Introducing 24/7 turnout?

milesjess

milesjess

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I've just moved my gelding to a new yard. He's been diagnosed with bone spavin so I've done plenty of research and the general result is that 24/7 turnout helps.

He has access to a stable for bad weather and winter but otherwise he'll be out day and night for the next few months.

I've had him turned out during the day only on previous yard so was wondering how to go about it... Do I just put him out and leave him to settle? He has other horses in the field next to him and a light weight rug on for the rainy days/nights.

He's currently on danlion twice per day for the bone spavin so has a handful of chaff AM/PM to keep that in his system, otherwise he's a good doer.

Any advice please :)
 
I just bought my mare in as normal in the evening, checked and fed her, then turned her back out again. No fuss at all, but she did have other horses (her usual companions) that were staying out too in the same paddock.

ETA. Is he used to being turned out in this paddock in the day? Are the other horses (if he is turned out with companions) being bought in for the night?
 
When I go from winter turnout (in overnight) to summer turnout (out 24/7) I tend to first try to extend the amount of time he is out, so try and turn out earlier and bring in later then I move to bringing in for tea and a munch of hay and turning back out again, doing the same in the morning. and then if hay is not necessary, remove that from the equation.

I find that removing the overnight hay all of a sudden can leave him feeling really hungr if there isn't the grass to keep him satisfied.
 
He's literally just moved on the yard today so spent his first day out but I want to start him in a routine straight away.

The other horses stay out too, none are brought in at the moment.

I'm just a worrier! Haha!
 
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