Is individual turnout the new norm?

I've always had herd turnout until the last five years when I moved area. I'm now on a very small yard of five and mine shares with another gelding. We get the odd injury because mine bites and the other one kicks on occasion but neither are shod so seeing them groom each other every morning is well worth the risk. They ignore each other when not grooming but do grizzle a bit if one is taken out and the other left, although not to the point of being daft.

The other three are all on individual turnout, two for dietary reasons and the third because she gets separation issues. The third would dearly like to be out with the boys but, as they get ridden most often, would probably develop separation issues when they came in for exercising and, I suspect, the old lad who shares with mine would get quite possessive of her which would potentially lead to more injury risk. We did try the other gelding in with ours before his EMS but I think the fact that he and my boy were both cut late didn't help with general coltishness and fighting, leading to some rug ripping.

I like to see horses being able to interact and I am pleased mine has one "mate" but I completely understand why the others on are individual turnout.
 
I've always been at livery yards & individual turn out has never been the norm.

It's only been offered at one yard out of the 5 or 6 yards I've been on.

Mine is currently out in a mixed herd.
 
Individual turnout doesn't always prevent field injuries, they can easily rip rugs and one of mine fractured the skull of the horse in the neighbouring field (mine as well) over a fence !

If they are sociable and trying to groom/ play over the fence then the fence just becomes another thing to hurt themselves on!
 
I think youngsters pre-broken to ride age, should be out in groups. I know of someone that stabled their youngster as a 1yo and it's mostly stabled as a 2yo now (jumps the fence or barges through it... So more batteries and more fencing???!!!) Makes my blood boil!!!

We keep ours individually turned out due to their requirements (muzzled fatty, fatty native, scrawny youngster who loves eating hoods and rugs just as much as grass, big girls blouse Fig!).

However, I will note that we have had next to no injuries since this set up of about 18 years!
 
Yes I think it is. My yard have all individual paddocks except me and my friend have ours in together as they have known each other for years. I think with horses coming and going all the time at livery yards, sometimes it's dangerous to have them out in herds as the dynamics would be changing all the time!
 
I think if you have your own land and keep your own horses, a herd would be easier to manage and keep consistent. On your average livery yard with people all turning up at different times, some people more competent than others at handling horses etc, although not ideal for the horses, individual turnout is safer all round. At our little diy yard each owner has their own field, turnout is never restricted so we can manage our own patch how we wish and bringing in and out and feeding are much easier and safer. Also, the way the fields are split there is never a case where a horse cant see at least 1 other even if he cant physically touch it, they all seem quite settled and happy and it suits everyone.
 
MyBoyChe said:
some people more competent than others at handling horses etc, although not ideal for the horses, individual turnout is safer all round.
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Again depends on the horse. My otherwise laid back boy was difficult to the point of being dangerous when on individual turnout. He was so stressed at not having company and it came to head when turning out and bringing in and would perform airs above the ground.
 
TGM said:
I always used to have mine on herd turnout, but over the years I have ended up with them mostly on individual turnout and I can really understand the benefits, especially on a livery yard, where horses come and go and where different owners want different things. It is not just the risk of injury, but the advantages of being able to feed them in the field, and to be able to put hay out and/or restrict grazing according to whether they are good doers or not. Individual turnout does not have to be flat postage-stamp squares with no shelter - our paddocks are undulating, with lots of natural shelter from the adjoining woodland and high, thick hedges. I have two out in one paddock, and the two others have their own individual paddocks which all adjoin, so they all stand together and mutual groom or play if they so wish.
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This.

My yard has a mix, it is a stud yard so groups of youngsters, individual for stallions. Groups of brood mares. Liveries all prefer individual for different reasons - one is a veteran and doesn't want to be chased around, mine was sadly brought up on his own an has no social skills but is 17"2, shod and with handy back legs etc etc. My boy is much happier on his own and I find it safer not having to deal with more than one at a gate.
 
Goldenstar said:
But for me it's a complete no no for very young and horses not in work ( unless theres a reason that makes it necessary) .
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And as i laid in bed yesterday it was niggling at me and i organised a very quick viewing of a yard slightly further afield early this morning where my 2 year old will get to join a herd of 7. Much more at ease at my choice now! He'll just have to suck it up in a neighbouring paddock on his own for a few days next to the herd so he can get to know everyone first!
 
