Those with horses living out 24/7

[jeeve]

my horses love living out, at some point i will put up some field shelters, but they do not have any at moment

I could not afford, nor would have the time to keep them in, even if just overnight, and they would not like it any way

 

[ISHmad]

Ours live out 24/7 but do have access to their stables to come and go as they please. Our grazing is split between winter and summer paddocks. We divide the winter paddocks up and rotate them around depending on the weather.

If you can't put hardcore down could you put membrane and woodchip to make a dry standing area possibly? I know you will need to keep topping it up but that might be something to think about as a non permanent solution.

I'd get a field shelter which you can use as a stable too if needs be, so that you have somewhere to put them in the event of an injury requiring box rest.

24/7 turnout works brilliantly for us and the horses very rarely use their stables, they much prefer being out.

 

[canteron]

Do it, the horses will love it and be much happier.

Talk to your farrier, trust me he will have ideas on where to shoe. If they are barefoot access is less important as he won't need a forge.

You may also find someone nearby with a sand school (google earth can help you identify that). It might be worth asking if you can hire it if ground is bad ..... But always leave a school in better condition than you find it (or offer to do holiday cover or something).

Main hint it to religiously put aside some of the money you save every month so you have a fund for continuously improving fencing, etc.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Oh yes, it's bliss when my horse is at home. Though I love the facilities at livery, I do not like the rules, time and effort which is spent unneccessarilly (though understandably) looking after other people's things when I could do with looking after my own

 

[Rose Folly]

My horses have lived out 24/7 for about 20 years now. I would NEVER go back to stabling them.

They all thrive - and I've had everything from TBs through Arabs to cobs to natives to hunter-types. They are rarely sick or sorry
Workload slashed
Much, much cheaper

I think the things you should try to have are
a) Some sort of shelter they can access 24/7, unless the field is extrremely well sheltered
b) Some hard standing so they can get out of the mud or the frozen pockmarked ground (we have a 12' wide concrete track leading from the road to the little stable yard - only about 45' long, but it gives them something to stand and dream on!
c) Invest in top quality rugs if you are going to rug them. My current horse and liveries each have a rain rug, an M/W and a H/W, the latter two with detachable neck covers. None of them needed their H/Ws last winter. They are at home so I can check frequently during the day, and they were all toasty warm.
d) If you have an ageing, arthritic or recuperating horse, it's very beneficial to have them out, as they are continually moving/grazing/motivated.

Hope you decide to give it a try. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

 

[russianhorse]

I've had my 22yo lad out 24/7 for the last 5 years (since we moved from Surrey to Cambs), and I have to say my lad prefers it, as do I. I would never go back to stabling now.

He has a shelter with a straw bed made up, which he only uses in extreme weather and/or to eat his round bale of hay (which Ive put in there)

Grass livery, Imo, its the best decision I have ever made :0) - it gives me the flexibility I need and the freedom he loves

 

[irishdraft]

I have 3 horses and a pony living out 24/7, all horses in work and 2 are fully clipped, the pony has a bib and brace clip. they are all rugged up well, fed and hayed, have no field shelters and are absolutely fine. Even when I go up to the fields when its chucking it down at night they very rarely want to come in. I am in the lucky position of having a yard with stables to bring them in if neccessary but its usually one or two nights max a year. I think most horses prefer it,more healthy too, as long as you have reasonable grazing of course, not much fun on a mud patch.