Stable or Field kept??

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How does everyone decide on whether their ponies / horses should live out or come in?

My pony has lived out for the past 2 years. His owners told me he had to live out as he weaves badly in a stable. He has always been quite happy in the summer - but last winter started weaving at the gate and literally pacing up and down the fence line. I thought it may be because we used to put hay out every night so he was getting impatient for that - but he would often weave / pace during the day too.

I was worried enough to move him to a different yard for the winter where I could put a round bale out - and he was happier but would still pace up and down the fence line and generally be quite stressy. I moved him back to my current yard in the spring and he has been quite settled so far this year.

a few weeks ago, he started the weaving / pacing at the gate as it started to get colder - so I had a chat with my YO about trying him in a stable. I brought him in for two hour on a friday and gave him a hay net / feed in there and he was fine - the next night he stayed in all night and was happy as larry. He is now coming in at night and going out in the day. He is 100% easier to handle (he used to drag me around / barge) and he is so settled. I haven't seen him weave once since he has been in, and at night he is just standing patiently at the gate waiting for me to bring him in.

Wish I'd done it sooner really.

 

[fidleyspromise]

My two are natives and Tilly doesn't settle in a stable and gets aggitated and bargy after being in for a couple of hours. She's happy in a field and in a storm will be found grazing contentedly in the middle of her field.
Fidley has always been in a field and gets jumpy/nervous in a stable.

I'd probably try to keep my pony/horse living out BUT if it didn't suit them, like you I would have them in at night. My ponies seem happy and until that changes, I ain;t going to try to fix what not's broken.

 

[Lilyhead]

I agree, really depends on the individual horse/pony!

My CB x TB lives out 24/7, all year round. He has a nice toasty rug to keep him warm and dry, with hay everyday and a shelter if he fancies. He does come in though if we get bad snow! When I bought him, he was apparently crazy and aggressive....he lived in and had an hour turn out morning and night! He lives out now, and is still a little bonkers, but all the walking around the field helps he keep slightly more sane!

On the other hand though, had a little welshie last winter who hated being out, he would stand and shiver and generally pretend he was neglected!

So really does depend on your horse, everyone knows their own horses best!

 

[Crackerz]

It's just a case of judging each animal's needs - which is what you have done (glad you've reached a level of compromise where you are both happy!)

It's also judging your land, land management etc.
I have 2 that live out all year on my bottom paddocks. One's retired & needs to stay out & keep moving, the other is my colt who loves being out.
My other 3 come in at night in the winter as my top paddocks wouldn't cope with 24/7 mashing. They are very settled when they are in, 2 of them would prefer not to go out!

 

[jenz87]

Mine is out 24/7 in the summer and then stabled at night in winter. We try to keep turnout to a max on the yard in winter, and will bring them in about 4pm, unless the weather is dire and theyre desperate to come in then we will bring them in about 1/2pm.
Its the best routine for us, theres plenty of grazing but when its cold they just want to come in but we like to get them out as its not natural to be in a stable 24/7 either.

 

[Toffee44]

Mine have lived out for 6 years now. Toffee is a bargy, box walking so and so in the stable and have never stabled again since being on livery with her.
Samba on the other hand is the total opposite she loves her home comforts. I have a shelter but have stopped them going in at the mo as waiting for the hard core to go down in the front but I feed her in there and if the weather is like it is today she doesnt want to come out. I literally drag her to the field ears back and grumpy. I bet she will completly take it over once they have access.

I have a smaller additional shelter on the side as my Irish Cob did the same last winter and wouldnt share his house. Toffee rarely uses it other than to shelter from flies in the winter lol