Should you buy a horse if you cannot offer 24/7 turnout and can only be on livery?

[SO1]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

 

[HashRouge]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

I know, but I don't think anyone saw anything wrong with the way you were able to keep your horse, so the argument rather evolved! I'd say your set-up was probably most people's ideal.

 

[meleeka]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

I think that sounds like a very good yard. If it suits you in all other respects too, then go for it. ?

 

[Dave's Mam]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

Sounds very like my yard & Dave is very happy with his herd. The only times we have kept in is when it was so treacherously icy to get to the fields & that was only one day.

 

[JBM]

Do you not find in the snow if your horse has shoes the snow balls up in their hooves?

 

[nagblagger]

When are we going horse shopping?

 

[Gallop_Away]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

This sounds like a lovely set up and very similar to our yard where we rotate fields for horses who are turned out in the day during winter (and yes ours also are able to be turned out in the snow ?) with summer fields which they are out on 24/7 May-Sept.

There is also a dedicated paddock for horses that winter out (although mine personally are stabled overnight) that has a field shelter and hay is put out for them. Again this paddock is rested through the summer months

Gateways gey a bit mucky in winter but there is plenty of grass and space for the horses all year round.

Also just to be clear OP I understand you were not making the point that you would keep your horse at a yard with no turnout. It was just the discussion evolving but was not a reflection on anything you had said. For what it's worth that yard sounds perfect. Good luck.

 

[Gallop_Away]

Do you not find in the snow if your horse has shoes the snow balls up in their hooves?

Vaseline around the frog and the arch of the foot.

 

[Gallop_Away]

Edit - DP

 

[JBM]

Vaseline around the frog and the arch of the foot.

Good to know thank you!

 

[Nasicus]

I don't mind an out during the day, in during the night situation, but I would never livery at an 'in 24/7 all winter' place. Sure the odd 24hrs in here or there, heck even 48hrs if the weather is absolutely revolting (Storm level stuff), but that's about the limit for me.
FWIW, I keep them out 24/7, as long as there's plenty of shelter, be it shade from the sun or cover from the wind and rain.

 

[SEL]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

But you've created a thread that's a good read!! The vast, vast majority of livery yards can't do 24:7 over winter. The fact that you have good turnout is a real plus so now I think you should start to think about your next horse.

 

[SEL]

Sounds very like my yard & Dave is very happy with his herd. The only times we have kept in is when it was so treacherously icy to get to the fields & that was only one day.

Beast from the East!! Everyone stayed in but Militaire threw a wobbly so I let him out of his stable, unclipped his rope and told him to make his own way down the hill.

Typical 4 wheel drive Ardennes waded his way happily through the snow drift leaving me behind to cheers from the lads who were supposed to be driving the snow ploughs but had got stranded in their cars at the bottom of the hill. They let him into his paddock while I skidded and slipped down after him. I'm going to miss my snow monster this year

 

[Tiddlypom]

Vaseline around the frog and the arch of the foot.

Doesn't work for long, even if the horse is barefoot. When snow gets to the balling up in the feet stage, I keep in. Also keep in when it's icy.

 

[Gallop_Away]

Doesn't work for long, even if the horse is barefoot. When snow gets to the balling up in the feet stage, I keep in. Also keep in when it's icy.

True but I find it works well enough for them to have an hour or two out having a leg stetch while I muck out, and then come back in to the stables. We don't get snow often here in Wales, but when we do my lot simply love the stuff, prancing and leaping around like fools. I don't turnout if icy, but have done when fresh snow which they seem to thoroughly enjoy ?

ETA - all mine are shod so I can not comment on barefoot.

 

[Caol Ila]

I've never had problems with snowballs on a barefoot horse. Fin was gallivanting around the park in last year's snow while everyone else was stuck in. I mean, horses live wild in snowy climates and don't break their legs because they get snowballs in their hooves.

With a shod horse, you put snowpads under the shoes, but the UK doesn't get enough consistent snow for people to have figured this out or bother with the extra expense.

 

[SEL]

I've never had problems with snowballs on a barefoot horse. Fin was gallivanting around the park in last year's snow while everyone else was stuck in. I mean, horses live wild in snowy climates and don't break their legs because they get snowballs in their hooves.

With a shod horse, you put snowpads under the shoes, but the UK doesn't get enough consistent snow for people to have figured this out or bother with the extra expense.

I've never had an issue either.

My Appy adores snow and gets ridiculous. A big snow drift she can throw herself into is her idea of heaven. Unfortunately that happens rarely these days and its usually the nasty slippy stuff.

 

[Surbie]

Getting back to the point they do have all year turnout just not 24/7 at the yard. This is to enable us to have winter turnout with grass in decent size fields that is not a mud pit with horses fighting at the gate to come due to lack of grass or needing to hay the fields. They even go out in the snow.

I would never keep a horse at a yard with no winter herd turnout that was not my original question.

That sounds like a lovely yard tbh. I could turn mine out 24/7 in summer if I changed his herd group, but the one he's in is lovely and settled with no real bullying, the field is enormous and the only real mud is around the gateway - and the yard owner was quite happy for me to put my mud slabs there.

As it is I manage about 12-14 hours turnout in summer and 8-12 in winter, plus riding, and he currently seems happy with that. If he looks stiff on it as he gets older, for example, I'd see what I could do to increase his turnout, as I am sure you would with yours - a horse's needs don't remain static all their life.

I hope most of the replies on here have given you some reassurance - look forward to the horse shopping thread!

 

[criso]

Doesn't work for long, even if the horse is barefoot. When snow gets to the balling up in the feet stage, I keep in. Also keep in when it's icy.

With my barefoot tb, snow would clump briefly but fall out quickly. With feet on the flatter side and no shoes there wasn't much for the snow to pack into.

I've had to keep in when the route to the field is too icy to be safe to get there though.

 

[Cortez]

No, nobody should own a horse unless they have rolling acres of unlimited turnout, a cut stone yard with enormous looseboxes and a staff of expert grooms, trainers and professorial-level veterinary surgeons on 24hr call. Since that would cut down the prospective owners to about 5, can we all just live in the real world and continue doing the best we can for our horses? Most horses are well looked after, most do just fine in the systems they are in.

 

[babymare]

No, nobody should own a horse unless they have rolling acres of unlimited turnout, a cut stone yard with enormous looseboxes and a staff of expert grooms, trainers and professorial-level veterinary surgeons on 24hr call. Since that would cut down the prospective owners to about 5, can we all just live in the real world and continue doing the best we can for our horses? Most horses are well looked after, most do just fine in the systems they are in.

Great post ?