No one wants 24/7 turnout!

Ours are out 24/7 all year. It's not to do with mucking out, but to do with the horses themselves. All are more relaxed and natural. Problem with molly-coddling is that the more it's done, the more it needs doing! Let them grow a winter coat rather than rugging too early etc!
Pan
 
Dizzle said:
Our yard is a mixture of grass and DIY, there's usually only one of two horses out of about 20 in overnight, mine lives out and I wouldn't have it any other way, my old yard offered full and part livery and they didn't do 24/7 as the YO would loose money because she couldn't charge for full if they were out all the time.

Even if my horse was on full I'd want him out 24/7 he loves it! (He's now on grass livery)
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I think that people should think about what is best for the horse. Our horses are much more chilled when they are out 24/7. Sometimes though, they are a bit too chilled when it comes to riding them! That is another reason for some people wanting them stabled, I think.
 
PandorasJar said:
Ours are out 24/7 all year. It's not to do with mucking out, but to do with the horses themselves. All are more relaxed and natural. Problem with molly-coddling is that the more it's done, the more it needs doing! Let them grow a winter coat rather than rugging too early etc!
Pan
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I agree. As I have become more experienced over the years, the less mollicoddling I have done. Which is why mine are out 24/7 as soon as possible. I actually find muck clearing in the fields is harder work than mucking out. Much more difficult to get motivated. Good jo OH often does it for me at the weekends. :)
 
I can't remember the last time I was at a yard with 24/7 turnout, it simply isn't offered around here! At my last yard in summer the horses could stay out 24/7 over the weekend if owners wanted but still came in for part of each day (or overnight) during the week. At the current yard, most horses are still stabled overnight because a) it's still freezing cold and raining all the time and b) the ground is sodden. Don't see the point of horses being left to stand in fetlock deep water (which is it, in a lot of places, even the fields which are resting) for the sake of 24/7 turnout. Anyway, the point is that the yard doesn't allow 24/7 turnout at all and YO tells prospective liveries that when you look around.

Personally I don't tend to leave my horse out 24/7. He's a v good doer and has been known to get footy when the grass comes through so he comes in during the day, every day. He would be obese if I left him out on even poor grass 24/7. 24/7 turnout also makes him even more idle that normal! Just bought a new horse and it's looking like he'll be another v good doer who won't be allowed to stay out 24/7 so that I can manage his weight correctly.
 
We have 24/7 365 days but its DIY only. In reality most of us bring on for part of the year as we run out of grass in winter and have too much in Spring. I usually leave out 24/7 Oct-Dec, bring in overnight Jan-Mar (as we can't hay fields), bring in during day April-Sept.

If I didn't have a good doer I'd leave out 24/7 as much as poss.
 
Wagtail said:
I agree. As I have become more experienced over the years, the less mollicoddling I have done. Which is why mine are out 24/7 as soon as possible. I actually find muck clearing in the fields is harder work than mucking out. Much more difficult to get motivated. Good jo OH often does it for me at the weekends. :)
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+1. Can't just potter round and do it! I've been handed topping responsibility and OH does harrowing thankfully! Would take ten of me to get the harrow in each field!

Pan
 
acw295 said:
I usually leave out 24/7 Oct-Dec, bring in overnight Jan-Mar (as we can't hay fields)
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We hay in ours, our last yard had this rule as it 'killed off grass'. Only does that if you put out far too much! Taylor to the horses and it's no problem.

We winter feed (hay/haylage) all horses off the tractor (DIY included in this) twice daily and it's fine bar one field which was over-fed due to the owner. This took a week more to recover, so no great loss!

Pan
 
PandorasJar said:
We hay in ours, our last yard had this rule as it 'killed off grass'. Only does that if you put out far too much! Taylor to the horses and it's no problem.

We winter feed (hay/haylage) all horses off the tractor (DIY included in this) twice daily and it's fine bar one field which was over-fed due to the owner. This took a week more to recover, so no great loss!

Pan
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Never had a problem with poor grass growth after haying in the field either. We feed haylage and every scrap is either hoovered up or it blows away :rolleyes: I've bought a couple of hay hutches this year to try to save a bit of it.
 
Ours has the rule because people disagree on how much they want fed - we've got largeish herds and range from youngsters to oldies and some want haylage not hay etc.

