turns out though they do individual turnout where mine would be between two other horses one each side. not sure I can get my girl to like this, she doesn't like it much when her friends are next to her separated by a fence but maybe that is just because she is so attached to these particular horses... or maybe I should just not go near this yard as it could be a disaster. But they are really close to where I live, has a menage and reasonable prices. Oh I wish I didn't have to do this. Finding a new yard is so stressful !!!
 
I'm not a fan of it, unless there's no other option for the horses benefit, such as health reasons or a very antisocial horse.
 
You need to decide if turnout is something you're willing to compromise on for the sake of the money and the facilities.

Personally I prefer herd turnout, and wouldn't move to somewhere that had individual grazing - on the other hand, I'd compromise on something like hacking in return. The yard has to suit you and the horse as best as possible - so you need to decide what the most important things are.
 
Oh, another place round here has turnout in a big herd. While naturally more natural I am scared to do this with my girl as she tends to get kicked ... aaaaargh what to do
 
I don't see the problem with individual turnout if she will have horses either side of her. We have individual where I livery (small yard, only 9 horses) and it's not a problem.
 
UKa said:
Oh, another place round here has turnout in a big herd. While naturally more natural I am scared to do this with my girl as she tends to get kicked ... aaaaargh what to do
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That did make me laugh, I'm exactly the same, can't seem to ever make a decision without worrying about it :D
 
Mine is on individual turn-out and he seems to be OK with it, he socialises with the horses in the next door paddocks and seems settled and happy. Closeness to where I live, unrivalled hacking, great fields usable all year and good horse care are the reasons I am there.

However I have to say individual t/o would not be my preference and it actually makes me quite sad as he used to love playing with the other horses when on group t/o. it is the one thing I would change if I could.

Other livery choices in the area include at least one of the following - barbed wire, poor horse care, bleak fields with no shelter, very expensive, crap hacking. So sometimes you have to make the best choice you can and it isn't always perfect.
 
My horse is turned out on her own but always has horses around her and in the fields next to her.she has kicked a horse before and can be very dominant.I prefer it as its less worry for me and she is happy enough. She still talks to other horses over the fence :-)
 
i have (or rather had...he s better now) one of the most horribly behaved in the field horses i have ever seen. He was very fond of the taste of other horses and he ended up confined to single turnout.
Both myself and my horse got rescued by a knowledgable farmer with a field full of clydesdales..which we threw my nob of a horse into! I thought it was ok for him being on his own with horses over the fence but he is just so calm and relaxed with his buddies now its untrue.
I only ride a few times a week in the summer...the rest of the time he is out in the field with his friends...My personal feelings are that I need him to be as content as he can be while im not there.
Im sure like my horse yours will be fine with individual turnout....but knowing what i know now i would nt do that to my horse ever again.
 
I love individual turnout. I've had a pony have his leg broken whilst out with just one other so am super paranoid about injuries.

Ive been at this yard for years and none of mine have ever taken an objection to it. even my ex-racer who came from a MASSIVE herd. They are surrounded by other horses and as long as they're not the last one out, they're fine!

If eveything else ticks your boxes, i say go for it!
 
I'm not a fan. Mine is in the samr setup you described. However the 2 Horses either side hardly ever go out (once every 3 weeks i'd say) shes very distressed and its effecting her ground mannors and ridden behaviour! I am looking to move and would never put her on single turnout again. It does suit some Horses though. Yes there is a risk that she could get kicked in a field. But since she has now run through fencing twice and is very unhappy it is a risk I am willing to take. Atleast she will be happy!
 
The yard I'm at has individual turnout but there are horses all around in surrounding paddocks. When I moved to the yard I was a bit worried but she's not bothered in the least.
 
I have individual turnout but my boy has become attached to the YO's horse so they have to go out and come in at the same time or they freak out! They are both on restricted grazing so paddocks are next to each other. We can't put them in together as there's a chance the other horse will attack my boy as he has with other horses in the past.

Can you ask another of the liveries if their horse wants a field companion? I know they'd do that at my place if anyone wanted it.
 
Ours is fine by herself with horses in view on all sides and a couple she can talk to over the fence. Some around her are out 24/7 so we don't have issues with her ever being alone and as she is a spindly ex racer unless a small pony or similar joined our yard then I'm happier her being out and not worrying she'll get clouted by a bigger shod horse. Makes it easier for poo picking and she is very neat in her field so potentially going out with the bigger showjumpers or cobs who fence run and gallop around would mean her field would be a churned up mess in days whereas it is currently not too churned up as she doesn't charge around. We have limited grazing prone to flooding so keeping what we do have as 'grassy' as poss is more important so she isn't stood in mud soup making her mud fever worse!
 
