Summer turnout and behaviour changes?

[rforsyth1984]

Does anyone else find their horses behaviour changes when they live out 24hrs in the summer?

Im having problems at the moment, not only does Sian seem to be too tired to do much (had to kick on to keep in slow canter on the gallops yesterday!), but he's getting naughty when schooled - very innatentive, and tense especially on the right rein.

I realise this could be many things - Dentist is coming friday, then the saddler, and hopefully physio not too long after! Im also going to change his bridle back to an old one, as Ive been using a new one recently and wondered if it could be that. He's not lame, trots quite happily round the field, jumps fine and isn't tense when hacking, so was wondering if it could be that he's playing up because he's a bit too tired to do any hard work?

Instructor thinks its naughtiness, but I'm not convinced with it being worse on the right rein?

He had a lot more energy the day after he stayed in one night last week, so I know the tiredness is probably due to living out, but I only hacked out that day so didnt get to see if his schooling had improved?!

Why are horses so frustrating?!

 

[CSYMolly]

Mine can't live out as she turns into a fat lazy moo!! Friends horse gets a bit unruly when he lives out in the summer, he won't be caught bangs his door when brought in, won't concentrate or work so yeah some do play up, might be change in routine etc.

 

[vicster]

You find a lot of horses are so tired when they live out 24 hours a day, some of ours on the yard we are only stay out at night and they are hanging from this and never want to do anything.

 

[Honeybee]

(Mine can't live out as she turns into a fat lazy moo!!)
My mare is also like this!! Now I being her in at night..

 

[pottamus]

My boy lived out for a month because he broke his stable door and I could not use it. So with waiting for parts to fix it and going on holiday too I left him out...would not normally as he is a native and lives off nothing. But he turned lazy and had less life in him...he has been going in at night again this week so we will see how he rides once his foot is better.

 

[Kris R]

Interesting to read how many horses become 'lazy' with summer turnout. I have 3 ponies, they live out 7/7 and I certainly can say the only time they are lazy is on a very hot, sunny day.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

It's been observed that horses in the wild will move about and be more alert at night for the threat of predators, and will relax and doze in the morning when the threat isn't so great. Domesticated horses that are out 24/7 will follow the same pattern. I noticed this at the livery yard this year, mornings were for sleeping, afternoons were for grazing and most days, at about 5/6pm, they would all have a mad hooley round the paddock, god knows what that was all about. Maybe it was relief that the weather was cooling down a bit.