No turnout horse very unhappy

Fun Times said:
What has struck me most about this thread is the amount of somewhat sanctimonious people who seem so keen to point out their amazing horse skills and berate those who are struggling with horses that are demonstrating high spirits or frustration at being confined. To the first group, congratulations, you are truly awesome but alas not every horse in the country can be owned by you. To the second group, you have my sympathy as must be very difficult to deal with no or limited turnout.
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Nail on head.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
no. dont buy a horse unless you are a good enough rider to ride THAT horse in less than ideal circumstances.

and yard staff are paid to deal with the horses. if the owner does not dare, or cannot, get on and work it-pay the yard staff to do that too.
how hard is this?!

if you have a horse that cannot work in the school then surely the options are:
1. do nothng, but dont whine about resulting hyper horse.
2.move yards to somewhere it can go in a field
3.pay someone to hack it.

there is zero point going on and on about needing turnout if you cannot provide it. work with the alternatives.
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Yard staff? None
School? Flooded because the drainage is crap and the surface is now so boggy it is dangerous
Fields? Bogging
Work? 7.30/8am - after 5pm and sometimes out of hours work.

It's not so easy with less than the perfect facilities you appear to have. There are also NO other yards near me within travelling distance with any better facilities. I accept that you have to work with what you have, and fortunately neither of my horses have been particularly bad, but there is no point in telling people to get on with it when they don't have the confidence, facilities or alternative yards to move their horses to. It appears that you are very fortunate but there are many who are not.
 
Fun Times said:
What has struck me most about this thread is the amount of somewhat sanctimonious people who seem so keen to point out their amazing horse skills and berate those who are struggling with horses that are demonstrating high spirits or frustration at being confined. To the first group, congratulations, you are truly awesome but alas not every horse in the country can be owned by you. To the second group, you have my sympathy as must be very difficult to deal with no or limited turnout.
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Not awesome at all, feel the fear and just have to get on with it! I am not at a livery yard, just protecting the ground for when the horses want to go out. At the moment they don't want to, and we see no point in having horses stand by the gate. This dreadful weather will not last forever and fields need to have a chance to dry out and offer grazing in the spring. This winter has been extreme at best. Nobody should think that their routine can carry on as normal, we all need to adjust to the situation, in the hope that we can turn our horses out in decent ground and have good summer grazing. With all the welfare issues that abound at the moment, having a well fed horse standing in a good stable does not sound too bad to me.
 
I have managed to keep my fields open, until today. The horses have had enough. They are coming to get hurt so I shut the fields today. However, I have offered my liveries a realistically priced package of and lib hay, lunging , hacking , hand grazing and walking daily. They all seem more than happy with what I have offered. We actually still have grass but the horses just fence walk and kick off.
 
justabob said:
Not awesome at all, feel the fear and just have to get on with it! I am not at a livery yard, just protecting the ground for when the horses want to go out. At the moment they don't want to, and we see no point in having horses stand by the gate. This dreadful weather will not last forever and fields need to have a chance to dry out and offer grazing in the spring. This winter has been extreme at best. Nobody should think that their routine can carry on as normal, we all need to adjust to the situation, in the hope that we can turn our horses out in decent ground and have good summer grazing. With all the welfare issues that abound at the moment, having a well fed horse standing in a good stable does not sound too bad to me.
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Then why call people incompetent? I doubt this thread would have gone on half as far apart from that comment. To me this was a thread about having no turnout/facilities even decent riding due to extreme weather conditions.
 
justabob said:
Not awesome at all, feel the fear and just have to get on with it! I am not at a livery yard, just protecting the ground for when the horses want to go out. At the moment they don't want to, and we see no point in having horses stand by the gate. This dreadful weather will not last forever and fields need to have a chance to dry out and offer grazing in the spring. This winter has been extreme at best. Nobody should think that their routine can carry on as normal, we all need to adjust to the situation, in the hope that we can turn our horses out in decent ground and have good summer grazing. With all the welfare issues that abound at the moment, having a well fed horse standing in a good stable does not sound too bad to me.
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Noted. But OP's thread starts with words "I am struggling and unsure what to do next" or similar. I suspect she was rather hoping for useful suggestions or, failing that, a modicum of sympathy or failing that a nod that things arent ideal. Instead more than a few people seem to have taken the opportunity to suggest that those who are struggling are incompetent or should never have bought that particular horse. My friends horse bucks. Mine does not. I do not feel it necessary to point out that she is a bit crap and I am a bit wonderful.
 
Perhaps it's just me, but... so many of you have commented on how your horses are expected to behave under saddle no matter how fresh they are (understandably) yet are happy to accept they may be un-manageable and dangerous to handle on the ground? That makes no sense to me, of course every horse is different but I have put the work in to my horses both on the ground and under saddle (well apart from the baby, who isn't backed yet) and they are both exceptionally behaved in any situation (including the current no turnout and horrendous weather conditions). They have to display self control around me, whether on the end of a lead rope or the end of the rein.
 