Mine are all individual originally through necessity and now by choice. No kicks, bites or shoes trodden off. Easy to feed and hay and no worries that each will not get their fair share.
 
Tarbs said:
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Can you ask another of the liveries if their horse wants a field companion? I know they'd do that at my place if anyone wanted it.
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We are lucky enough to have the option at our yard, whilst individual turnout is available, sharing is also fine with those that get on. Like our paddock, most of them have someone who lives out or are next to someone who livesout for company. My Mare Shona, Hunter93s gelding Hunter and a sensible three year old filly share a field and the three year old is out 24 hours per day in the week and in at weekend nights whereas ours come in every night.
works really well, we are lucky.
 
I turnout either in 2's and I frequently change the pairings or individually but with horses either side of the post and rail.

I find this stops any cling ons, nappy or jealous behaviour. Apart from one thug, who lives on his own, they all get along fine and touch wood, no injuries.
 
The current and last 3 horses I have had have all 'tolerated' individual turnout when the need has arisen, but all 4 have been visibly happier with company, and my preference is always to have turned out in a well matched pair/small group when working, and if not working the in a unshod (preferably) larger herd
 
Mine can't bear it, she is very distressed if not actually in with others. She had to do individual after box rest for her fracture and despite others over the fence she was miserable. Back in the herd now she is a different pony.

I'm not a fan of it and wouldn't do it personally, I know it does suit some but I still think its unnatural.

The right yard for the owner is the one that the horse is happy at - even if that is further away/more money etc etc. I drive 20 mins twice a day on DIY to keep mine happy and have had to sacrifice facilities I'd like to find turnout she is ok with. It's never easy is it!
 
My horse spent around 5 years on individual turnout after having his leg fractured in the field from a kick. He coped fine, was surrounded by others but I always felt guilty. It was great that I had no worries, could get him easily, feed hay in the field but looking back, he was insecure and spooky.
I moved him to a small yard last year, he now has 5 friends, all geldings and he is a different horse, so much happier. The spookiness is much better, he plays and seems to be enjoying life again. It took me a while to relax as he is a player and I did and still sometimes worry he will get injured, especially at coming in times and times like now when theres barely any grass as his social skills arent great.
Given the choice though, I prefer group turnout.
 
acw295 said:
The right yard for the owner is the one that the horse is happy at - even if that is further away/more money etc etc. I drive 20 mins twice a day on DIY to keep mine happy and have had to sacrifice facilities I'd like to find turnout she is ok with. It's never easy is it!
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Well said... It certainly isn't easy! I wish I could just stay where we are as she is very happy there with one field companion and other horses around her and the facilities suit me and the distance too. But we are under threat to be developed into some executive homes sadly :( ...
 
Could you speak to other liveries and see if they are happy to share? They might not want individual turn out either. Or is it a prerequisite of the yard? All yards I have been on offered it as an extra that you paid for as demanding on turnout space.
Mine had had to put up with individual turn out due to causing too much damage in a crowd, and he is perfectly happy with horses next to and opposite him.
 
Fimbacob said:
Could you speak to other liveries and see if they are happy to share? They might not want individual turn out either. Or is it a prerequisite of the yard? All yards I have been on offered it as an extra that you paid for as demanding on turnout space.
Mine had had to put up with individual turn out due to causing too much damage in a crowd, and he is perfectly happy with horses next to and opposite him.
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Yes, I think I will ask that... as we are moving alone it is harder as others will be established at the yard but worth a try. I think that if it was two of us moving together it may be an option to share...but I have no friend to go with to this yard.
 
I am not a fan of individual turnout either. Plenty of yards insist on it, and I do understand that it cuts hassle down considerably in terms of owner/livery fall outs. However all of my horses are happier when out in a group - pure and simple.

The happiest they have ever been was when in a group of around 10 (same sex) - big fields, big group and no injuries because they had the space to roam and space to avoid the horses they didn't get on so well with.

At the same time, if everything else with this yard fits the bill sometimes compromises have to be made and individual turnout is not the worst of things to put up with.
 
Not ideal but sometimes compromise is needed.
Mine are in group of four but mostly as they are all mine....
Single owner turnout csn be easier in terms of fair poo picking, field management and injuries....
 
I have just moved to a yard like this. Im lucky in one sense i have two horses so i can but them together the bad thing is one is young and whats to play one is old and dosent and just found out they really dont like each other much and really fighting but cant separate them when time to come in as one or other panic never happened in when in herd before Iv only been their a week so hope things improve if not will move again but with herd field Its really not working for me at the moment
 
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