those of you on livery... how much turnout do you get?

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chestnuttyy

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Thinking of moving to a new yard with fantastic schooling facilities, however the turnout is putting me off slightly.

At present I can turn my horse out in his own paddock for as long as I like (typically 8-10hrs a day at the moment and 24/7 in summer). However, the new yard is down to 4hrs turnout a day in winter and a maximum of 12-14 hours a day in summer. They cannot stay out 24/7.

I've never really had set turnout times so I don't really know if this is the norm and how people's horses cope. My boy certainly loves his stable, and I know he will much prefer the mixed turnout arrangement at the new yard as opposed to his individual paddock.

Just after thoughts really... don't want to make the wrong decision!
 
I moved yards purely because of lack of turnout. Now out 24/7 in summer and in at night over winter. Turn out about 6, generally bring in about 5 (although could stay out until 6)
 
Mine wouldn't cope, but they live out 24/7.
How do you work that? Mine would only get out between 6.30pm and I'd have to go down about 10pm to bring them back in, due to work.

When your horse is out currently, does he have horses near him? If not, then to me it sounds more like, would you/him prefer him to be in a paddock by himself or in a stable by himself?
Summer - do you prefer him out 24/7, or are you happy with 10 hours?

What happens if they change this? A few people have put threads where they've changed yards and suddenly the turnout times changed to not being allowed out due to ground etc.

For me, turn out is an absolute must, but that's down to my horses temperament.
 
fidleyspromise said:
Mine wouldn't cope, but they live out 24/7.
How do you work that? Mine would only get out between 6.30pm and I'd have to go down about 10pm to bring them back in, due to work.

When your horse is out currently, does he have horses near him? If not, then to me it sounds more like, would you/him prefer him to be in a paddock by himself or in a stable by himself?
Summer - do you prefer him out 24/7, or are you happy with 10 hours?

What happens if they change this? A few people have put threads where they've changed yards and suddenly the turnout times changed to not being allowed out due to ground etc.

For me, turn out is an absolute must, but that's down to my horses temperament.
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Basically I'd pop him out in the morning before work at yard staff would bring him in 4 hours later. OR could hopefully team up with another livery where I turn out first thing and they bring 4 hours later.

My horse has only been in an individual paddock since I bought him 18 months ago, before that he was with others and I think he was much happier. I don't think turnout with others would be a problem, I think it'd actually help him.

Summer - 24/7 would be nice, simply for the break from having to muck out every day, but I don't think he'd mind coming in.

Yard is a BHS approved yard and they have a policy of a min of 4hrs a day... even in the horrendous weather we've had, it's still been 4 hours.

It's very difficult... the yard I'm at is good for turnout but the school is so poor you cannot do anything more than basic walk/trot, and as my horse is young I'm trying to bring him on. I'm finding this really difficult without a decent school, particualrly as I work very long days and rely on floodlights to be able to ride on a night.
 
7.30-3pm in Winter, could be earlier out if I wanted but as no other horses go out before this time she would screech in the field!

4pm-8am summer.

No 24/7 which suits me as she needs time off the grass each day.
 
24/7 in Summer and in winter as long as weather holds out in day and in at night.....but feilds have been closed due to excess water. Doesn't bother mine at all being in.
 
Both mine have 24/7 available to them. In the summer there are paddocks available to fatties as well. I changed yards to get 24/7 turnout as at my last yard although it was available we were not allowed to use iti n case the YO's fields got messed up.

Got out of there pretty quickly I cant tell you.
 
Out daytime all year round - usually from 8.30/9.00 until 4.30 or 5.00. Our turnout is great in that it drains well and is not muddy. There have been only one or two days in the past four years that the horses have not gone out and that was down to ice.
 
At my yard horses are turned out individually, we all have our own fields. So horses can go out as much or as little as you like.

My horse has been in for six weeks now as the ground is just too wet. I am lucky though as my horse would much rather be in. Just paces up and down and stands at the gate when the weather is like this. I have even put my turnout rug away! :eek: much to the horror of other liveries!! She will go out 24/7 over the summer though.
 
Our turnout is amazing and so there are no restrictions on turning out. I currently bring mine in at night to feed hay and to give them a break from relentless rain.
I did consider moving as its difficult to manage a good doer in summer here, but on balance, the damage done to their feet and joints by being on a yard with very little winter turnout makes the problems of summer grazing, more than worth the extra management.
 
Magstepper said:
At my yard horses are turned out individually, we all have our own fields. So horses can go out as much or as little as you like.

