Turnout for horses

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Jumper123

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I recently met a top vet that specialises in lameness. He said that turnout is the biggest cause of lameness. Just wondering on your guys opinions.... Many top horses such as Carl hesters regularly have turnout and on the otherhand i know many that never see a field. Feelings on this. (my horses have turnout everyday)
 
I can't win with my mare! Turn her our 24/7 and she gets laminitis, keep her in and her stifle starts to slip :rolleyes: have to make do with balancing both and keeping her exercised :)
 
Sounds like your top vet has gone beyond seeing them as horses and got too into the science. Was he just stating facts or seriously saying you shouldn't turn out??

Yes many injuries etc come from turnout, but its still important for the horse.
 
Is a vet to numerous top horses and I suppose money involved at that level it has to be scientific in a sense, but for me I think horses should be horses i guess?
 
Billie1007 said:
Turnout doesn't cause lameness....

Accidents in the field, slipping, fencing, kicking, grass - they all cause lameness.
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For sure. If the horse is silly in the field, of course there is a risk of hurting himself, but that doesn't mean you have to stop treating them like a horse.

Manage a risky horse by putting it in a smaller paddock where it can't run as much, and avoid putting them out in the wet and mud if they are going to run, unless you have access to a sand pen where they can't slip as easily but can still have a run.

My horses aren't crazy in the fields, but I've had two go lame after slipping over. One of them actually cracked his pelvis. But they are horses, and that's what happens. I would never stop turnout because of fear of making the horse lame.
 
Ime horses with limited turnout are more likely to injure themselves. One in a small paddock for a few hours a day is more likely to do something silly, & not be physically conditioned to racing round in mud, dry uneven summer ground. Ones that are out 12+ hrs a day are much less likely to be silly.24/7 is even better. Mine are in overnight Dec- march, & when turned out am they race about like maniacs for 10 mins, as do many. Which is the time they are most likely to injure themselves. And forgetting the horses welfare aspect of turnout, I think there's physical benefits too. Certainly as they get older, stiffness & arthritis are avoided longer with turnout, respiratory problems, circulation is better with movement, & I'm sure lots more. It's not a scientific explanation, just my own observations.
 
When competing my mare was in 25/7, if out even for a short while she would turn wild, rear and refuse to do anything. She was sweet as anything in.

She is now a broodmare and out 24/7. She adapted well but isnt so nice to handle anymore.
 
My pony has lived out almost 24/7 for 10 years and never had a days lameness;

In fact at the age of almost 20 he is still as bonkers in the field as he always has, but is very sure footed. He did fall down once in the snow, but got back up straight away and carried on cantering around!

Lucky I guess as my first pony always had something wrong with him!
 
Last year I had a horse in for the summer who was bought at the sales for £400,000 (a racehorse). All my liveries are turned out, and he was no different. He went out in fifteen acres with four other horses. Yes there are risks, but I've found that with the majority of horses, the more turnout they get the more calm they are about it.

I had a grand prix horse at livery with me (sadly he had to be put down in May) who had never been turned out before he arrived. We introduced it very very gradually, but in the end he was living out as it just worked better for him and his funny legs!

I've seen both sides - just last November my boyfriend's horse came in from the field with a very very badly broken leg, and we had to put him down - but I'd rather have my horses out than in.
 
Our vet says that being overweight is the cause of 80% of the lameness that he sees. Our old mare has improved out of sight since being out 24/7 to be honest, it is so unnatural having them in, and they are just as likely to injure themselves in the stable.
 
I agree with the vet, most lameness happens when the horse is in the field not when they are being stabled or being ridden, especially if you include laminitis in the mix as well.

My pony is recovering from a broken splint bone after being kicked by one of his fieldmates but that is not going to stop me putting him back out again 24/7 once he has recovered.

However my situation is very different from those who own horses worth millions of pounds who are not going to be suitable as family pets should they end up with a career ending injury.
 
True that field accidents can cause lameness, but very glad that some people believe the holistic well being of their horse outweighs the risk of turn-out. 66% of our gold medal dressage team get regular turnout :) Not sure about Alf
 
littlelegs said:
Ime horses with limited turnout are more likely to injure themselves. One in a small paddock for a few hours a day is more likely to do something silly, & not be physically conditioned to racing round in mud, dry uneven summer ground. Ones that are out 12+ hrs a day are much less likely to be silly.24/7 is even better.
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I agree with you there, that if the horse is used to going out in a huge field for long periods of time they are a lot safer with themselves. However, in terms of competition horses that need to be in optimum condition, they can't realistically spend that amount of time on grass. Grass bellies and FEI Dressage or galloping around Badminton (for example) don't mix so well! :P

For those kind of horses I think it is better to give them a couple of hours/half a day out in a small paddock to just be outside and relax.

Though some people even say that they don't turn their horses out because it makes them look more forward to being worked?! Because it is the one time they go out of their stable?? I know that is opening another tin of sardines, but I just think that is crazy!
 
Horses who get limited/no turnout are more likely to injure themselves IMO.. My horse was out 18+hrs a day, for the 7.5yrs I had her (I had to have her PTS last week :(), and she didn't once come in from the field lame. She had a big field, with lots of gallop space, and shared it with another horse.
I think when horses are in all the time, their legs get weaker and are more prone to injury (exerise -> stronger bones), and when they DO go out, they go mental because it's exciting and they so badly need to 'be a horse'.
Just my opinion :)
 
badgermyers said:
When competing my mare was in 25/7, if out even for a short while she would turn wild, rear and refuse to do anything. She was sweet as anything in.

She is now a broodmare and out 24/7. She adapted well but isnt so nice to handle anymore.
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25/7 :eek: Where did you find that extra hour? hmm? Come on spill :D



My 2 live out all year round, have the occasional hooley and have no injuries from this. If however they were to be kept in they would prob go nuts when turned out just for the sheer excitement of being out. My older mare only goes lame if I take my eye off the ball with her feet and she needs to be shod every 6 weeks on the dot (lesson learnt)
 
Ours are out 24/7 normally, but this year due to an excessive amount of grass
we have brought them in during the day, my lad is not a happy bunny and charges round the field like a lunatic, I just have to pray I found all the rabbit holes, I have to say he does look impressive when he goes.
He recently pulled a muscle just in front of his sheath, but the lump was gone in two days
 
This was true for my tb, he came in all the time with kicks, cuts and strains. He was a loon in the field, turnout was the reason he was injured. He needed flat safe turnout, with one other horse or even solo. My yard doesn't supply this and it was part of my decision to find him a more appropriate home.
My new coblet is turned out on a hill, with 4 other mates, 24/7 in summer. Ye is happy as Larry and occasionally pulls a shoe. Fingers crossed, touch wood!!
So I think its about making sure your horse is in a suitable environment, turnout I think is the most important thing for our leisure horses.
 
I think the vet is probably statistically right, but as other posters have commented, I do not agree that the outcome should be restricted turnout.

It is like saying most children get hurt when engaging in sports and going to playgrounds (not sure of the actiual stats here, but using as an analogy lol). Would this mean that we needed to stop children being active?

I also wonder ( I am failrly new the the horse owining game), that horses who are turned out regularly are generally sure footed and relatively able to avoid too many injuries. I am lucky I suppose, our lovely Olly is on 24/7/ turnout, and is thriving on it. He needs regular riding to keep his weight down but is so far looking good. He has always been kept this way by his previous owners, and so it has been no change for him. Interestingly, the most stroppiness off him arises when he has been stabled overnight ( vet coming the next morning scenario), when he is like a coiled spring!
 
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