Just curious... what are your reasons for stabling at night?

What do you think of this citronella law?

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Broodle

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Just a couple of idle questions really...

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity!
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I can't answer your poll as none of mine go into the stables at night time, however the only reason I would consider stabling a horse overnight would be to save the grazing if this was an issue.

My horses live out 24/7 and all of my fields have huge field shelters or barns in them. All of the horses use the shelters.
 
Thanks Tia. Your place sounds like horsey heaven!!
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Also, meant to say in the original post that there seems to be a persisting myth that horses will not go into field shelters if given the choice... This has certainly not been my experience (or yours Tia from the sound of it), so thoughts on this would also be interesting.

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Oops...
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should have included an option for those in 24/7 or out 24/7 - too dim to think of this earlier and too late to edit now
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I've not answered the poll, as there are no options for me to answer!
I have 2 horses in! The one is in because she is a bully, and as we started to hay feed, she was becoming very aggressive towards the other three, and the other is in because he's an old man, and doesn't really get much to eat in the field, but my other two are out, but have plenty of natural shelter, and a big field shelter to share!
 
Mine rarely go in their shelters/barns in Spring or Autumn but in the extreme heat in the Summer they go in there for most of the day. In the Winter time we get seriously cold temperatures and the horses all tend to go into their shelters/barns overnight and then surface in the morning.

I bed down my barns with loads of clean straw and always put fresh hay in them every evening. I know they all stay in there for a long time overnight as I can see where they have all been lying down and they always have straw in their tails and manes.

My big barn is lit all night so it keeps it quite warm and homely for them. The other shelter is south facing so they are generally all in there in the mornings soaking up the rays of sunshine.
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I think people are very sentimental about their horses and there isn't anything you can do to change their minds because logic doesn't always happen in cases where there is emotional attachment. It doesn't really matter though, so long as everyone (horses very much included in this!) is happy with their choice.
 
ours are in at night as we don't have 24/7 turnout and they need to be in by dark. The fields get realy muddy particularly at the gates and the grazin can be poor at times, But we have plenty of grass this year.
 
Argh!!
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should have included an "other reason" option too!

Thanks all for your thoughts and participating in my rubbish poll!!!
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Have mine in at night cos that is the rule on the yard. All horses are in at night from end of october to middle of april, so don't really have much choice! Would probs have them in anyway as I find it so much easier when they are in!
 
Couldn't answer as no options for me!

Mine are out 24/7 with the exception of the Section A who is in at night and out in the turnout area during the day - this is a weight control measure as she is so fat, she just has handfuls of hay to find to keep her occupied at night and some very small piles of hay in the turnout area during the day. (And she's still like a barrel on legs)

The ones who are out have access to windbreaks and ad lib hay as well. They have minimal clips and full neck rugs. If the weather gets atrocious I can bring them all in but they all seem happy out and it does help keep costs down.
 
I am a firm advocate of out as much as possible but we have sandy soil. Nearby we have clay and the fields become very muddy. In a livery yards there are often not balanced herds and stabling enables each animal to get a fair share of food. We always rest winter fields and resow gateways but this is not practical for some places. A native pony with a polar bear coat will not get cold but a TB does not have the same insulation. Some farmers locally refuse to allow turnout in winter because it damages the field but I would not keep my horses in that way.
 
My boy is out 24/7 365 days a year - he hates being inside and starts to dance like a coked up teenager - he has barn complete with hay and plenty of other places to shelter if he wants to - I would only consider keeping him in if he was ill - recent (4 months ago) colic episode kept him in for 1 night and he was fine although he was obviously under the weather - he prefers the barn where he will be now as his field mate (31 year old donkey) had to be put to sleep today as he was not well so he will be watching the spot!!!
 
One is out 24/7 until everyone elses are in then she cant remain out aone at night, my boy is stabled at night (started about 2 months ago) because A) his mud fever is impossible to keep under control otherwise B) Every other Gelding is in and hes not allowed out alone and C) because hes a little older and i like to keep an eye on him.
 
If I had my own land (and money!) I've just have a big field shelter filled with straw and haylage, and he could decide. But as it is, he comes in at night into his giant stable with his mare. Mostly because there is no shelter in the field, and having problems with soggy frogs. I don't keep him in more than 12 hours at a time though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A native pony with a polar bear coat will not get cold but a TB does not have the same insulation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that is misinformation sorry. Most TB's over here live out 24/7 without any rugs on, and our temperatures are significantly lower than yours in the UK.
 
Usually mine are out at night during the winter, but for the last month or two they have come in at nights for two reasons. This year, I have three on the land rather than two, so partly to save our limited acreage, particularly as the weather has been so foul. Secondly because they all have varying feed requirements so it is easier to feed haylage in individual stables, rather than one hog everything and get fat, whilst the other two lose weight!
 
I rent six acres between my horse and my sisters horse, we have had a mobile field shelter put up so they have the choice of being in or out, although they dont have hay in there as my sisters horse is very bossy and if my horse was in there eating he would beat her up for the food and she wouldnt be able to get out of the way of him!
 
The only reason mine come in is to eat hay, and this year we've put hay out in the field instead so they're still out 24/7. It is costing a fortune because bailey eats a whole bale every night but I suppose it's cheaper than bedding and paying someone to turn them out in the morning.

As a side comment anyone who thinks that keeping horses out 24/7 is less labour intensive should see what we have to do every evening, I have arm muscles like the worlds strongest man from lugging hay and feeds along the muddy bridlepath every night!
 
OMG, all these people who's horses live out 24/7, your lucky to find a yard near me that let you turn out everyday, let alone night. But in answer to the poll, i'd only bring in, if i thought the horses were fed up, and if you have a field shelter and hay, i can't see why they would be.
 
Amber stays in at night, just to keep an extra eye on her weight as she gets closer to foaling. She does have ocasional days in when she decides she will not leave her stable though!
 
We just don’t have the grazing for 24/7 turn out in winter. Ours are out for 10 hours a day and our turn out is boggy. If we did have the grazing I would consider leaving them out full time.
 
All mine live out pretty much 24/7. However, they do come in sometimes, usually because I cant be arsed to walk all the way back to the field after riding or if they are to sweaty to be rugged and turned out.

I do, however, get a lot of hassle from one owner on the yard who says there is no nutrition in the grass and they should be in. All 3 of them are happy healthly and looking very well.
 
My reason didnt apply. I stable for the simple fact all the others are in and I won't leave a ponio alone all night in a big scary field.
I like the routine, and I like to know they are safe in, especially with all the thefts about.
 
mine had a field shelter and could choose. He lived on his own and was lonely and sad.
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. At the new yard he is in at night and seems happy now he has friends. He told me only the other day that he would like to share a field shelter with his new friend rodney at his old home but given the choice would rather be stabled at night than have no friends
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Mine would never speak to me again if I made them stay out 24/7. My arab hates getting wet... he doesn't even like going in the school if its raining, so this time of year both mine are in most of the time with limited turnout. They seem perfectly happy
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In the summer they're either out during the day or at night but never 24/7 as too much good grass is lethal.

My ideal would be a big barn with access to hard surface/gravel outside yard but until I can afford my own place I much prefer to keep them in when its wet and muddy. Horses feet just aren't designed to swill about in the wet and horses stomachs aren't designed to eat lush grass.
 
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