Turning out on hills. Do/would you?

[RachelB]

It depends on the hill. My horse is currently out on a gently sloping hill and I have no issues with that. There is one particular field at my yard that I would refuse to put my horse out on, due to it being too steep for her. She did tear a hole in her tendon two and a half years ago though and is semi-retired to preserve her future soundness... I wouldn't risk it with her.
With a "normal", un-injured horse - I would turn out on anything as long as it was less steep than a cliff face!

 

[corriehorse]

[ QUOTE ]
Why would you not put your own cob out on it?
If you won't put your own out on it, why surprise that others don't want to either?

[/ QUOTE ]

I said i would not be happy to put my horse in the steepest field (think near vertical in places) because, although the hills have done her arthritic hocks good, i feel that this hill maybe a bit to much for her. I did say, however, i would be perfectly happy to put my Shetland in said field, and when he has finished nannying duties thats where he will be.
The other fields are not as steep, and i am more than happy for my girl to go in the second steepest field, which is still rather steep.
I can understand other owners not wanting to turnout in the steepest field, but at no point have the prospective liveries who declined due to the hills been asked/told to turnout in that field. They have screwed their noses up at our "flat" fields, which are more steep slopes than hills where they have been told their horse would go. Those are the sort of people that made me ask this question.

 

[YorksG]

We have one fairly steep and one flatish field, when we bought this place we looked at a lot of places, some were 5 acres of spider farm and we did not bother looking at the houses! If any of the horses need a flat field then they are turned out on the flat (we have done this for the old ladies over the years) but find that it is good for maintaining fitness in the younger ones.

 

[kellyeaton]

i used to have hills in my last o yards i was at and i turned nine out on them with no probs . But now i am on a yard with 8 acres that is all completly flat!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My horse tore his supraspinous ligament tearing down a very steep hill so would rather avoid hills or mental horses in hilly fields!!

 

[Kalees_mum]

I used to keep both of mine on a hill.. For my old girl who isn't in work no longer it did her great muscle wise, since I've moved to a yard with flat fields she has lost so much muscle in her hind quarters

So yeah I would keep mine on a hill as long as it wasn't really steep! Only down side to having then on a hill is poo picking hated it lol...