No one wants 24/7 turnout!

rhino said:
All bar 2 or 3 of ours are out 24/7, yes, even the competition horses :cool: Don't have to 'force' them either! And it's a mix of DIY/part/full :)
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As I say, I have never had a complaint. But just thought it was strange that people did not jump at the chance of 24/7 when it is optional, especially this year when they have been stuck in the all weather turnout for longer than usual. You'd think people would want their horses out as much as possible.
 
Wagtail said:
At my yard only my two horses are now out 24/7. The fields are lovely, the ground is good with no mud, and we have had relatively dry nights. However, none of my liveries want their horses out 24/7. I have offered it. I want it, but no takers! :( They are all full or part livery though so I guess the liveries do not need a rest from mucking out or the costs of feeding haylage and bedding down. But from being on here, I was under the impression that most people wanted 24/7 turnout? :confused:
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It's bonkers not to want 24/7 turnout imo. If the weather is truly awful, then bring in for a break but a horses place is grazing and moving about not stationary in a 12x12 box.
 
If you want 24/7 turnout takers, offer a money incentive. If you knock off hay and bedding charges people might go for it. I used to get narked off paying for full livery for the YO to nip down the field a couple of times a day and check all the horses had four legs. If you're paying for full livery, you want full livery or you feel you're being ripped off.

I actually quite like that my horse has the same routine all year round (I'm on part now), we're never allowed to turn out at night, but it would be nice to swap to nights when its really hot and the flies are about. The chance to save some money would be good too.
 
Everyone's individual.mine are out except for a few hrs a day do is the livery. If she wanted him in most the time that would be up to her.
Iike mine out its less work for me, they are happy out doing their own thing.
 
blazingsaddles said:
It's bonkers not to want 24/7 turnout imo. If the weather is truly awful, then bring in for a break but a horses place is grazing and moving about not stationary in a 12x12 box.
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That's what I thought, especially as they have had less turnout than is usual up until now due to the awful weather.

Flame_ said:
If you want 24/7 turnout takers, offer a money incentive. If you knock off hay and bedding charges people might go for it. I used to get narked off paying for full livery for the YO to nip down the field a couple of times a day and check all the horses had four legs. If you're paying for full livery, you want full livery or you feel you're being ripped off.

I actually quite like that my horse has the same routine all year round (I'm on part now), we're never allowed to turn out at night, but it would be nice to swap to nights when its really hot and the flies are about. The chance to save some money would be good too.
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I don't just check the horses, but poo pick too. In fact, I prefer mucking out to poo picking as I find it much quicker and easier work. Last year I had to feed haylage in the field several times daily too, due to it being so dry, and of course I also take up the hard feed, remove and clean buckets, clean out water troughs, and remove and replace rugs, fly sheets and masks as required (can be several times daily if the weather is changable).

I can't give a cash incentive because the livery amount reflects an AVERAGE cost throughout the year.
 
Wagtail - I so wish you were near me - I would have my horses on your yard in a shot! Our paddocks aren't big enough for the number of horses on them, so we only have enough for daytime grazing - although we currently have one resting paddock, so fingers crossed in a couple of weeks they'll be out 24/7, even if only for a couple of months. I would love my horses out 24/7 - not just for the reduction in work (I'm about the only one who does the poo picking as the others are lazy arses so there's not much reduction in what I do anyway!) but because mine are far more chilled when they are living out - I hate stabling them!
 
Ours are at home and still coming in at night and we're champing at the bit to get them back out 24/7. They did go out in March but the snow and rain meant that they had to come back in - for the benefit of the elderly and the land.

I am at a loss to understand why competing horses need to come in overnight. I find that my horses keep themselves fitter when they are out and moving around 24/7.

I think in your position OP, I would declare that any owners who want theirs in now will have to do their own mucking out.
 
I agree. I have been waiting so impatiently for the weather to be okay for 24/7 turnout. I am resting my boy at the moment and want him to have a few weeks chilling in the field before I start work with him again. He is much better when out 24/7.
 
