Is it unresonable to keep horses in on xmas/boxing day?

[Queenbee]

just knowing how much my 2 gallop off into the field in the morning... yes, it would be unreasonable and I wouldn't be able to enjoy my day knowing that they were ticked off...

 

[smiffyimp]

i think if you are looking after them yourself on those days then its up to you, mine get a quick half hour out then in for the day while i go and have a bevvy or 5! if somebody else is looking after them, the YO for eg, then its their Xmas too and whatever makes it quick and easy for them. Ive been on yards where i have paid for them to be looked after over Xmas and its double time and they only get skipped out, no turn out. As long as they have feed hay water etc ive never had an issue with it

 

[dollymix]

eh no!!! My yard has restricted turnout in winter anyway so I'll just work it that these are one of the days they have to be in!

We have REALLY wet where I live and of the four yards I have been on since relocating to Lancashire 9 years ago, all four have had to restrict turnout in wet weather. Sometimes even in summer we have to bring them in!! It's lovely living in quadmire!!!

I'd love to be able to give them yeaar round turnout but realistically, in my soggy, marshy area I have to accept that it will never happen!!

 

[millitiger]

As I previously said, I don't have the luxury of celebrating Christmas near my horses. Because I moved away from home I now have to drive up and down the A14 for over an hour. So just popping back and forward isn't an option. I know this might seem ludicrous to some people but it is the reality plenty of us face. Not everyone has a mother right on their doorstep. I am working on moving back towards home though so hopefully by next year it'll be something I can manage more easily

I had mine on DIY before as well and my mum lived over an hour from me and it was another 30 minutes to the yard in the opposite direction- I used to do Christmas morning for mine and another girl and she would do mine in the evening as it meant she got to stay at home in the morning while her children opened their presents.

I don't care if people leave their horses in all day- the OP asked whether we thought it was acceptable or reasonable and I don't think it is.

That's fine but what if you're the Mum and doing everything to please everyone else?
On a day like that it's perfectly reasonable to put the horses on the back burner for once, they won't suffer as long as they have plentiful forage, water and a good bed.

If you are the mum then send the kids out to sort the horses or get them to cook the dinner
I never said the horses would suffer, the OP asked if we thought it was acceptable, and for me and my horses I don't think it is and wouldn't do it.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

It is unreasonable to change a routine-if a hrose colics over christmas that won't be mnuch fun will it!.

Equally if you turn your horse out and he has a hooly around slips or gets kicked and you have a vet out . over Xmas thats not much fun either

Over Xmas all vets have a skeleton staff if your horse gets injured in the fields due to kick gash what ever that vet will be in high demand thus call out times will be slower.
Also equine hospitals might l be closed
arranging transport to equine hospital if horse admitted will be harder to find too.

The feedback we have from our liveries it .

1. if they have enough of the relatives they can nip down to yard and have a quick ride.

without

a) No Catching in specially [ if a difficult to catch horse ]
b) No brushing off the mud [if they have limited time before getting home again]
c) knowing their horse is safe and sound and cosy with hay in stable.


As regarding happy x mas horsey your stuck in stable when i am enjoying my self .


Mine have horsey treats horse licks and such to enjoy so they dont lose out .

Horses are animals they don't think like we do they wont think any less of you as to keep them in one day .

And as I said in an earlier post if your horse is that bad staying in a stable one day , I pray to god he doesn't have to go on box rest . Mine has been box rested 5 months so far and she is behaving impeccably .

The only reason my mare is recovering is

A. she has hard feet
B. She copes with box rest so well.



Equally a instructors competition horse also got lami , couldn't cope with box rest so was PTS

I think its important for ANY horse to accept box rest albeit 1 day or longer as most horses at sometime in their life get injured and have to stay in. Its important to make their box rest time the best you can to keep them calm and happy .

Or you might find your in the position your horse has a minor tendon strain and if he cant be box rested he will be turned out and risk it rupturing. Thus horse PTS.

 

[ABC]

My lad is at home for this christmas, so his routine will be the same. Hopefully I'll have 2 new additions too, so they'll either be out 24/7, or in at night, out all day

Last year we were on DIY livery and I fed him and chucked him out early morning, then brought him in, mucked out etc late afternoon and got YO to check on him late evening.

 

[Ibblebibble]

i don't think it's unreasonable, a lot of yards only have restricted turnout in winter anyway so for a lot of horses it won't be a change of routine.
Mine are out 24/7 regardless so 'special' days make very little difference except that they will only get 1 visit not 2

 

[M_G]

Whatever the normal routine is for the horse is the one I personally think should happen.

