Not been turned out for 4 weeks...

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emiliaa

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Hi I recently moved livery yards and the weather has been really awful to the point where the horses haven’t been turned out for 4 weeks...the fields aren’t flooded but are incredibly wet and I am finding my horse difficult to ride due to this as he’s a lot more fresh and spooky etc. I’m really upset that he hasn’t been getting turned out as the fields are fine but now it’s been left so long if the horses get turned out on grass that’s more slippery than normal then that along with their freshness will cause some major injuries. Has anyone got any advice for this situation as there hasn’t been a mention of turnout whatsoever and it’s really stressing me out knowing my boy has been stuck in his stable for 4 weeks ?
 
Pinkvboots said:
I would look for somewhere else I really sympathize my 2 horses would be wild to ride without turnout, it's just so important to have constant turnout but it seems a lot of yards just shut there field's and think it's acceptable.
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Thank you i’m getting quite fed up of it tbh X
 
Goldenstar said:
Work him twice a day ,find out what’s going on with the turnout
if he making you feel nervous get a good freelancer in to top up his work three times a week
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It isn’t possible for me to work him twice a day except weekends unfortunately as I have school but going to look into getting someone to ride him as my confidence is down the drain (not that it’s his fault..) thank you for replying X
 
Book some riding lessons on him to get you through this tricky patch. An instructor does not ask you to do things you are not capable of so it should help your confidence. Tell them it is not a schooling improvement goal you are after but a goal to get him exercised safely and boost your confidence. Cutting out the hard feed should make a difference within a week. And no days off ride every day.
 
When not getting turnout, as much time out of the stable moving is possible. Can you go before school too? In hand walking / hand grazing / ground work / in hand work / luning / long reining / long hacks / schooling / polework / grooming. As much movement, and entertainment and activity as possible. Looking to have out of the stable 2 hours plus a day.
 
How much exercise are you giving him and what are you doing? If he is too fresh, you need to find ways of giving him more exercise. In days gone by, when horses were kept fully stabled, it was typical to exercise for up to 2 hours a day and if they were working horses they did significantly more. A stabled horse needs more exercise than most leisure owners give nowadays. I second lunging or loose schooling before you get on, several times a week - essential for safety if he is very fresh. And when you do ride, make him focus and work.
 
We have treat balls for our boys for stable, not that they've been confined as much as you have. When you eventually can turn out, maybe ride first so he's ready to eat rather than let off steam. Echo cutting the hard food now if he's sharp. You could think about over reach boots (has helped one of ours not pull shoes off so often!) and protective leg boots, though they are limited as to what they protect from if a horse hoons around. Not that you can dictate this, but themore room they have, I believe the less likely they are to do self-harm! If he can have company, they may be more inclined to groom and eat together than in letting off steam. Best of luck x
 
Can you turn out in the school for an hour each side of the day? I do feel for you. Mine have had more in days this winter than I could ever imagine and I know of several places that for the first time ever have stopped turnout all together for now. It’s been utterly horrendous
 
Could you not turnout alternate days even just for a few hours. I know a few friends of mine have a rota where they help each each so everyone’s horse at least gets a leg stretch.
 
clairefeekerry1 said:
Can you turn out in the school for an hour each side of the day? I do feel for you. Mine have had more in days this winter than I could ever imagine and I know of several places that for the first time ever have stopped turnout all together for now. It’s been utterly horrendous
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This year is the first in 42 winters I’ve had mine in. Obviously different parts of the uk have different soil structures and drainage but there will be many yards with unusable land. Owners need to realise decisions have to be made taking into account ground management and horse safety . if it ever stops raining and starts to dry out it will be vital to keep land closed. Horses will do more damage to drying land and new grass emerging than they will do out on a bog. Be patient and understand this has been and remains the wettest winter on record. Be thankful that the properly looked after ground in March and April will provide grazing throughout the year and into next winter.
 