I would be one of the not wanting 24/7 turnout. all the horses on my yard come in overnight all year and it works perfect for my girl.

She loves going out, but she starts to stress after too long and only settles when she comes in.

A lot of horses I would LOVE to have 24/7 turnout, but just wouldnt work for her.

Alas normal turnout full stop would be nice for us, we are on clay and our fields are a combination of standing water and mud :(
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Ours are at home and still coming in at night and we're champing at the bit to get them back out 24/7. They did go out in March but the snow and rain meant that they had to come back in - for the benefit of the elderly and the land.

I am at a loss to understand why competing horses need to come in overnight. I find that my horses keep themselves fitter when they are out and moving around 24/7.

I think in your position OP, I would declare that any owners who want theirs in now will have to do their own mucking out.
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Lol, yes, I expect that would go down well! I do need my summer break though. :o
 
My mare is on DIY and I pay for bedding, hay etc.

It is a lot more cost effective and it is good for her to be out 24/7, but I confess that she only went out for the first time night last night even though there are others on the yard that have been out for a while now.

IMO the weather has been rubbish this year and I really want to conserve the paddock and have some grass for the summer, if it ever does arrive.
 
The majority of our yard is 24/7 turnout! With the exception of my 2 and a friends young mare, everyone else just bought theirs in for the odd night here and there through the winter, but I havent had mine in overnight for over a year...much happier!
 
Wagtail said:
I can't give a cash incentive because the livery amount reflects an AVERAGE cost throughout the year.
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Then I wonder if a non-average system might work out best for you? Make it still compulsory for 2-3 months 24/7 over the summer, but at the lower rate, and when in at night go with the higher rate, as long as it all adds up to the same annual rate. That way there is a clear financial incentive if people have their horses out 24/7 for longer than the 2-3 months. :) I suspect that whilst your liveries understand the average system, they may have selective memory and wonder why they are still paying the same for 24/7 turnout.

If you re-did your fee scale it would give you a chance to reiterate what they are paying for in the 24/7 turnout time (i.e. not just grass livery).

I used to work on a small full livery yard, and none of our clients ever wanted 24/7 turnout either - I'm convinced its the "I'm paying for it so I will use it" mentality.
 
As someone you has one of their horses on part-livery, I have to say that I wouldn't be very happy if 24/7 turnout was compulsory.
It's great to have the luxury of having the option of 24/7 turnout if the weather permits but to be honest I prefer my horse to be in for a few hours during the middle of the day if if gets really hot.
 
I'd love the option of being on 24 hour turnout, but for there to be a stable for me if say the weather got too bad, or injury etc. But at my yard and all others around me, you either have a stable and your horse comes in at night during winter (out 24/7 in summer) or you don't have one and it is given to someone else :(
 
I would love it if my horse could have 24/7 turnout (and my yard owner reduces the summer livery for those who choose that option), but unfortunately my Colorado girl has a view of the rain, the wind, the midges, and the clegg flies and won't stand it.

Sometimes I swear that my next horse will be a Highland! But until then.... Gypsum gets what she wants. Which is a nice cozy stall at night.
 
My share lives out all year round and it's great for her, so much better than stabling (apart from the mud stains)! I am now looking for somewhere to get my own horse and I can't find anywhere with 24/7 turnout! I really don't want to have to muck out all the time and think horses should be outside whenever possible although if someone else was doing it I might not be so tough ;-)

Nice weather would solve all our problems! We had to come back from our hack today after it started hailing and thundering on us and subsequent sideways spooks all the way home :-(
 
Wud b lovely if all horses were out 24/7 but it can't suit them all- r u/liverys not concerned bout laminitis excessive weight gain??
I no 4 my horse he must b in with small net well soaked hay overnight or he'd b the size of a house & hes muzzled while out!
 
