Length of turnout time

[sherry90]

During the week he is full livery and so fits in with the yard routine which suits him fine, in winter (Oct to March for us) he is out between 8/9 and in between 2/3 so can be up to 7 hours or as little as 4/5 if the weather is really grim or if they have the farrier. I’d say averaged out it’s about 6 hours. He’s ridden 5 days a week and if they’ve been in longer than usual I would always ride lunge or something on that day. On weekends I’m DIY and tend to go earlier so I ride and he goes out anywhere between 7-9 and then either I’ll bring in or they will at similar times as weekdays. If it’s dry and sunny they often can still be out just before it goes dark. Really depends. He is on limited grazing as he gets fat off fresh air and I was putting hay out but then he didn’t move so defeated the object of turnout so now he has extra hay to come into and mooches about picking at the grass whilst he’s out. In summer it’s unlimited, we can do 24/7 if we like but I swap round to overnight turnout which is usually bring in 8/9 of a morning and I turn out after I’ve ridden which can be 6/7ish of an evening.

 

[milliepops]

no official limit but as the fields are quite small and wet i turn out at about 7 and YO brings in a few hours later, some days they have just a morning, others they stay out until early afternoon if the weather is nice. if the weather turns wetter i'm anticipating the fields will be closed.

 

[asmp]

No limit although have to stabled at night in the winter. Go out usually 0730-0830 and come in about 1730-1830.

 

[TPO]

Mine are at (parent's) home but I answered as if in livery.

I've mainly been DIY with a couple of (very!) short periods of Full and Part.

I've never had any real turnout restrictions when on DIY. In those instances I'd turn out before work, generally 7ish, and bring in once I get there after work and had done stables, so often around 7pm.

On one yard the YO did weekday turnout and put out around 8.30 unless the weather was really bad when she would keep in and hay. Generally speaking they went out in most weathers.

I went to a part/assisted yard where YO really sold having loads of turnout. I went there in winter and was assured 8-4 turnout. When the opportunity arose I'd drive past the yard on the way to site visit around 10/11 & horses still wouldn't be out. I found out from another livery that visited during the day that my horse would barely be out for an hour. That explained the hungry and thirsty horse with a disgusting stable when I got there after work. Needless to say we didnt last long there!

On the majority of my yards with no restricted winter turnout (some weren't 24/7 but no restriction on day time turnout) owners would choose to keep their horses in. Despite their umpteen rugs they appeared to think that their horses would melt and "liked having a duvet day".

 

[AandK]

DIY in West Sussex. No limits, we are allowed to manage as we see fit, YM does not close the fields. Some are out for a few hours, some all day and some 24/7.
My retired one is out 24/7, the 7yo is on box rest at the mo but he prefers to be out 24/7 as well. If the 7yo is part stabled, I tend to put him out overnight, so he comes in at about 8am and goes back out at 7pm.

 

[Fjord]

Diy and mine is out for about 8 hours, slightly less at weekends as I can get there earlier when I'm not working. Out around 8 ish and in around 5 ish most days. If the weather is awful then they stay in for a day here and there, because the field is heavy clay and gets boggy.

 

[emilylou]

24/7 but we are utterly spoilt

 

[MissTyc]

I bring mine in only on the worst nights as one had a ligament injury and I am wary of slippery ground. E.g. in the last two weeks, they spent 5 nights stabled overnight. When I bring in, it's 6/6.30pm and I always turn out before 6am. I responded "unrestricted" because it's up to me! This is on DIY/assisted livery. I run the yard so it's up to me anyway, but I let everyone do what they want. There are usually a hardcore group of horses that stay out all year round no matter the weather or temps, so there's always someone to stay out with.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I’ve no axe to grind (my horse is out for 16 hours overnight). But I don’t think the responses to this poll are representative of the reality of U.K. horse owners.

I know of so many livery yards with wet land and restricted turnout over winter. It feels like those with a less than ideal set up aren’t voting in the poll to me.

 

[saddlesore]

24/7 if we want. I have a stable but my horse prefers to be out. The yard puts bales of haylage in the fields foc during the worst of the winter. Very lucky!

 

[sherry90]

I’ve no axe to grind (my horse is out for 16 hours overnight). But I don’t think the responses to this poll are representative of the reality of U.K. horse owners.