This^ ^ The horse doesnt know or care that its Christmas, a weekend or indeed that you got pissed last night and cant be arsed to turn up till 10.

I like mine to go out at the normal time or earlier if need be I hate leaving them later

 

[wizzlewoo]

I wouldn't see a problem with my mare being in for 2 days, but then she is well behaved in the stable. I would make sure she had been turned out for a good blast before riding her next though !! Could be a little explosive if not. Only thing I have seen so many people do which really winds me up is not change the feed accordingly if they are being kept in. Last thing you want is a vets bill on Boxing day because they had a full feed the day before and not turned out or exercised. My YO is lovely and fully deserves a couple of days off in peace without 20 horses to turn out and bring in. I'm happy with a quick skip out, hay water and Christmas treat for my mare.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I wouldn't see a problem with my mare being in for 2 days, but then she is well behaved in the stable. I would make sure she had been turned out for a good blast before riding her next though !! Could be a little explosive if not. Only thing I have seen so many people do which really winds me up is not change the feed accordingly if they are being kept in. Last thing you want is a vets bill on Boxing day because they had a full feed the day before and not turned out or exercised. My YO is lovely and fully deserves a couple of days off in peace without 20 horses to turn out and bring in. I'm happy with a quick skip out, hay water and Christmas treat for my mare.

^5 now this is the type of livery I like someone who thinks of us yard owner who work our a$$es off all year round putting horses first and with the weather and such , realizing we are human and want to spend time with our parents who like others here are in their 80's and every time spent with your family is precious , having to drive back to get back to catch horses in reducing time spent with family I think is mean.

As having x mas lunch at 1 means i have to eat and run and leave by 3 to get home by 5pm and having arrived at 11am means I have 2 hours with the family . * I DONT THINK SO* We will stick to what we do .

Yes horses dont give a rats about Christmas . Mine dont get exercised on Xmas day either even after spending all day in. NO doubt the Gurus will jump on me for this I dont give one.

Xmas day is family day horses go on the back burner for a few hours .Parents are not around for ever every moment we spend with them is precious .

 

[Mlini]

Totally depends on the horse in question.

Mine goes out everyday, dependant on the weather. Christmas Day/Boxing Day etc are just normal days for me.. The horse comes first, with christmas presents and roast turkey following shortly behind

I think it is perfectly reasonable to keep horses in, presuming they have a clean bed/hay/water and they cope well with being stabled. Mine likes being in, possibly because haylage in nicer than grass.

It'd be worse turning them out, then getting carried away with the celebrations and leaving them out for ages in the cold (possibly snowy) weather - But then again, some horses would prefer it that way!

 

[touchstone]

Where I worked years ago the horses were always in for xmas and new years day. One member of staff would be in to help the owners top up water skip out and chuck hay in and that was literally all that was done. It still took a fair amount of time with over 20 horses to do.
The horses always managed with no problems as they were used to being in, but it did mean that the boxing day beds took longer to do.

Mine now lives out so it's a doddle to just chuck some extra hay out xmas eve and go along later on xmas morning, I give poo picking a miss xmas day.

 

[criso]

It's because my horse has had to be box rested a lot in the past that I know keeping in is not the easy option as he is a very wet and dirty horse.
Yard staff agree with me and were always keen to get him out as soon as we could.
I rely on public trnasport so am not up at the yard on christmas day or boxing day even if I am in london though this year I will be away visiting family.

A friend is doing him for me on christmas day (i'll do hers new years day) but he will be on livery boxing day as everone is away.

Option 1
Feed horse change rugs turn out,
Muck out stable do water feeds and nets
Pm catch horse and put in box

Option 2
Am feed muck out, do nets water
Change rugs as stable rug will be wet and pooey
Put on leg wraps as legs swell if not turned out
Pm muck out again, change stable wraps if wet and pooey
Do fresh nets, water, if you're lucky just top up but you may have to empty poos and scrub
Put back in box and feed.

 

[pixiebee]

Mine will be in on xmas day as i will be going down xmas eve to my family 4 hrs away, so he will have a ton of nets and have someone to put another few nets in for me and top water up. Ours have to be in at night anyway so i cant leave him out xmas eve . i cant ask anyone to turn him out as he can be a git to lead and i wouldnt want to put that on someone so would rather leave him in. I will have a mega stinking bed on boxing day but thats my only real option!

 

[Kat]

I'd be pretty unhappy if I had to leave mine in. And I can't see why you would make such a rule as it is more work having them in. I would rather the yard said you need to make your own arrangements for the day than said they will all be staying in.