You guys are funny - if its rains over here horses still stay in field yes they get muddy but they recover and Ive had to get long boots for one paddock but horses are still much happier/healthier when they can move than when they are locked up. I hate stabling my horses I would love an open barn they can come and go from but trees provide good shelter in the absence of a lotto win.

I really struggled with my horse being locked up while I was grooming in Ireland and I always gave him a chance to blow off steam loose in the arena before I got on him.
 
I'm with you. Our gateways are atrocious but the fields themselves are ok and when they dry up, they'll be rolled and they'll be fine. As long as there's enough room for the number of horses in them, they always come right, in my experience...

Sorry, that doesn't help with the post, did you say they're not letting you lunge either? Seems a bit harsh... I'd lead him out in hand to have some grass if there is anywhere, to chill him out a bit... and ask again about school turnout, seems really hard and I hope you can find something that helps x
 
doriangrey said:
Then why call people incompetent? I doubt this thread would have gone on half as far apart from that comment. To me this was a thread about having no turnout/facilities even decent riding due to extreme weather conditions.
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Ridiculous reply to my post, please excuse me for the thread to have been prolonged due to my response. I responded accordingly as I saw fit to do so. When did you suddenly become Admin.
 
maccachic said:
You guys are funny - if its rains over here horses still stay in field yes they get muddy but they recover and Ive had to get long boots for one paddock but horses are still much happier/healthier when they can move than when they are locked up. I hate stabling my horses I would love an open barn they can come and go from but trees provide good shelter in the absence of a lotto win.

I really struggled with my horse being locked up while I was grooming in Ireland and I always gave him a chance to blow off steam loose in the arena before I got on him.
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The problem here is A) the sheer amount of rain we've had, in some places I think we've had about 3/4 dry days (as in 24 hours) in 3 months, it's just relentless. And B) the ground, we're on very heavy, sticky clay at my yard and you'll either end up losing shoes, busting a tendon or breaking a leg due to the sticky mud and steep slope.
I don't think I've ever had such reduced turnout, I'm hating it but thankfully my boy is a saint, the YO is turning out in the school, and I'm able to ride nearly every day (sharers do the other 2 days).
 
Girlracer said:
Perhaps it's just me, but... so many of you have commented on how your horses are expected to behave under saddle no matter how fresh they are (understandably) yet are happy to accept they may be un-manageable and dangerous to handle on the ground?
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Exactly what I thought!

eleanor79 said:
Me? I'm just tanking my lucky stars I am not this poor poor chap.
http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2014-02-12/we-join-farmer-on-his-return-home/
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Poor man, I don't know how he is so strong about it. Not my home or livelihood but had me in bits :(
 
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justabob said:
Ridiculous reply to my post, please excuse me for the thread to have been prolonged due to my response. I responded accordingly as I saw fit to do so. When did you suddenly become Admin.
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Your usual, charming self I see. In my defense I don't think it's ridiculous to point out that your calling people incompetent was neccessary considering the circumstances they are finding themselves in. The mutual back-slapping that went on later in the thread actually set off my gag-reflex - ugh.
 
doriangrey said:
Your usual, charming self I see. In my defense I don't think it's ridiculous to point out that your calling people incompetent was neccessary considering the circumstances they are finding themselves in. The mutual back-slapping that went on later in the thread actually set off my gag-reflex - ugh.
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oh do lighten up! if you are refering to myself and JAB-its not back slapping its almost laughing at each other fgs!

the things is, people have 3 options:
1. stay put -but thats their choice
2, change routine to accomodate difficult circumstances
3.move elsewhere

what is irritating is when people CHOSE 1 and then whine and moan. If you really want it to be differen, pull your finger out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!whether that is paying someone to ride for you, working through your lunch hour and using that hour to ride before or after work, taking a few half days of annual leave to work the horse, move yards-there is always an option but people seem determined to stay stuck in the rut and then moan.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
oh do lighten up! if you are refering to myself and JAB-its not back slapping its almost laughing at each other fgs!

the things is, people have 3 options:
1. stay put -but thats their choice
2, change routine to accomodate difficult circumstances
3.move elsewhere

what is irritating is when people CHOSE 1 and then whine and moan. If you really want it to be differen, pull your finger out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!whether that is paying someone to ride for you, working through your lunch hour and using that hour to ride before or after work, taking a few half days of annual leave to work the horse, move yards-there is always an option but people seem determined to stay stuck in the rut and then moan.
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I thought the whole point of this thread was that OP was looking at Option 2 and seeking ideas on how to achieve that.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
oh do lighten up! if you are refering to myself and JAB-its not back slapping its almost laughing at each other fgs!

the things is, people have 3 options:
1. stay put -but thats their choice
2, change routine to accomodate difficult circumstances
3.move elsewhere

what is irritating is when people CHOSE 1 and then whine and moan. If you really want it to be differen, pull your finger out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!whether that is paying someone to ride for you, working through your lunch hour and using that hour to ride before or after work, taking a few half days of annual leave to work the horse, move yards-there is always an option but people seem determined to stay stuck in the rut and then moan.
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There's a difference between moaning and asking for suggestions and advice on dealing with extreme conditions.
It's not always possible to 'just move' either.