I know of so many livery yards with wet land and restricted turnout over winter. It feels like those with a less than ideal set up aren’t voting in the poll to me.

maybe those people just aren’t on this forum ??‍

 

[Roxylola]

maybe those people just aren’t on this forum ??‍

Or arent going to vote or comment because any time its discussed here the general consensus is if you cant provide turnout you shouldn't be keeping horses. To stick my head over the parapet we have very limited turnout for about 4 months over winter but still more than a lot - I grew up in Lancashire on clay soil once its waterlogged it's just horrendous and it was pretty standard that horses were in for about 5 months 24/7. It's far from ideal but horses had plenty of work, established routines and we made it work as best we could

 

[Sleipnir]

Full livery, out 24/7/365 on more than 70 acres in summer and 15 acres in winter (a mixed herd of 15 horses). We're incredibly lucky, however.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I haven't voted because they're at home now but I think what is average varies a lot by area. The yard I was on up here was basically unrestricted but not much shelter in the fields so I brought in at night through winter. And plenty of people just didn't turn out every day as well so when I was down to one horse it was a pain as there was often noone for her to be out with! And all the horses going in and out at different times....ugh. In Cumbria the best turnout we got was being allowed to turnout all day every day, only restriction being that they had to be in overnight, so could be long days out. But that was just one yard that had a lot of land to play with. I was on one that has zero winter turnout for a short while. Average was about 4 hours on most days. With no turnout on the worst weather days.

I much prefer now my horses live out, albeit on hardstanding when it's very wet. But with less turnout we did make it work. I wouldn't want to do zero turnout again though if I could avoid it.

 

[wiglet]

I'm on full livery and the horses all come in at night all year round.
In winter, they all go out at 8am and come in around 3.30pm. In spring and summer they go out at 8am stay out until around 5pm.
If the weather is atrocious and they're all stood at the gates, they will be brought in early BUT, turnout is everyday without fail no matter what the weather.

 

[milliepops]

Or arent going to vote or comment because any time its discussed here the general consensus is if you cant provide turnout you shouldn't be keeping horses.

this!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I put over 8 hours because that’s what I can give them whilst not completely trashing the grazing this time of year. We don’t have any restrictions as such anymore so there are a couple of ponies that stay out most nights. It’s a completely DIY yard with no onsite management except for maintenance.

 

[holeymoley]

Thanks for the replies. We used to have a decent amount of turnout time 8-3 or even longer i think actually now I remember. Now we’re on extremely reduced hours. Length of time doesnt bother me as mine’s happy with hay but it’s the length of time in the stable that does. They’re in for 20/21hours until next turnout. Work is limited as we lose the light at 4, and you feel guilty if you work them in the morning as they’ve to be off fields by 12. Gah.

 

[Roxylola]

I'm hacking in the dark lit up like a Christmas tree to offset exactly that HM at the moment.

 

[EmmaC78]

Mine are on DIY so are generally turned out between 7.30 and 8am and then back in around 6 or 7pm. We could turn out and bring in whenever we want though.

 

[milliepops]

Thanks for the replies. We used to have a decent amount of turnout time 8-3 or even longer i think actually now I remember. Now we’re on extremely reduced hours. Length of time doesnt bother me as mine’s happy with hay but it’s the length of time in the stable that does. They’re in for 20/21hours until next turnout. Work is limited as we lose the light at 4, and you feel guilty if you work them in the morning as they’ve to be off fields by 12. Gah.

I used to be on a yard like that where the horses went out at set times and if you had to do something in that time, they couldn't go out later so you basically missed your slot. It was tough those days. Where I am now its limited but flexible on start times. Plus I have an indoor school so can ride any time, which really takes the pressure off.

 

[chaps89]

Thanks for the replies. We used to have a decent amount of turnout time 8-3 or even longer i think actually now I remember. Now we’re on extremely reduced hours. Length of time doesnt bother me as mine’s happy with hay but it’s the length of time in the stable that does. They’re in for 20/21hours until next turnout. Work is limited as we lose the light at 4, and you feel guilty if you work them in the morning as they’ve to be off fields by 12. Gah.

I've just turned down the option of moving to a very nice yard with amazing hacking because winter turnout is 6am to 12 on nice days and I usually ride in the morning. They did kindly offer me the use of the school for turnout when others are in but it wasn't something I was comfortable with. But at least I knew that upfront!
Have the yard given a reason for the change? Can liveries all club together for some lights for the school (presuming there is one?) to allow you to ride after work (if YO won't supply) Or can turnout times be flexible so they have the same amount of time out but later after you've ridden? Or offer to pay extra £ towards field maintenance come spring?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

As poll title. Please only respond if you are on DiY, Assisted/Part or Full livery.

How much turnout does your horse get per day at this time of year?

Thank you

difficult really my mare is on box rest, boy and pony on a 9-3 due to laminitis and frosty grazing, the rest of the yard go out at 7.15am come in 3pm due to light ad dee pooing after they come in.

 

[Boulty]

Around 10-12 hrs at a guess depending on when exactly they come in / out. (Sort of DIY on a private yard. YO lets them out on a morning & the livery who was there when I moved on brings them in as they had an existing arrangement & it's easier for them all to be on same routine. They only came in at weekend so still working it all out) In an ideal world would prefer him out 24/7 year round but nearly impossible to find in my area so gone for next best thing as they're in for as little of year as possible depending on ground & weather & literally on the doorstep.

