Keeping riding horses out 24/7 with no facilities

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Dexter

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ok, so I need some reassurance that this is doable! I cannot find anywhere suitable to keep my mare that has any sort of turnout in the winter. I refuse to keep her in 24/7, I'd sell/loan her before it came to that! But I'm also dreading the thought of keeping her out like that!

I'm very lucky in that I rent 13 acres of grazing, we keep the 4 youngsters out on that, which is fine. Its literally just a field, no stables or hard standing etc. I am allowed to put 'temporary stables'/hard standing/XC course etc, whatever I want within reason and at my expense, but I've never bothered as its been for the youngsters so no need. I'm also lucky in that I finish work at 3pm so can get there, when its at worst dusk.

Theres no school near enough to rent, there is a flatish piece of land at the top end I could school on if I fenced it off, and the hacking is reasonable. She will be the only riding horse there so all hacking etc will be alone. I'm just worried that this will suck the enjoyment out of it for me :( I bought her in October and havent yet managed to ride! There have been issues with illness and hideous weather etc, but I'm feeling pretty flat about horses in general after yet another livery yard not working out. So my only option right now is the field.

Does anyone keep their riding horse out 24/7 and manage to keep riding and enjoying it?? Should I buy another riding horse and then look for someone to hack out with me? I'm a loner by nature and love doing things on my own, its just that I'm lacking motivation to do anything other than basic care. Maybe if there was someone waiting to hack out with me etc I'd be more motivated?
 
I'm sure it will be fine, we used to keep ours out 24/7 and compete them :)

I think Posie Honey on here competes WH from the field (could be wrong though!) You might find this post gets more replies in New Lounge or Comp riders :)
 
Can I ask someone to move it or do I need to repost? Actually, I'll just repost :D I'm just feeling very flat about it all as I bought my riding horse as a reprive from the drudgery of the youngsters! I had all sorts of fantasy's about a clean pony, with a deep bed and loads of facilities to play with. However, the mare positively thrives living out, the issues are mine, not hers :D
 
I keep mine out 24/7 and ride from the field, as do many of my friends. It's definitely do-able, but in winter the lack of facilities does get to you, as the fields are too wet/muddy to school in. However, the trade-off is that you get more time to enjoy your horse as there is no mucking out, stable chores. it's worth investing in good rugs in a range of weights, although my TBx welsh lives out fine most of the winter in a lightweight with a trace clip. The other advantage is that mine stays fitter as he's moving around all the time. Much happier too -and i've tried keeping him other ways. Go for it! It sounds like you've got nothing to lose.

Sue
 
Could you not go take the horse to your rented field over the winter where she can have the turnout then have her at a yard over the spring summer and autumn when the yards allow 24/7 turnout? Then you can ride lots, with facilities, for most of the year and she could have the winter off, or just light hacking? That's what quite a few people round here do.
 
YES its definately do-able. I have two horses and have had to arrange my whole horse-keeping life around my old boy, a 21 year old, 17.2 warmblood who HATES being in. When he is stabled he frets, box walks, won't eat and the weight drops off him over night. Finding a livery yard which would allow all year turnout 24/7 for such a big horse was (understandably) impossible so two years ago I decided to go solo and rent some fields

His companion is my new 16.3 Knabstrupper mare and she won't go in if he's out so....they both live out 24/7 and yes, we hack and compete regularly from the field.

I am very lucky that I do have facilities and hard standing next to two of my fields but the one they are curently using has very little and its made me realise the minimum you need to manage and stay sane. This fields has an area of hard standing - not concrete, just compacted scalpings and most importantly of all, a SHED. The shed is vital. It has a reasonable overhang so it offers a little bit of shelter plus its a dry safe place to store grooming kit, rugs (ones in use), headcollars, haylage etc. Tack and all rugs not currently in use get stored elsewhere.

I then put electric fencing around the shed and hard standing area to form a compound - this is where I can bring my old boy in to eat in peace without greedy mare stealing his bucket. He stays in there munching whilst I poo pick the field and then goes back out with bossy boots.

Without making this an essay, I would say the hardest thing is lack of electricity for light in the winter and for a kettle to de-frost frozen water. But I do know that one becomes very inventive and very organised, the less facilities one has. Also if you can get to them by 3pm then in the winter you can just feed and do early, before the light goes.

I agree with another post which suggested maybe just light hacking/ticking over in the winter because it is hard to compete from a Winter field but summer is really easy. Buy a snuggy hood so you can de-mud/plait etc the day before and keep clean over night for a show etc.

Like you I am a bit of a loner as well and one of the beauties of going solo is the huge amount of time you get to spend with your horses in the field. Whilst I loved my previous livery yard, it was sometimes difficult to get away from the "chat lines" to actually get to my horses and my relationship with them has grown so much since being "home alone".

Warning - I may be a sad anti social specimen though!!.

Maybe you can find other local owners/riders through your local tack shop/riding club etc etc to find potential hacking buddies - it is good to have back up and support.
 
Kallibear said:
Could you not go take the horse to your rented field over the winter where she can have the turnout then have her at a yard over the spring summer and autumn when the yards allow 24/7 turnout? Then you can ride lots, with facilities, for most of the year and she could have the winter off, or just light hacking? That's what quite a few people round here do.
Click to expand...

REALLY SENSIBLE PLAN!! Best of both worlds then!!
 
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