My horse is one of those who bounces off the walls if left in. There is no way you could get away with skipping her out if left in, you'd need a whole new bed! She is however happy to be out and never runs up and down waiting to be brought in.

Luckily our yard are having one member of staff on so will be able to offer the usual service albeit at an extra charge. If they didn't then I would come to an agreement with a fellow livery to share the jobs.

 

[Always Henesy]

Equally if you turn your horse out and he has a hooly around slips or gets kicked and you have a vet out . over Xmas thats not much fun either

Over Xmas all vets have a skeleton staff if your horse gets injured in the fields due to kick gash what ever that vet will be in high demand thus call out times will be slower.
Also equine hospitals might l be closed
arranging transport to equine hospital if horse admitted will be harder to find too.

The feedback we have from our liveries it .

1. if they have enough of the relatives they can nip down to yard and have a quick ride.

without

a) No Catching in specially [ if a difficult to catch horse ]
b) No brushing off the mud [if they have limited time before getting home again]
c) knowing their horse is safe and sound and cosy with hay in stable.


As regarding happy x mas horsey your stuck in stable when i am enjoying my self .


Mine have horsey treats horse licks and such to enjoy so they dont lose out .

Horses are animals they don't think like we do they wont think any less of you as to keep them in one day .

And as I said in an earlier post if your horse is that bad staying in a stable one day , I pray to god he doesn't have to go on box rest . Mine has been box rested 5 months so far and she is behaving impeccably .

The only reason my mare is recovering is

A. she has hard feet
B. She copes with box rest so well.



Equally a instructors competition horse also got lami , couldn't cope with box rest so was PTS

I think its important for ANY horse to accept box rest albeit 1 day or longer as most horses at sometime in their life get injured and have to stay in. Its important to make their box rest time the best you can to keep them calm and happy .

Or you might find your in the position your horse has a minor tendon strain and if he cant be box rested he will be turned out and risk it rupturing. Thus horse PTS.

Yep - you should see the damage my horse did Xmas day last year (see Veterinary section - pictures of injuries)
However, that said mine will go out as usual. I turn out mine and two others for fellow DIYers in the morning, muck out mine and get everything ready (hay net, feed, clean bed). Then one of the other DIYers bring them all in PM.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

And I can't see why you would make such a rule as it is more work having them in.

WelI explained in my post why I do in case its not clear enough


if they left in there is x 9 animals

feed
hay
water
skip out
change rugs if ness


if they are turned out
x 9 animals

feed
hay
water
muck out
dee poo fields
turn out
catch in
change rugs
brush horses off

as i said before there is more work turning them out
is it just me or is the turning out longer than the keep in ??

 

[MissTyc]

Business as usual for us - the horses live out and come in for the day and they will be coming in as usual brought in by yard staff. Liveries can turn up to turf out whenever they like, although have told them that everything will go back out at 11.00 after 4 hours of hay and one single feed unless owner coming later.

PS - I also once had to have a lovely 6yo mare pts on Christmas eve for colic so that does make me paranoid about routine changes (though probably there was nothing that could have saved her, regardless of routine or not, but it does make one a bit funny)

 

[woodhurst1]

I have a small livery yard and I always keep the same routine for the horses on Xmas Day, though I charge double for Xmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day for chores and ask that horses are left in their turnouts so there is no rug changing - they wont be groomed just feet picked out, but I think if their warm and fed they really wont mind!
I dont think many of mine would be happy to be stuck in as they are use to being out for the daylight hours, I used to love riding out on Xmas Day but that all changed when you have children to deal with, luckily the horses are at home and after a few drinks you usually get offers of help to get them in by random family members!

 

[Chestnut mare]

Ours usually go out but have to come in after lunch as have to get to family houses for dinner. As an exception they don't mind as long as they hav plenty of hay.

 

[Bikerchickone]

Personally I'd prefer mine to have their usual routine, but neither of them are bothered about a day extra either in or out and as long as they have feed and hay they will be fine. Both are on full livery but I will still be going up early in the morning to see them, give them their Christmas Day treats and help YO with anything she needs doing. Whatever my YO find easiest to do for the liveries is fine by me, mostly because I appreciate how hard they work all year and think they deserve time with their families too.

I also agree with the person who said the horses in the strictest routines are the ones that struggle the most with changes. Mine both have days where they might stay in, or nights where it's easier for them to be out. Neither of them react badly. It helps that they have good grazing and excellent care, but overall they're prety laid back.

As far as fair or acceptable goes, they don't know it's Christmas, but I don't think there's any suffering caused letting a horse stay in bed all day, wish I could sometimes!!

 

[glenruby]

I would think it would be preferable with most horses to turn out for longer and leave the mucking out for another day.

