Stabled horse help please

Samboy1004

Samboy1004

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Hi at the end of this month my mare has got to come in and be stabled and only get turned out once a week coz fields r rubbish has anyone got any surgestions on grass substitute to give her while I let her streach her legs in the school once a day was thinking of feeding this
breakfast in stable
something while she is in school
then hay net in stable
dinner in stable then
another haynet for bed
does that sound good lol xx
 
I would make sure she has more hay, maybe two or one very large one, coz if she has to be in 24/7 and finishes it she could get stomache problems (horses must have access to some sort of grazing be it grass or hay to neutralise the acid produced by them) as well as being very bored and frustrated. I give my boy Feedmark Fibre Blocks as a treat/boredom buster as well as a treat ball to mimic foraging if he has to be in due to weather or illness. Hope this is helpful. X
 
Personally I would look for a new yard as I don't think its fair for a horse to be cooped up in a stable 23 hours a day. But to answer your question, what about something like readigrass? Also a swede hanging up in the stable to keep her busy?
 
I agree with the others, go elsewhere. Your horses health and well being is paramount, and a healthy horse should NOT be kept in a stable day and night. It's not natural, not good for them and it's really not fair on them. Bear in mind that being kept stabled may well result in all sorts of long term effect problems for your horse, she could start vices such as cribbing/wind sucking from the stress and boredom, could end up with joint problems from not being able to move, along with a whole host of other things.

Please, for the sake of your horse, take her elsewhere.
 
Oh I really don't know what 2 do it's a family members yard so it's free if I go else where I will have to pay and funds r very low at the moment 😂
 
Would you shut a dog in a kennel for that long? Can you make an outside run on the yard linked to the stable? If not then I would move
 
Can you ride her out every day, then a small short feed with a medium size haynet, lunch same again and if you can either work her or walk her late afternoon and small feed with 2 large haynets evening and make sure she has plenty od water.
 
are they in a night already? I wonder why you're waiting until the end of the month if the field are that bad already? do you have too many horses for the land?

If I were you, I'd be looking for a cheap farm for the winter! there are farms in my area that do livery for £10-15 a week with 24/7 turn out! you will probably be spending around that, if not more on the bedding, feed and hay that you will have to give her whilst she's in!
 
If the horse is exercised daily for an appropriate time then there should not be a problem. Horses are frequently stabled throughout winter (sometimes all the time); as long as they get enough work they adjust to the routine. A lot of horses do not get enough work; turnout is not work.
 
The fact that they are stabled 24/7 doesn't make it right or healthy, I wouldn't want to live in a room the equivalent size of my bathroom for months just being let out once a day for exercise....sorry rant over...... Poster who said bedding, forage and hard feed would cost more than diy rent is prob right ! Op could even rough off totally and turn away until spring if no facilities at another yard, be a happier healthier horse.
 
I really don't want to I am in the middle of trying to buy a house with land for her so every penny really does count at the moment think I will just turn her out during the day when there is no one else there lol
 
Samboy1004 said:
I really don't want to I am in the middle of trying to buy a house with land for her so every penny really does count at the moment think I will just turn her out during the day when there is no one else there lol
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan, may be worth asking around locally if someone has bit of ground u can use for daytime only, u never know till u ask ....will they let u turn out if/when ground freezes or snow ?
 
I agree a horse being stabled all day only getting one day a week turnout is not fair, plus the extra money you will be spending to buy extra hay and bedding you may as well use that money and move somewhere with everyday turnout, my horses would be a nightmare to ride without turnout not something I would look forward to.
 
There was a time when lots of working horses never saw a field for months on end, so I think if you can not turn out onto grass you need to find a way to make sure your horse has sufficient daily exercise, and time in an outside area relaxing and walking about, splitting the day up as much as you can. Spread hay etc in different places so it has to move around.

Hope you manage to save for your house and land and find what you are looking for.
 
If this yard is really your only option for now, then can you turn out in the school more than once a day? Also, exercise your horse as much as possible, even if you only walk her out in hand it'll do her good. Also important to make sure your stable is dust and cobweb free and well ventilated. 2 haynets doesn't sound enough for a horse that's stabled 24/7, make sure she's not without hay for long periods.
 
If the horse gets exercised every day, and turned out in school twice a day, while you muck out, would that help?
I would not feed in the school, you want her to move not stand still.
I used to have three, a 4 year old, a yearling and a mum, so we used to have tiny fences to jump loose, they loved it, it was a nice small school, so I could control them by voice and with lunge whip. It meant they were out an hour per day for exercise, and they were out again for maybe 40 mins more in the afternoon while I made up the beds. Maybe she could go out with a friend so they could interact.
Other strategies include grazing in hand on verges, assuming you can find a quiet lane.
I had plenty of time, horses are time consuming!
also they had access to the fields most of the winter, it was only during icy weather when we could not use the winter field.
 
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If this is your only option then make sure the stable is clean and fresh and that you give your horse plenty of forage variety ie a mix of hay and haylage and or a tub of speedibeet/chaff/ grassnuts and maybe some succulents like a swede hung up/ parsnips/carrots and get him out and about as often as you can for some exercise.
Dont forget to reduce any energy foods to avoid having an unexpoded bomb on your hands :)
 
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I know its not ideal but horses do cope with being in, they just need plenty of roughage and routine. My horse was cross tied for three months and he was fine, he just got used to it. I would give her and lib hay, work her daily and chuck her in the school as much as you can'
 
Its doable with some horses, but will cost you an absolute fortune to keep your horse entertained and healthy and will take up alot of time. You will be using at least double the hay, more feed, loads more bedding and you will have to exercise/hand graze etc
Id move personally, even half a days turnout is better than none!
 
Many 'Inner city' horses are kept stabled all the time but the diference is that they are worked each and every day and given sufficient hay to keep them occupied when stabled.
If you are unable to excercise your horse for a few hours each day then for the welfare of your horse I would look for altenative grazing.
 
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