The only exception they make is when it snows heavily - then the yard sticks out a small amount in each field and splits it equally across all the liveries but that's usually only 4-5 days a year.

So you have to bring in to feed. Those that don't work full time just bring in for a few hrs, but as I work long hrs I have to bring in for 10-12hrs at a time. Pony ok with that though as she gets a min of 12hrs turnout on grass 365 days a year. We never, ever have to keep in due to weather :)
 
Many years ago I had a rather firm view that horses should be allowed to be horses: turned out 24/7 or as much as possible, live in a herd, that sort of thing. Then I got this mare, who shattered all my preconceived notions as she clearly doesn't want to be a horse. She's very good, however, at getting people around her (me, mainly) to keep her in the lifestyle to which she is accustomed, my threats to sell her for a Highland notwithstanding.
 
Caol Ila said:
Many years ago I had a rather firm view that horses should be allowed to be horses: turned out 24/7 or as much as possible, live in a herd, that sort of thing. Then I got this mare, who shattered all my preconceived notions as she clearly doesn't want to be a horse. She's very good, however, at getting people around her (me, mainly) to keep her in the lifestyle to which she is accustomed, my threats to sell her for a Highland notwithstanding.
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I have one of those too - TB by any chance? :rolleyes:
 
I love 24/7 turnout! And I probably wouldn't move yards to one that doesn't offer it. Even if my horse wouldn't go out 24/7 I like having the option especially in summer.

Luckily my boy enjoys being out and is retired so he's happy. I can see why some owners don't want it but I'd never be-grudge my boy the luxury :) its completely chilled him out and I can hand on heart say he is totally at home for ye first time since I've owned him.
 
horserider said:
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.

...

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 ??
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Yes, getting their money's worth really is one of the reasons in my experience.
I think there is also a concern that the horses won't get the same stuff done with them (e.g. full groom), too. This I can't understand:

benson21 said:
Donovan at the moment is out from 7am til 5pm, then in at night. I dont want him on 24/7. He is not a competition horse, to be honest he is a pet, and I maybe wrong but I cant see me having much of a relationship with him if he is always out in the field.
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:confused: I don't get it. That feeling when your horse sees you in the morning, calls and comes galloping over to you when there's dew on the ground.. priceless. Watching your horse sometimes ignoring you completely and interacting with others (you know, being a horse) instead of forced contact - priceless. Poo picking in the field with a horse free to come and go, and finding they are following you around because they want to (and are nosy beggars) ... that's for me. And as Amymay says, when a horse is still in bed when you go to see them, and doesn't feel the need to get up and you don't have to make him get up to be turned out - lovely.
 
Naturally said:
Yes, getting their money's worth really is one of the reasons in my experience.
I think there is also a concern that the horses won't get the same stuff done with them (e.g. full groom), too. This I can't understand:



:confused: I don't get it. That feeling when your horse sees you in the morning, calls and comes galloping over to you when there's dew on the ground.. priceless. Watching your horse sometimes ignoring you completely and interacting with others (you know, being a horse) instead of forced contact - priceless. Poo picking in the field with a horse free to come and go, and finding they are following you around because they want to (and are nosy beggars) ... that's for me. And as Amymay says, when a horse is still in bed when you go to see them, and doesn't feel the need to get up and you don't have to make him get up to be turned out - lovely.
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Couldn't of put it better myself :)
 
My ground is only just drying again but some of them are dry enough. I kept mine out last night and was so happy. I'm sick of them being in. Not so much for less work as I have other chores, but because it's just better for them. I still give hay out as part time they are in the sacrafice paddock.

I've only read the first and last page and bizarre responses. Can't bond with your horse when they are out? Really? I have one that is a "don't come near me in my house". As soon as she's out she is so pleasant. Chalk that up to the competition training I had her in and being stabled way too much. Which brings me to the notion that you have to keep comp horses in for them to be at their best. Not buying it. When I pulled my mare out of comp livery she was still jumping but I put her out 24/7 unless of course the weather was dire. Her best shows were during this time. And not only that some of her issues were because she wasn't out moving around enough before she came home.

I almost find it easier when they're in part time than out. Poo picking, feeding arrangements, keeping the right amount of grass ect. But my horses are happier and so am I. They still get brushed over in the evenings, rugs if needed, ect. I'm convinced if you have a young horse in comp training you do them a huge disservice in keeping them in as much as they are. People like to blame early breaking for unsoundness. I think if you did an actual study you'd find it had more to do with being stood in far too long and only working with limited turnout. Horses need to move, not just in work.