You do come across as pretty sanctimonious.
 
Goldenstar said:
Cut out all hard food .
Feed hay only and soak it if necessary .
Don't get stressed its silly and does not help never stress over what you can't change .
Things to try
A stable mirror
A turnip to chew on
A radio
You can give different low energy fibre sources things like oat straw chop , low calorie alfalfa / straw blocks or Timothy hay blocks ( can get them online from halleys ) I am using these ATM as we have restricted turnout .
Look at this as a exercise in teaching the horse to accept this life style many horses at some point in their lives must accept box rest look at this as a exercise in making that easier if it should ever happen.
Having horses with no turnout but exercised is hard work for the owner but it's mid Feb it won't be for long.
Exercising twice a day and leading out in hand regularly ( even its just round the yard ) will help.
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Definitely agree with the above - I've worked with many horses over the years who are never turned out.

Feed according to work load.

No playtime out = reduce energy foods
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
oh do lighten up! if you are refering to myself and JAB-its not back slapping its almost laughing at each other fgs!

the things is, people have 3 options:
1. stay put -but thats their choice
2, change routine to accomodate difficult circumstances
3.move elsewhere

what is irritating is when people CHOSE 1 and then whine and moan. If you really want it to be differen, pull your finger out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!whether that is paying someone to ride for you, working through your lunch hour and using that hour to ride before or after work, taking a few half days of annual leave to work the horse, move yards-there is always an option but people seem determined to stay stuck in the rut and then moan.
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Have you ever heard the word empathy?............thought not..........
Not everyone can ride before/after work. Maybe most people are too far away from their yards to get there in their lunch hour. Maybe some people have young children or even sick children or partners that they have to care for. Unlike you who seems to be perfect (in every way) most of us are human. The thing that stuck in my mind particulaly about the OP way that she SPECIFICALLY chose the yard she did because it offered ALL YEAR ROUND TURNOUT. That in my opinion is where the YO has fallen down. I know the weather has been exeptional etc etc but if you claim to offer it then you should blinking well offer it! Create a 'trash paddock', allow school turnout or at the very least lungeing. I also don't believe the it is acceptable to confine a horse to a stable for any length of time unless it is in the best interests of the horse (ie box rest - not the landowners convenience)
I am not in the position that the OP is. I am very very lucky (and count my lucky stars daily) that my horses can go out everyday without restrictions. I am also lucky that I can get up at 4.30am to ride one of them in the dark to exercise him because
a) He is very trustworthy to hack out in the dark
b) I have no children/other commitments in my life
Would I be hacking out a green 4 year old in the dark on my own.......err no. And before you jump on the 'well move then' I could simply not afford to move to have a school and those sort of facilities..........

Before you jump on people perhaps try to walk a mile or so in their shoes.......you might find they don't wear UGGS.........:rolleyes:
 
Do you know this thread actually got me thinking as to why i'd moved on from previous yards in the past and the majority of the time it was because of the yard promising All Year Turnout (which is a major factor for me),..only to become more and more 'restricted' during the winter months. The winter weather has never ever been this bad as it is this winter, but these yards shut their fields off the moment rainfall occurred. It was very frustrating for the horses (and expensive for the humans too in many cases)...so,..i voted with my feet i guess and moved on.

Please understand i realise what this country is going through weather wise at the moment and that it's unbelievable what we've had in terms of rain fall/winds etc., and really really feel for those that are suffering at the moment. I certainly hope and pray that this weather pattern is not a sign of 'things to come' in terms of winter weather in the UK...if it is..i guess livery yards need to seriously consider changing their turnout facilities to accommodate the winter weather patterns without horses having to stay in so much...

Hope everyone who is going through having to keep their horses in at the moment, are trying to keep their chins up and muddle on through...stay safe please.

