No set stabling/turnout routine?

penny3

penny3

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Silly question- but ive always either had the horses out 24/7 or in at night and out during the day, the same every day no matter what the weather. With my mare now she is perfectly happy living out or in, so has been out for the last year and copes fine, a very good doer e.t.c, but i will bring her in sometimes e.g. before comps and on really bad weather and it dosent seem to affect/upset her doing this, she loves being in. This winter she's out again, due to trying to save a bit and we have the land and grass for her, but she's very lazy when ridden, and its hard to progress with her training when she's like this - even though due to work commitments i can only ride her on the weekends. But after being stabled overnight, she's a completely different horse to ride, much more forward and willing and has much more energy. This makes me want to go back to stabling her, but seen as i cant ride in weekdays, im tempted just to stable her overnight on the weekends and turn her out in the week, but just wondering if this is a big no no? with not having a proper routine? or is this ok? sounds stupid but ive never done it half and half like this so not sure what to do!
Hot chocolate and leftover christmas celebrations for anyone who's got this far :o
 
I keep them in only when I *need* them in, for an early start or hunting, injury, etc ... They've never minded, have always done it this way!
 
I always used to think "Once in at night for winter that's it, they are in at night until spring". But this year, whilst I intended leaving them out, mud rash and swamps for fields meant I had to bring them in although I didn't want to. Mild weather? Out again. Now they are in while it is cold (one is 33 and it is a case of one in all in!!) and they seem to have adapted fine. They can stay out if we have some dry not too cold weather, and come in again if they need to.
 
Mine come in on rainy days/ nights (we have nasty heavy clay so for the benefit of the ground not the horses!)
Last year was only about 15 nights all winter (then almost all nights in May!)
This year they've probably had 2 months in at night, then back out now - but will be in the off night until spring.
They don't care at all - if fact I find they don't wait at the gate/ churn up gateway as they're not expecting to come in.
 
So seems alright then? thanks everyone. JillA i used to go by that thought exactly! its either in our out, no messing with the routine :p but she never seems to mind if she's in now and again on bad weather or out.
Magic melon- Just intrested, but why? I do bring her in on bad weather, but is more than happy to be out or in as i said, she's just the type that has a hoolie in the field with her field mates and nackers herself out by the time she's ridden :rolleyes: . If i were to stable her at night, ride first thing then turn out for the rest of the day it just seems like the right way to go.
 
No routine is a routine they become used to if we let them....... much easier to manage that way......

I'd do what works for you.
 
Mine are in Friday and Saturday nights during winter so I can clean them up enough to ride at weekends. They are unfussed whether in or out I don't like having a rigid routine as I feel this can create problems when it has to change for any reason.
 
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