Terri
 
I've been offered 24hr turn out but have never taken it due to the fact that I would be in bed worrying that he's injured himself in a fence or something.. Silly I know but I like to know he's in his stable even if I bring him In late at night.. There's always people about to notice injuries during the day.. So I dont worry.
 
At my yard we try and keep them out 24/7. They come in if the field is bad, inclement weather etc. My 17.2, 17 yr warmblood needs to keep moving as he fills in a stable for long lengths of time and I think they are better out than in, if they can.
 
I've got two ponies on 24/7 turnout (but I also have one on loan who's in at night) ETA at our yard in the heat of summer they stay in during day (nice barn type stabling which keeps realtively cool) and go out at night. For those out 24/7 there is plenty of trees/hedging for shelter.
 
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Mine are out 24/7 at the mo apart from a lammi pony who's in by day and 2 more are muzzled but would perfer them out muzzled to control their weight than stood in bored while their mates play in the field.
I think it prob is all down to thinking they aren't getting value for money if the horses are still in but you may haveto do as amymay says and give them a weeks noticeto turn out. The only other way is to tell them that as they are fully aware the cost is worked out on a average so unless the horses go out the costs are going to have to go up.

Mine come in for a brush, feed, ridden etcin the afternoon than back out at the mo and I love it.
 
Naturally said:
:confused: I don't get it. That feeling when your horse sees you in the morning, calls and comes galloping over to you when there's dew on the ground.. priceless. Watching your horse sometimes ignoring you completely and interacting with others (you know, being a horse) instead of forced contact - priceless. Poo picking in the field with a horse free to come and go, and finding they are following you around because they want to (and are nosy beggars) ... that's for me. And as Amymay says, when a horse is still in bed when you go to see them, and doesn't feel the need to get up and you don't have to make him get up to be turned out - lovely.
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+1

Mine will follow me around for hours and plays like a dog :rolleyes: in the field with me and OH. I don't feel the need to trap her to force her to like me, I took the time on a genuine bond that she enjoys seeing me for :) Mine is also currently a pet as needs more work before ridden but I wouldn't have her anywhere but out

Pan
 
Caol Ila said:
Many years ago I had a rather firm view that horses should be allowed to be horses: turned out 24/7 or as much as possible, live in a herd, that sort of thing. Then I got this mare, who shattered all my preconceived notions as she clearly doesn't want to be a horse. She's very good, however, at getting people around her (me, mainly) to keep her in the lifestyle to which she is accustomed, my threats to sell her for a Highland notwithstanding.
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I have no issue with that as I know some horses genuinely love their stables, but mine don't and I wouldn't put them in.... however last share was quite happy being tucked up at night in bad weather!

Pan
 
All of the horses at my yard love to come in when it's cold and wet. They all love their stables. But when the weather is nice they are happier out. In an ideal world, I would have them all in one herd and coming in and out when they chose, with constant access to the paddocks and the stables. Unfortunately, they don't all get on :rolleyes: and our clay soil does not stand up to 24/7 grazing during the winter or very wet weather.

Whilst I believe 24/7 turnout is best, I do not believe that horses were meant to stand around in mud. In the wild they keep moving and the land they roam does not become poached. Due to the way we keep horses confined within smaller areas, it is often unavoidable to stable them for part of the time. But when you get the chance for 24/7 turnout, you should jump at it, so long as fatter types can be restricted to sparser pasture.
 
My WB mare is ridden 4-5 times a week, does sponsored rides, riding club stuff etc and lives out 24/7 very happily! Before I got her she was stabled and quite anxy alot of the time, now she is as easy, placid and relaxed as they come, she always has access to her stable for shelter but is very happy out 24/7 all through the year.
 
Each to their own I suppose, but I remain a firm believer that "the outside of a stable is good for the inside of a horse".

My Welsh X is out 24/7 in the summer, as was the warmblood I had previously, both are good do-ers and need to be in the "fatties field", but have never had a lami problem.

Our yard has a choice of 24/7 or stabled at night in summer, and of 24 horses only four are in, and in two cases this is due to injury.
 
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