Mine is in too for the first time in 3 years. He's quite happy in his routine, even if rather bright today. He's lunged, does polework in hand, ridden and given a good groom, massage with a roller ball thing and carrot stretches, all very enjoyable. It has been spectacularly wet - what can you do but just find a way round it?
 
emiliaa said:
Just asked now...not many yards near me so would be a struggle to move but I’m willing to do whatever to keep my horse happy because I just really don’t think this is fair on him X
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It isn’t fair at all! It makes me so angry that’s this seems to have become the norm up and down the country? imprisoning horses for days and weeks on end is a welfare issue, and for the life of me I can’t understand those who claim to be animal lovers, thinking this is acceptable? I’ve run my livery for 25 years, and I can honestly say our horses have NEVER spent a day in their stable unless on veterinary advice, even then, we have a small turnout pen we use. I’m sorry for your situation OP, it’s a big part of the reason there are so many badly behaved horses in the world, and my only advice is to move ASAP. This winter has been exceptionally wet yes, but trust me, if they’re keeping in now, they’ll do this every winter ?
 
chocolategirl said:
It isn’t fair at all! It makes me so angry that’s this seems to have become the norm up and down the country? imprisoning horses for days and weeks on end is a welfare issue, and for the life of me I can’t understand those who claim to be animal lovers, thinking this is acceptable? I’ve run my livery for 25 years, and I can honestly say our horses have NEVER spent a day in their stable unless on veterinary advice, even then, we have a small turnout pen we use. I’m sorry for your situation OP, it’s a big part of the reason there are so many badly behaved horses in the world, and my only advice is to move ASAP. This winter has been exceptionally wet yes, but trust me, if they’re keeping in now, they’ll do this every winter ?
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It is certainly not ideal, but I think this is a bit harsh. Where we are, the soil is predominantly clay and is absolutely saturated. The yard is fortunate to have 2 sets of winter fields, because there is so much land, but YM has basically surrendered one set to the weather. Horses are going out on alternate days for an hour or so, but they are absolute mud baths now, with no grazing. It will take them all year to recover, definitely will need reseeding.

As for your prediction that YOs will be keeping horses in more and more, I can only speak for my own YO, who wants them all out as much as she can get them out - less mucking out and carting of hay etc for the yard staff and more time to do chores!

YOs have to work with what they’ve got, and if turnout would mean wrecking the land for months that is not worth it.

I think most horses will cope with a shortish period of being in, provided owners and yards ensure they are properly worked and entertained.

Sadly, I think wetter winters are going to become the norm.
 
chocolategirl said:
It isn’t fair at all! It makes me so angry that’s this seems to have become the norm up and down the country? imprisoning horses for days and weeks on end is a welfare issue, and for the life of me I can’t understand those who claim to be animal lovers, thinking this is acceptable? I’ve run my livery for 25 years, and I can honestly say our horses have NEVER spent a day in their stable unless on veterinary advice, even then, we have a small turnout pen we use. I’m sorry for your situation OP, it’s a big part of the reason there are so many badly behaved horses in the world, and my only advice is to move ASAP. This winter has been exceptionally wet yes, but trust me, if they’re keeping in now, they’ll do this every winter ?
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I agree, the land here is now looking as if it will never recover but it will, the horses have not spent a day in and 3 have been out 24/7 I can see the grass is now starting to come through and in a month or so once it is dry enough to get on to harrow it will be back to normal for the rest of the summer.
I think if a yard is going to stop turnout they have to provide a decent all weather option, several if the yard is big, and use that before the horses are shut in for weeks and are then at risk of injury, it is all very well saying exercise more but many people cannot exercise their horses adequately for several months during the short winter days as they have other commitments.
It may mean livery costs rise but I think that is a better option than risking an injury and the extra work involved with keeping them in all the time.
 