 

[Kat]

Leviathan, my post wasn't aimed at you, it was my response to the OP based on what happens at my yard. But since you took it so personally I'll respond to you.

I think you are making a rod for your own back. There is no reason why you couldn't leave the poo picking and brushing off on chrismas day. If you left these tasks then turning out would be quicker and easier.

BUT it is your yard so up to you. I'm not on your yard so it doesn't bother me what you do. If I was on your yard though I would not be very pleased by being forced to leave my horse without turnout just because it is Christmas.

 

[BonneMaman]

I think everyone (even grooms!) have the right to take these days as holiday. OP - why don't you do it yourself if you are unhappy about the situation.

I'm with the turning out early and then bringing back in at 3pm crew - that is plenty of time to stretch legs and then you can hit the sherry when you get home!

Alterntively, leave them out all night, give them plenty of hay - it won't kill them.

 

[Chestnutmare]

Mine will be in for xmas day and boxing day, YO's rules and to be honest they all don't care much so long as they have their hay and feed...
They've only had one day in so far this year, and that was Tuesday as it was awful with the rain and wind.

I will be up as normal to tend to his needs as usual and wouldn't have it any other way but to see him first thing xmas day morning, give him his pressie too.
(jolly ball) lol

 

[hudsonw]

Having a non horsey family they don't understand the time and commitment horses need...They get miffed that i spend Crimbo at home rather than going to other family members every year.
I keep mine in as i find it easier and to be honest if the weather is bad they would rather be in anyway!
I love going to the yard for about 6.30ish give them their breaky, groom, muck out and then have a quick ride in the indoor. Rug up and leave them with a big bed, large haynet and radio 2 on in the back ground.
I get home just as people are getting up anyway so really it makes no difference if i was there or not but i like the thought of boys being tucked up snug and warm and i don't have to worry about finishing dinner late or dashing down there before it gets dark.
While the men sleep on the sofa and the oldies watch The Snowman i nip back to the yard to change rugs, tea, hay, water and a skip out...i'm back before Dr Who starts and survived another Christmas!!!

So no i don't think its unreasonable to keep them in or alter your or their routine for a couple of days but as others have said, you do what's best for your horse at that time.

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

 

[Orangehorse]

If they needed to be in for any reason - bad mud fever, a cut, etc. or because it was absolutely tipping with rain, or other dangerous weather conditions you would leave them in, so it is sometimes unavoidable.

 

[SusieT]

'Equally if you turn your horse out and he has a hooly around slips or gets kicked and you have a vet out . over Xmas thats not much fun either '

That could happen any day-you're not making it any more likely to happy by suddenly changing the routine. you are making colic more likely by changing routine-we're assuming this is in terms of horses turned out during the day just not being turned out.

 

[MileAMinute]

Horses I ride are out 24/7 so makes no odds to me. I'll get down to check them, give them a feed and go home/work.

I agree with whoever mentioned about how the animals don't know it's a holiday. People still need to stick to the routine. I wouldn't be happy changing it but everyone is different.

I'm a health care assistant. The patients don't get left in bed and not washed and up coz it's Christmas and I'd rather be at home with the family!
If you have a duty of care to an animal, person, whatever, you do it.

(Extreme example but, I went there. Expecting backlash right about now! )

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Leviathan, my post wasn't aimed at you, it was my response to the OP based on what happens at my yard. But since you took it so personally I'll respond to you.

I think you are making a rod for your own back. There is no reason why you couldn't leave the poo picking and brushing off on chrismas day. If you left these tasks then turning out would be quicker and easier.

BUT it is your yard so up to you. I'm not on your yard so it doesn't bother me what you do. If I was on your yard though I would not be very pleased by being forced to leave my horse without turnout just because it is Christmas.

ok so you were aiming at OP

but we.
do not turn them out period . WE meaning me and my liveries would rather our horses are safe and sound in their stables with treats and hay than out in the field where no one is around all day , vets are on a skeleton over xmas one working so call outs could be long time waiting on these days so are equine hospitals so emergency call outs would be expensive and take longer than normal .

Well you wouldn't be on my yard because i tell people when they view the yard this is what we do, we say dont like it go some where else .

since 1996 all the liveries who have come through our yard said no problem when we told them , I guess some out there understand that yard owners need time out too.

All my liveries are more than happy with our arrangement even the new ones. You cant please everyone thats why there are so many yards you choose one to meet your requirements .

For us this works gives me and my family time to see each other and be a family for the *1* day a year when we get together .

And since I am not alone in keeping my horses in its quite acceptable to do this.