Turning out at 5am coming up to winter ?

With one of my jobs I had an early start and they had to be out by 5.30 for me to be able to muck out and get home and ready for work, seems strange turning them out in the dark and brining them in, in the dark as well. Thank goodness do not have to do that now.
 
BC (Before children!) when both my OH and I were in full time work I often turned out at that time - had to muck out, shower change and leave for work by 6.30 to be in by 7.30. A good head torch (and some practice with it so they are used to the alien look!) and it wasn't any problem for mine.

The difficulty comes in the shoulder months when it's freezing at 5am but by 11am it's warm! Or worst of winter when they are either our for 14 hours or in 24! Tough choices.
 
Don't feel guilty! Mine goes out at 6am in the winter and is always raring to go. I'm not convinced horses like lie ins, as long as they have plenty to eat and drink and have shelter they are usually happy. You will hate it more than your horse, trust me!
 
In the winter I get to the yard at about 5.05 and turn out by 5.30 am. I only see my horse in daylight at the weekends!
 
Work days mine go out at 6am & come in on way home from work - about 6pm.

The worst time is warm November days & same in Feb/March - I usually leave them with less rugs/no rugs, rather than leave them to bake in the middle of the day.
Can never get it totally right tho, but easier to warm a cold horse/pony than to cool a distressed one down.....

DH gets pretty annoyed about me being at yard on Sunday afternoons in the depths of winter, but I do like to make sure as much is done in daylight as I can :)
 
I work 6-2.30, so during the winter, when they are in overnight, I turn out around 4.45am, as like to leave the yard by 5 to get home for a shower etc before work. I do generally get to yard by about 3pm, so they get to come in before it gets dark.
 
My horse would be ecstatic if she were turned out at 5am, she's usually out at 6.15am during winter but is always raring to get out.
 
My three get turfed out a 5.30-6 am all year round..they don't seem to mind it..I chuck their feeds in and give a quick muck out around them whilst they are munching..Unless their rugs are soaking wet they stay in their turnout rugs over night..I strip rugs off for an hour every evening to brush and get some air to the coats..Saves alot of time in rug changing,feeds are made up the night before and also haynets in case weather is awful and they will be staying in.
 
I turn out about 5.45 in the summer but in the winter I do everything before I turnout, so muck out, hay, water, feeds etc. That is more to do with the fact that she doesn't like being out alone and in the winter there are no horses living out so I have to wait for someone else to be ready to turnout too! Even then it's about 6.15, 6.30 at the latest as I have to get home to get showered and off to work by 7.30 at the latest.
 
I reckon ill be about 5.30-6ish but this is my first winter in for 12 yrs and I have 3 now, only had 1 12 yrs ago! so early early I think! but I work 8.45-5.15 so wont even have time to muck out in the day light! will be all by darkness!!
 
My lad goes out at 5.20am every day all year round. When it starts to get dark earlier it does take him a week to adjust and I find him a bit bleary eyed, but he prefers to be out so is always more than keen to be released.
 
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