My horse has been in for six weeks now as the ground is just too wet. I am lucky though as my horse would much rather be in. Just paces up and down and stands at the gate when the weather is like this. I have even put my turnout rug away! :eek: much to the horror of other liveries!! She will go out 24/7 over the summer though.
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How big are your individual fields?
 
arizonahoney said:
Out daytime all year round - usually from 8.30/9.00 until 4.30 or 5.00. Our turnout is great in that it drains well and is not muddy. There have been only one or two days in the past four years that the horses have not gone out and that was down to ice.
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Also wanted to say that the yard has 70+ horses...a while back they tried night time turnout in Summer, but found that some of the horses were unable to settle / sleep during the day due to the yard being a fairly busy place with people coming and going. At least they tried it...
 
We moved the horses from a yard with zero turnout, literally no turnout provided at all except or an occasional 45 minute leg stretch in a dirt pen. It was awful. We went to a yard with the complete opposite - 24/7 turnout in summer and around 7 hours a day turnout in winter in enormous well drained fields with buddies to play with. The difference in my horses was amazing, they became actually rideable! I felt so guilty at having them shut up in their stables all that time because the difference in them was so incredible that I realised how unhappy they'd been. I would always opt for as much turnout as possible. My horses have really thanked me for that.

Having said that, bare in mind that quality is often as important as quantity. If you have limited turnout at the new yard but it is a stimulating environment for example a big enough area, field companions, trees, an interesting outlook etc then this may actually be more beneficial for your horse than being turned out in a paddock alone 24 hours a day. Just a thought, hope this helps.
 
No restrictions on turn out at our place at all. At the mo they are having about 8 hours a day, then coming in for the night as the fields are just so wet. But in the summer they will be out 24/7.
 
Mine has been on livery ever since he was imported from Ireland as a 4yo. He's on morning turnout from 8am-12pm during winter, and just started on daily turnout from 8am-4pm weather permitting. He's out everyday in a group of about 8 horses (big paddock) and loves it! He would have lived out 24/7 when in Ireland and adjusted perfectly to being on the combined system and has always been stabled at night.
 
I personally love mine out 24/7 in the summer - gives us all a little holiday, but many bring in during the day over summer anyway so the idea of having to bring in over summer might not be as hard as it sounds, iykwim!
 
Ours is 24/7 in the summer (May-October), in overnight in the winter. The winter fields do get pretty muddy & flooded so when we have had torrential rain they go on restricted grazing for about 4 hours a day or the occasional day in until the water drains a bit xx
 
depends on time of year, winter is normally till 2pm, spring/summer can be out till 6pm, late summer/autumn till 4pm. Depends on state of fields aswell. At the mo horse is out 6:30am till 2pm (comes in earlier if bad weather).
 
Pinto gets 1/2 a day per week during winter, and weekends (Saturday evening till Tuesday lunchtime) during the summer.

Blitz gets 5-6 hours every day during winter, and 24/7 during summer.
 
Own paddocks - do what we like!! We have some out 24/7 365, some in at night and a couple on limited turnout. We are lucky as yard is very relaxed and flexible.
 
I have my own place, so have what I like. I would be quite happy with my horses out 12hrs in summer (ours come in by day anyway for flies and fat reasons) and four hours in winter is ok. It would put your haylage bill up a bit though, perhaps. Personally I would prefer my horse out 4 hours interacting with other horses than longer stood on its own in individual paddocks.
 
My yard is pretty good in some things. one small paddock per horse ,so it's one big field spilt into 6 so 6 horses are out. Many of them only get from 10am to 2pm 3pm they can go out as long as they like but as many horses wouldn't stay out on there own when the yard owner brings in the full livery/part livery and the diy end up trying to rush up and get there's in before 3 it's really not ideal as the nights are getting lighter i would prefer to have my horse out til atleast 5 but she goes mad on her own :(

Summer turnout you have to walk bloody miles to get to them 40 mins walk to walk there and back There's so much grazing real lamintis and are only allowed to move up to paddock with less grazing if you have already HAS lamintis.....


So honestly your grazing sounds like a piece of cake
 
I normally get anything from 7-9am til 3-5pm 5 days a week in the winter and either 5pm-8am or 9am-5pm 7 days a week in the summer, we may bring in earlier in winter if the weather is dire but they will go out regardless. My lad is quite happy in his stable so this isn't an issue for me :)
 
Thanks for all your replies. I'm just weighing up the pros and cons of moving. Current yard has zero facilities and with a green horse his makes life very hard. Alternative yard has hue outdoor school indoor school xc course, regular competitions and weekly clinics... But less turnout.
 
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