 

[holeymoley]

I've just turned down the option of moving to a very nice yard with amazing hacking because winter turnout is 6am to 12 on nice days and I usually ride in the morning. They did kindly offer me the use of the school for turnout when others are in but it wasn't something I was comfortable with. But at least I knew that upfront!
Have the yard given a reason for the change? Can liveries all club together for some lights for the school (presuming there is one?) to allow you to ride after work (if YO won't supply) Or can turnout times be flexible so they have the same amount of time out but later after you've ridden? Or offer to pay extra £ towards field maintenance come spring?

There’s always been a bit of limited turnout in the winter but its more the hours that are a bit awkward. Mine is a laminitic so with frosty mornings he doesnt go out until later so he only gets an hour or so. There is lights but we aren’t allowed to turnout or lunge in the school. I find the surface too deep so i try to avoid it if possible. I can box up to a friend’s arena but with Covid restrictions, i’ve been unable to do so over the last few weeks. The length of time out is okay for me, its just unfortunately the actual times that i feel are a bit rubbish for them.

 

[pixie]

Mine is out 24/7 as he is an older boy and needs to be able to keep moving. My liveries turnout daily at whatever time suits them, so anytime between 6AM and 7PM usually.
They only stay in when the weather is very dire, and usually the liveries can't even make it up if its particularly bad (our lane doesn't get gritted) so I sort them all out myself. Thankfully this doesn't happen very often!

 

[sherry90]

Or arent going to vote or comment because any time its discussed here the general consensus is if you cant provide turnout you shouldn't be keeping horses. To stick my head over the parapet we have very limited turnout for about 4 months over winter but still more than a lot - I grew up in Lancashire on clay soil once its waterlogged it's just horrendous and it was pretty standard that horses were in for about 5 months 24/7. It's far from ideal but horses had plenty of work, established routines and we made it work as best we could

This could very well be true, it’s a bit like the ad lib hay debate! I also know some people who turn out 24/7 though in conditions that my horse would simply hate. I think it has to be (as with all things!) what suits the particular horse, with a balance of what also in some aspects, suits the owner. Finding that happy medium and not being pressured into one way over another.
I know my horse, he’d rather be out for a few hours but in for longer, dry and with hay than ‘forced’ to be out for hours longer or 24/7 in a muddy,,wet, field just because 24/7 is the ‘right thing to do’ but the yard could be overgrazed, no shelter etc.
If I was to do 24/7 correctly round here, there’s probably only one yard I’d choose as they have adequate acreage and shelter but they have no riding facilities so I couldn’t exercise him in winter to keep him fit/right weight, he’d then get lami in summer out 24/7 and there’s no option to stable on that yard. I have to compromise for the health of my horse. I could pick from a handful of traditional yards that allow 24/7 but they always have no grass (not a huge issue as he gets fat) but then the horses that are out are stood in mud, hungry and for most of the day scrabbling at the gate to come in ??‍
Or those that stay out til gone 7pm, I have friends who often battle with legs and teeth fighting at the gate to get their horses in after dark who have been waiting to come in and are hangry!

 

[Annagain]

Ours have to be in overnight in winter but there's no turnout or bring in times. My friend puts them out at about 6.30am and I get them in at about 6pm. We are totally DIY and with our work patterns we couldn't really do any different. She starts work at 8 and has the kids to sort after work (hence her doing the mornings) and I work until 5 most days so couldn't get them in any earlier. I could put them out a little bit later but then she would struggle with the other end of the day. We'd really struggle with anything more restricted than that unless they were turned out/ brought in for us.

 

[Austen123]

This could very well be true, it’s a bit like the ad lib hay debate! I also know some people who turn out 24/7 though in conditions that my horse would simply hate. I think it has to be (as with all things!) what suits the particular horse, with a balance of what also in some aspects, suits the owner. Finding that happy medium and not being pressured into one way over another.
I know my horse, he’d rather be out for a few hours but in for longer, dry and with hay than ‘forced’ to be out for hours longer or 24/7 in a muddy,,wet, field just because 24/7 is the ‘right thing to do’ but the yard could be overgrazed, no shelter etc.
If I was to do 24/7 correctly round here, there’s probably only one yard I’d choose as they have adequate acreage and shelter but they have no riding facilities so I couldn’t exercise him in winter to keep him fit/right weight, he’d then get lami in summer out 24/7 and there’s no option to stable on that yard. I have to compromise for the health of my horse. I could pick from a handful of traditional yards that allow 24/7 but they always have no grass (not a huge issue as he gets fat) but then the horses that are out are stood in mud, hungry and for most of the day scrabbling at the gate to come in ??‍
Or those that stay out til gone 7pm, I have friends who often battle with legs and teeth fighting at the gate to get their horses in after dark who have been waiting to come in and are hangry!

My horse is the same, if she's not in by lunch time at the latest the chances are she will be trying to self harm by jumping or running through the fence. She is strange where she doesnt fence walk or hoon around prior to this, just decides she has had enough and will bring herself in.
When i then come up at 2pm to ride and do jobs, she has normally eaten a lunch time hay net and having a snooze at the back of her stable. She is very happy with this routine.