Out 24/7

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Flowerofthefen

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Who's turning out 24/7 now? My boys are currently out 12 hours a day but the weather, for at least the next few weeks, is looking fine, so not sure if I should take advantage of it and turn out at night as well after a long winter!! They have a bit of grass but I think that will get going over the next few weeks. They will also have hay and a small feed. Just seems a bit early to turn out 24/7!!
 
dottylottie said:
mine spent a night in last night after 36 hours out, poor ponies were shattered yesterday, immaculate beds this morning because they’ve just slept all night😂
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Ah bless them!! As my oldie has got older he seems to prefer to be out more. My ridden one is ok out in good weather, once he is in and had his tea he is hanging round his door. I'm wondering if he is asking to go back out!!
 
I'm on a livery yard so don't have the option of 24/7 turnout (but I don't mind as have plenty of other perks and bonuses so I can't and don't complain :) ), my lads have been turned around and are currently out by night and in by day and I gotta say - I am LOVING it! The beds are super neat and what I do have to muck out is literally a 5 minute job - such a reward after the slog of winter!

My friend has recently turned out 24/7 and she said that she feels mega weird to be doing it so early but doesn't mind as her gang prefer to be out as much as possible x
 
Our livery yard has allowed them out overnight now since sunday so coblet has had 2 nights out! it's perfect really as it'll prepare him for the shock of moving onto grass livery in a couple of weeks. He doesn't seem any of the worse for wear but he's only on a small ish patch so I'm still haying and he's having 2 x small feeds a day with his bute in.
 
Ours live out these days but in the days when we had more and they came in overnight, we would have left them out in this weather and been extremely thankful to do so. We were talking yesterday about the year (can't remember which) when we turned them out in February and then had to bring them back a few weeks later because it snowed. Imo its far better to be guided by the weather than by the date.
 
When it's dry - what is there to lose - it's not like you can't change your mind in 2 weeks if the rain / mud is back.

They and you would appreciate a break in being in - even if it's not now until November quite yet.

(I cut a big hole in the barn wall last year and gave mine free choice access - I've been astounded as to what they have chosen and when! but that is another story!)
 
We had a lake in our field after the weekends rain so mine are still coming in so they have somewhere dry to lie down. Also so that one is off the (non existent but apparently there is for her 🦛) grass and one to make sure she gets plenty to eat overnight.

It won’t be until the end of the month before ours are out all night. The fields are far too wet to fence off for the fatties.
 
Sandstone1 said:
mine are out since sat. They have shelter and food. They do like coming in at night but I want a break from mucking out!
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We did the same :) Plenty of hay put out in the field at night and then again some more in the morning. I am bringing them in at lunchtime for about 3 hours for a snooze, a little more hay, riding and a feed. One of them would definitely rather be in but he has always been a horse who prefers his stable but he is happy grazing until he seems someone who looks like they might be coerced into bringing him in.
 
I'd gladly leave Wig 24/7 but at the moment nobody else wants to leave theirs out as the grass hasn't quite come through. As good as he is on his own for an hour or two if the others are being ridden, I don't think all night on his own would go down quite so well!
 
Mine have been out for a few weeks already as we were both ill. Not having to muck out made things more manageable for us and the weather improved so much it made sense. The horses much prefer being out 24/7 and it’s been so dry, we’ve managed to harrow the winter fields much earlier this year.
I got the horses in for a few hours every day in the first week so their tummies could gradually adjust to having all that grass. I’m loving this weather though and if it deteriorates, they can always come back in.
 
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We’ve been out 24/7 since weekend before last. Still in our winter field and there is no grass so having to hay.
It barely rained here in Essex in March.
 
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