Owners have a duty of care. If your yard has limited turn out, you may need to find the cash to pay someone else to exercise your horse. I lost my mare in December, but if she was still around I would absolutely be paying someone to hack or ride her on the yard’s ‘in days’ - it is part of the commitment you have to make when you buy a horse.
 
Flicker said:
Owners have a duty of care. If your yard has limited turn out, you may need to find the cash to pay someone else to exercise your horse. I lost my mare in December, but if she was still around I would absolutely be paying someone to hack or ride her on the yard’s ‘in days’ - it is part of the commitment you have to make when you buy a horse.
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Not every horse can be exercised, my old boy would seize up if he stood in for weeks on end, even if he was walked out in hand several times a day that would not replace the time spent out in a field where he can have a run about if he wants, spend time mooching, rolling, grooming his friend, as well as getting some much needed grass to pick at.
If the horse can be ridden or lunged that helps and is fine for the odd day or maybe even a week or two but not for weeks on end which seems to becoming more and more common judging by the threads on here, if owners accept it and don't ask for all weather turnouts then the YO's will continue to stop turnout and not offer an alternative, if fields are genuinely flooded that is a safety issue but many are just waterlogged and perfectly safe to turn out on although the longer the horses are shut in the more damage will be done, to the fields and the horse, when they do eventually get out.
 
be positive said:
I agree, the land here is now looking as if it will never recover but it will, the horses have not spent a day in and 3 have been out 24/7 I can see the grass is now starting to come through and in a month or so once it is dry enough to get on to harrow it will be back to normal for the rest of the summer.
I think if a yard is going to stop turnout they have to provide a decent all weather option, several if the yard is big, and use that before the horses are shut in for weeks and are then at risk of injury, it is all very well saying exercise more but many people cannot exercise their horses adequately for several months during the short winter days as they have other commitments.
It may mean livery costs rise but I think that is a better option than risking an injury and the extra work involved with keeping them in all the time.
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This is what we did, we made an all weather turn out area so people have the option to use it if they don’t want to turn out on to muddy fields. I think this should be a bare minimum requirement for all yards. To the poster who thinks I’m being harsh, I’m sorry you think that, but I genuinely believe it’s of great detriment to keep horses stood in for such long periods. Horses are designed to be on the move very regular, and any vet will tell you that keeping them immobile for long periods is risking all manner of health problems ?‍♀️ One of the many reasons I believe livery yards should be regulated ?
 
Agree that livery yards should be regulated.
I feel it is just as much a welfare issue if horses are stood out starving on fields that are completely given over to mud.
All weather turn out is great. We have this on my yard, with precedence given to horses who can’t necessarily be exercised. We also have a walker, an indoor and two outdoor schools. Our horses are not stood in for long periods - they are kept active and entertained. In my view, this is better for them (for the few weeks of the year that this weather is causing issues) than putting them out in the cold and wet on a field with no grass.
 
Michen said:
But what about on the continent where turn out really just isn’t a thing in the same way as we do it here?

I think we get it wrong because we don’t turn out but then don’t make sure the horses are getting adequate exercise with it.
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I lived in Germany when I was younger and I would say the horses 'tolerated' being in. Looking back with more educated eyes there was a lot of ulcery type behaviour and I suspect many of them would have been quieter rides if they'd had turn out.
 
It is indeed detrimental to keep horses in for long periods, which is why it is the responsibility of the owner to provide adequate exercise. If this isn't possible then the owner should seriously reevaluate their ability to have horses. People seem to be blaming the livery yards, but they are not in charge of the weather and if the land is too wet to use, then the owners must step up and look after their horses properly by exercising them. Horses are not routinely turned out in many places other than the UK and the management works well (arguably better than in the UK, IME). The climate is changing; people will have to change with it.

ETA: I agree with Michen's comment above, and I've kept horses in both Spain and Germany with no turnout to speak of: no ulcers; a minimum of 2 hours work/exercise a day, often more, and generally MUCH better behaved than a lot I've dealt with in this part of the world.
 
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