Our barn does 2 horses to a field. It keeps fights down but still means they have a friend. My mare was turned out alone in her old barn and when she got to us she had no clue what to do with this grey thing in the field with her. Now she doesn't know what to do without him! Sadly my daughter's pony arrived when there wasn't anyone for him to be pared with so he's alone but he has horses on two sides ( my mare on one side) and ignores them, eating is better. Next summer he'll get a friend.
We also have a herd of horses out 24/7 but these are the horses that are retired or partially retired. Our young stock go out together with a few older babysitters.
 
Through the summer our horses are out in pairs or 3, there out 24/7. In the winter they genrally get turned out in 4/5 in the bigger field 24/7 or for the day
 
I dont know which Id rather if I had to put my horses into livery, I keep mine at home and always have so mine all live out together 24/7 with the odd one having individual turnout in the summer (due to being a fat native!). Ive ridden friends horses at livery yards which involved me going to fetch it in etc. and I have to say that I definately dont like big groups of horses, unless they are privately kept in which case generally they are pretty solid hierarchy wise. The issues are when liveries come and go so they never seem to have a very stable environment hence horses getting kicked pretty regularly. In the ideal world, I guess you would have groups of 3. I would hate to keep on individual turnout long term personally although I have done it with one of mine due to a certain reason but otherwise its not exactly healthy. Hard one...!
 
At my yard I don't offer individual turn out, I don't think it's right. They go out in settled groups of two or three. We trial and error new horses to make sure they are happy in their groups. I also hate horses side by side with just a fence between them, I've seen more accidents like this than when out with others. I have a no individual turn out clause in my contract and that I take no responsibility for horses playing or injuries. Horses can seriously hurt themselves in their own stables. You can't protect them from everything sadly.
 
Very very glad I'm on a private yard! No way would I want to keep my stallion alone and I'm pretty sure the others would be miserable not being in a group too. I know they 'cope' but not for me on mine thanks.
 
sounds great
Sophstar said:
And as i laid in bed yesterday it was niggling at me and i organised a very quick viewing of a yard slightly further afield early this morning where my 2 year old will get to join a herd of 7. Much more at ease at my choice now! He'll just have to suck it up in a neighbouring paddock on his own for a few days next to the herd so he can get to know everyone first!
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Sophstar said:
So is individual turnout now the new norm to be offered at yards and is this due to demand from owners (in addition to some horses just genuinely not being safe etc to be out in a group)?
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Nothing new about it, my horses have had individual turnout for the last 15 years. Both me & my horses seem happy with it & I rarely have field injuries to sort out. They socialise over the dividing fences when they want to.
 
Well, all our horses are in their own fields but the Shetland joins each of them occasionally, depending on how he escapes lol.

Billy lives with his donks/alpacas.

I’d love to put him out with his bestie, YO horse, but we’re both worried they’d do some damage to each other as billy would constantly try and play and the other horse would encourage this or tell him where to go lol. Billy is basically a large child with metal shoes, who would irritate until someone reacts :p
Maybe if both have shoes off we will try it, but for now they can just scratch each other after a ride!
 
I was on a big livery yard for many years and had two horses written off due to field injuries (same field- geldings, overgrazed, so full of boisterous bored horses)

I couldn't keep the hooligan sound there- he had constant injuries, chipped a bone, did a tendon, pulled shoes off constantly.
I moved to a small yard with lots of turnout, individual fields, so my 3 at the time went out together and it was the most incident free time with the hooligan, apart from the odd lost shoe. He has now gone back out in a herd a few miles away to retire, but they are a small relaxed group with plenty of space and grass and injuries, so far, have been simply small nicks to his skin from a bit of playing.

The girls are still at the yard, far too much grass for them really, so I have to be careful with my management, but I feel that they are safe and I would absolutely hate to go back to a herd environment.

I wouldn't like them on their own though, and pair bonds can be a pain, although I am careful to ensure they are used to leaving each other.
 
the key seems to be to have fields which are large enough for the horses to do their own thing without being in each others space. they also need to have enough grazing not to get bored. my boy has until recently been out on his own at our old yard. he is now out during the day with another gelding and a mare on 5 acre field with lots and lots of grass. they all love it. they get on well with each other. we have touch wood had no issues neither of the boys is riggy and the mare isn't bothered either. they all graze quite close to each other without issue. i for one was very surprised that it has worked but even when she came into season the boys have just ignored and got on with the business of eating
 
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