McC x
 
so if you cant move the horse you move heaven and earth to adapt the routine?

people have given many many options mostly revolving around increasing time working/out the box/mental stimulation via more work, more intense work,hand walking, hand grazing, work twice a day instead of once.

apparently there are people who dont like riding in the rain, or the dark, or who just plain CBA to do that.....................

buy a coat, buy some temporary lighting, pay someone to do it in the day,get up earlier, go to bed a bit later, and as for just CBA, words fail me......its a short term problem and if people are REALLY worried about the horse (as opposed to just expecting the YO to magic a solution to the rain out their arse), they would be doing everything possible to try and follow some of the advice.

excuse after excuse after excuse-thats what is irritating the pants off some people.

people think its acceptable to let horses blow off steam on an expensive menage surface, because they "CBA" to ride more often instead etc..............................
 
Hetsmum said:
Have you ever heard the word empathy?............thought not..........
Not everyone can ride before/after work. Maybe most people are too far away from their yards to get there in their lunch hour. Maybe some people have young children or even sick children or partners that they have to care for. Unlike you who seems to be perfect (in every way) most of us are human. The thing that stuck in my mind particulaly about the OP way that she SPECIFICALLY chose the yard she did because it offered ALL YEAR ROUND TURNOUT. That in my opinion is where the YO has fallen down. I know the weather has been exeptional etc etc but if you claim to offer it then you should blinking well offer it! Create a 'trash paddock', allow school turnout or at the very least lungeing. I also don't believe the it is acceptable to confine a horse to a stable for any length of time unless it is in the best interests of the horse (ie box rest - not the landowners convenience)
I am not in the position that the OP is. I am very very lucky (and count my lucky stars daily) that my horses can go out everyday without restrictions. I am also lucky that I can get up at 4.30am to ride one of them in the dark to exercise him because
a) He is very trustworthy to hack out in the dark
b) I have no children/other commitments in my life
Would I be hacking out a green 4 year old in the dark on my own.......err no. And before you jump on the 'well move then' I could simply not afford to move to have a school and those sort of facilities..........

Before you jump on people perhaps try to walk a mile or so in their shoes.......you might find they don't wear UGGS.........:rolleyes:
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i quite assure you that life here chez sparkle is far from perfect and does actually include an incredibly(terminally) ill family member who cannot do anything herself and cant really be left unattended so its not like we blast through every day in a shower of pink fairy dust-we are going balls to the wall to stand still also.

this is actually a perfect example of my point-if you cannot make sure your horse has adequate exercise for the short term turnout situation, pay someone else to do it in the daylight. or get a sharer who works different hours to you, or a competant teenager on half term etc-so many things to try before giving up.
 
I've just moved from an area that has quite good winter turnout to an area that is known for its terrible clay soil and being very wet. I've been lucky that I found a tiny private yard where I have a large gravel area that my two can go out into. So all winter I have had 24/7 'turnout'.

I've just started looking for a livery yard as I wanted the company and a school to work in. I'm gobsmacked at the acceptance of no turn out. Most yards that I've looked at have just said no winter turnout and no provision for anything else. I can't understand why in an area that you know year-in-year-out that the fields won't hold up to winter turn out that no yards have thought about an alternative.

I'm started to think that I'll be better off staying where I am and sacrificing a school.
 
Flosii said:
Interesting response here.

For those that are remotly interested I managed to get him turned loose in a small pen that he had a little bit of a buck and jump around in and rode him out yesterday and he was back to normal chilled self. (It was noted by another person at the yard how Highly strung he was,) but once got a little more room he was a bit happier.

I hope that walking in hand, being led from another and riding in evening (if electrics and school are upto it) he will be back. At the end of last week I was just very very scard that being in had blown his mind. For thoses suggesting using it as practise for box rest, this would be a completely different circumstance, and I can not completely say I would manage it differently because I dont know what the circumstance may be, but I would most likely handle it differently.
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I am glad to hear you found a solution to your problem and your horse is feeling happier and behaving better for it! Such a shame that your update has got lost amidst all the argy bargy on here! For what it is worth, I don't think you were whinging or moaning at all and just posted on here to try and find a solution to a problem that was quite rightly worrying you. Let's hope the weather dries up soon!
 
I do think everyone is entitled to a moan and to see if anyone has any ideas on things they could do that they haven't thought of yet.
 
OP - pleased to hear that things are improving a little. Shame that the thread has got a bit judgemental in places as there have been some nuggets of good advice in it - and its been a very useful thread as I'm sure its made a lot of us think about what we may need to do in future.

When this current weather and the clean-up is over one thing I am most certainly going to do is to spend the summer 'weather-proofing' my horses: make sure that their training is up to scratch on the things that they may be called upon to do in another bout of bad weather such as ride-and-lead or hand-walking, in addition to reviewing management and feed.
 
justabob said:
Puts every little thing in perspective doesn't it??
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Certainly does. I'm so proud to be a young farmer this week and be part of the forage aid going down there to help all the farmers. Not having any turnout for your horse is rubbish but just imagine your entire world under water which isn't doe to recede for weeks.
 
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