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

[muffinino]

I like to ride on Christmas day as all I ever wanted for Christmas when I was a child was a pony - now I have one, I just have to ride!

Mine is on DIY livery, no assistance. I keep him in on Christmas day as the fields here are awful and I want him tidy for the Boxing day meet. He goes in the school for a roll and a pootle around while I muck out (hardly any of the other liveries ride anyway), is ridden then when I come back up he's put back in the school while I skip out etc. Not to harsh, I reckon! In fact, I've been thinking this year that I may leave him in with ad-lib hay/extra water/a swede on a string if I don't leave until 2-ish, as he'd usually be done by 6pm on a normal day so a few hours extra won't make a difference. I'll be up the yard at 7 for hunting on Boxing day. He's deep littered so if I put extra straw down he won't get too messy. Last year when it snowed he had to be done once a day and live with it as I couldn't get to the yard easily. He survived and is very chilled. I agree with others that the stricter the routine, the more likely they are too stress if that routine is disrupted. How would horses who go to shows such as HOYS cope if they got stressed at routine distruption? In the ring at 7.30am in some cases or until 10pm in others? And they're stabled all day as the only option? What if they have to be kept in for the farrier, for shows, for vetinary reasons?
I've been keeping him in if I've ridden since November and he's fine. He does get fed/mucked out/walked in the evenings, though. If I don't ride, he goes out, so he's out approx. 2-3 times a week. If the fields weren't too bad I would put him out but tbh he doesn't really mind as long as he gets a leg stretch and a roll he's happy. He's not bothered about the mud and I never was until I came here, but it's quite bad and if he goes out, he'll have a walk around then stand by the gate after an hour or so anyway.
My youngster is out 24/7 and fed once a day so that will stay the same.

 

[paddy]

The liveries will go out on both days and come in a little earlier so that we can have Christmas 'afternoon' and not have to worry about bringing horses in part way through. If the weather isn't bad, our own horses may stay out.

I know a number of yards that stipulate the liveries are responsible for doing their own horses on Christmas and NY Day. Before we started our own yard, we didn't live close enough to the yard to go for that - an hour and a half journey x 4 (am and pm) would not be fun! One yard we were at didn't turn out - we just went down, threw them in a field for an hour or so/ went out for a hack so they had a wander round.

 

[Kenzo]

I would want my horses to be turned out, can't think of anything worse to spoil my Christmas knowing my poor neddies are stuck in 24/7 over the Christmas holidays, of course I expect the YO or livery yard staff to have a break and a few days off if we are talking about all livery yards in general that do full livery, but they should at least give you the chance to turn and muck out your own if you so wish.

 

[LiveryList]

Mine always go out if they can. I usually do them myself am and then get the yard to bring them in in the evening. I have left them in before tho and i dont think it matters for one or two days so long as they have good amount of hay and enough to keep them occupied. I always stick a huge bed in my stable on Xmas eve and then dont muck out until 27th (just kind of shift the straw aout to give the impression its clean!)... much easier and no poo involvement on Xmas day!

 

[heidiharvsnroo]

Mine will be in, but then again she is in full time now anyway over winter, bar her turn out slot/being ridden.

 

[Sparkles]

Mine's kept in over winter.....so to him, no...it's just like any other day!

 

[1973horse]

Couldn't keep mine in regardless of what day it it, he doesn't know and wouldn't care anyway,he would go mental if stuck in all day
So its turnout in morning as usual,muckout ,bring in at 4 ish. Both days

this

 

[Echo Bravo]

It's just another day to us, so they go out, but everything is ready for when they come in and hum they dont get groomed, but we always have had our main meals in the evening anyway, so we can slob out in front of the fire and tv.

 

[OldNag]

Mine that's on part livery, will be staying in - all the part liveries are on Christmas Day itself.

But, I'll be up there during the morning, and I'll pop him into the lungepit to stretch his legs.

Our other one is on grass livery so she's out 24/7.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Mine will be out as normal - which is weather permitting!
I will put them out in the morning while mucking out. If the weather is horrendous they will come in after they have been mucked out. If the weather is good they will stay out until the afternoon. I only live 5 mins from the yard (when no traffic about) so I don't mind if I have to go a few times to sort them out. I like them to have some turnout each day - ideally I like them out all day, but as long as they get an hour or two out they don't stress. It's when they get no turnout whatsoever they get stressy!

 

[CrazyMare]

Mine will be in. Bathed ready fir boxing day on Xmas eve, wrapped up to stat clean. The mare I hunt is grey....

 

[Wildforestpony18]

I think its fine! My ponio would rather be in. Acctually we leave out but i dont think its unreasonable. If it was freezing and raining we would leave in but if the weathers ok, we put out (after presents of course )