Yep it's strange nearly everywhere I know most are out 24/7. Ours were only brought in due to the bad weather to let them dry off and give the fields a break. Happily out and we have use of stables when we need them. Why make work for yourself. Ponies had been in a couple of days due to rain and they were so excited to be out again and are far more chilled to ride
 
Hadn't realised till I read through all these posts about the money element of having 24/7 turnout for part of the year.

I charge my liveries (all out 24/7/365) a flat rate £80 p.m. For that the horses get their grazing, access to barns, and I feed, water, poo pick the barns and hay and rug as necessary on a daily basis. (The liveries do the outdoor poo-picking). I buy in the hard feed, haylage and shavings, and divide it pro rata costwise, depending on how much hard feed each horse gets etc.(my fractions are brilliant!) So in the summer the liveries just pay the £80 per month plus a very small amount for hard feed. In the winter, of course, it is considerably more. This system seems fair to me, and certainly nobody has ever complained.

I too would be annoyed if my horse was having 24/7 turnout and I was paying 'indoor' rates.
 
Naturally said:
Then I wonder if a non-average system might work out best for you? Make it still compulsory for 2-3 months 24/7 over the summer, but at the lower rate, and when in at night go with the higher rate, as long as it all adds up to the same annual rate. That way there is a clear financial incentive if people have their horses out 24/7 for longer than the 2-3 months. :) I suspect that whilst your liveries understand the average system, they may have selective memory and wonder why they are still paying the same for 24/7 turnout.

If you re-did your fee scale it would give you a chance to reiterate what they are paying for in the 24/7 turnout time (i.e. not just grass livery).

I used to work on a small full livery yard, and none of our clients ever wanted 24/7 turnout either - I'm convinced its the "I'm paying for it so I will use it" mentality.
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I think you are right. The problem is that often they will go out 24/7 then the weather turns and they have to all come in again, and then a few days later, they are all out. It would get so complicated. I make a decision based on the weather conditions. Also, if just one horse comes in then as soon as their owner goes home they will call and call to the others who are out, and they will all become unsettled. We only have eight horses here turned out in twos or threes. So if someone brings in, it may leave another horse out on its own. It's a real problem and one which I have only got over by saying that I will decide when all the horses go in or all go out. I am a softy, so err on the side of caution and no horse has to 'rough it'.
 
Blimey! Everyone at our yard have been bugging for weeks to get them out (despite the flooded fields!!) They finally went out on Saturday :D
 
I am quite surprised by the anthromorphisation on this thread!!! Owners like to think of their horses tucked up in their nice cosy stables (aka caves) which normally horses hate!! But horses are very adaptable and try their best to do what their "owners" want!! Regardless of natural instincts (keep in an open area where they can run away from predators!).... But again most humans want clean horses that don't take much work to look after......even if they become "flighty"!!! But then I live in New Zealand where we have to opportunity to run our horses on our own land and handle them according to our wishes, we are not constrained by livery yard rules!!
 
Do owners really have the 'I'm paying for it, so I'll use it' mentality ? To put greed before the wellbeing of the horse is quite shocking.

Some horses may need to be part stabled in summer for various, genuine reasons, but getting your money's worth isn't one of them.

Have they ever watched horses enjoy the cool evening breeze as the sun sets, and as the sunrise warms their backs as they graze on the fresh dew soaked grass ?

Summer nights in the paddock with the herd, free from flies and oppressive heat and relief from the long dreary winter is such a pleasure for what are, in essence, out door grazing animals.

To deny them that because the owner wants to get their money's worth ?? Really ??
 
Horsegirl has summed it up for me.
Could you re-word your contracts Wagtail to say price reflects x no of weeks on 24/7 turnout, & if owner or weather prevents it then extra charges will apply?
 
amymay said:
How many of the horses are being worked daily, or even a few times a week Wagtail??
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They are worked on average only once or twice a week. One of them, four to five times a week. None of them are competing at the moment. One has a foal at foot.
 
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