Turnout for the very expensive horse...

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kit279

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I was talking to someone the other day who works in racing and was saying that some racehorses are simply too valuable to turn out in case they injure themselves. In principle, it would be lovely if all horses could have some turnout etc but I accept that the liability for the carer (in this cases, looking after resting racehorses) would be too great. But I was wondering if there is some sort of pen setup you could use where it was almost impossible for the horse to duff itself.

Has anyone had any experience of dealing with very valuable horses and turnout and can such a pen be constructed?!
 
When I did work experience at an eventers yard (Lousia Lockwood), all of her horses were turned out everyday. One was out 24/7 with a retired eventer, and the others were turned out through the day, it at night. Admittedly they were in individual fields, but next to each other so that they could see each other, and that included a 4* horse and a 3* horse.
 
afaik some top dressage horses are never turned out either, they're led out in hand for hours but never loosed in case they injure themselves.
I've seen high small pens made out of those big metal-mesh panels you see around building sites, covering an area about the size of a large stable - if it was on good grass i think 99% of horses would just stick their heads down and scoff, but i suppose there's always the chance that one might try to turn itself inside out with glee, boot the panel, and all hell might break loose...
 
I'm not so much thinking about event horses - more the sort of racehorse that sells for over a million as a yearling. I know Paul Nicholls takes the shoes off Kauto/Denman etc and turns them out together but that's his call as a very established trainer! But if you get sent racehorses to 'rest and sweeten up', is there a way that they could safely have turnout for a few weeks? Bearing in mind they will very likely never have been turned out before whilst in training and therefore are not particularly accustomed to it.
 
I don't have a clue about racehorses, but surely if for some reason, they were turned out, they would go absolutely crazy, galloping round like loons, and increase the chances of being injured?
 
well, they'll have grown up in fields, so it's not going to be something totally new to them. i'd make sure the fencing was exceptionally safe and exceptionally high (that high-tensile close-wire mesh that they just bounce off, can't recall the name, is it Tornado fencing?) and paddocks small, with curves no corners, v high close-mesh gates, fields well rested in rotation so always good tempting grass in there, i'd make sure horses were hungry when they went out, and i think 99.9% would be fine.
 
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I'm not so much thinking about event horses - more the sort of racehorse that sells for over a million as a yearling. I know Paul Nicholls takes the shoes off Kauto/Denman etc and turns them out together but that's his call as a very established trainer! But if you get sent racehorses to 'rest and sweeten up', is there a way that they could safely have turnout for a few weeks? Bearing in mind they will very likely never have been turned out before whilst in training and therefore are not particularly accustomed to it.

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My 2, not worth any money 'other than a maybe the loose change in the lining of your handbag' ex/racehorses, are both incredibly adept at self-harming in their, wood and rubber lined stables, so I fail to see what difference it makes TBH.
I have worked in a continental style SJ yard where nothing got turned out (in fact there wasn't even a field) if I snuck the yearlings out into the menage, they just stood there in complete shock!
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I like the idea of all horses being equal, but they are not.
 
It depends on the horse and owners - in some facilities turnout is a premium and im sadly some owners are involved for the money and maybe nt the horse

Some racehorses are suprisingly laid back and others are still wired from the track
When out of training all my grandads horses are turned out on his property all bar two in 'normal' fields however, two of his NHers have pens mainly due to the fact that they often jumped out of their fields (an idea he got from John Whitaker and his Showjumpers)
to be honnest yes they all have a run about but there just about as likely to get injured in the satble or on the track they are suprisingly more durable than we think (even more than my horse probably
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I couldn't keep any horse in all the time, when I got my old lad he had been stabled all the time since he was quite young, he hates his stable now and only goes in for food. If you shut the door he panics. Poor lad, but he loves being out so at least his semi-retirement seems to make him happy.
 
I remember when my parents had racehorses (admittedly national hunt so not worth the big big bucks but the trainer that had them was the leading trainer at the time so had plenty of very valuable horses) the trainer was a great believer in turnout and always turned out when the horses were having a break from the racing season. Those that went home to their owners were invariably turned out as well (I had a great time taking them hunting!). I'd imagine that the horses would be used to turnout but obviously would recommend doing all you can to calm them before doing so. With one of ours, we had to lightly sedate him the first time just to make sure he didn't do anything too stupid and by the time the sedative had worn off, he wasn't that over excited to do something to himself.

I feel very sorry for those horses that don't get turned out because of their value. I understand why their carers have to make such a decision but feel it doesn't make for a very nice life
 
I am sure Sportsnight can confrim but most very very valuable stallions & mares all get turnout in studs. There are one or two freak accidents like Triptych but on the whole you do not hear about them breaking a leg or being injured.

Friend had a very valuable racehorse in (well known!) to sweeten him up they did not realise that after 1 hour he got bored in the field and would go hedge hopping. They ended up driving after this loose TB who was galloping up the road having a heart attack that a car might be coming the other way.
 
afaik lots of racehorses do get turned out though?

lots of trainers take shoes off and turn them out in mini herds or if they go home for their break the owners will turn them out.

i think the main group of horses that don't get turn out are dressage horses.
 
the yard I'm at doesn't have winter turnout in fields only in small sand pens and my girl is quite adept at taking chunks out of her legs whilst engaging in high jinks out there even though she's used to it. Unless the pens are literally stable sized then they're still quite capable of having a buck and a fart and potentially damaging themselves.

I personally wouldn't take the risk with valuable horses, that don't belong to me and aren't used to it
 
Part of the problem with turning out, particularly flat horses, on a daily basis is that the yards simply do not have the space/ facilities for turnout, I am particularly thinking of the yards that I have seen in Newmarket. A lot have only a small grassy area where horses can be grazed in hand with maybe a couple of turnout pens.

Most NH horses will be turned out in groups when they are off during the summer.

Almost all TB stallions including those that would be considered very valuable will have daily turnout.
 
What Godolphin do with their racehorses in training is that they employ men who are paid £20k plus a year simply to do one job- walk every single racehorse out in hand! for an hour or so every day as they wont even risk them on a horsewalker.
 
the most ££££ horse i know is insured for £55k (dressage horse) and he does go out, but rarely, which IMHO makes it far more likely that he will injure himself! he doesnt go out in the mud/wet/or on hard ground so in the UK that rather restricts things! its absolutely none of my business and not the owners choice either (YO is very much in charge) but i just cant get my head round it.....

turnout, esp in groups IS a risk, and i think the only things you can do to minimise it are post and rail or plastic fencing, keep the fields levelled/rolled and not poached, and turn out as often as poss to avoid crazyness.and then just walk away.

personal pref i know but even if my boy was worth ££££££ id turn him out every day, with his shetland mate.
 
At the racing yards I have worked at, everything has been turned out over the summer months without shoes on, but I guess these weren't particularly valuable racehorses.

In my mind though, everything is relative. My friend came hunting with me a few months ago on an expensive horse (was advertised for £25k last year) and was obviously quite worried about damaging it. But to me, my horse is worth just as much as her £25K horse as she has far more money than I do, if anything happened to mine I would struggle to buy another to the same value if you see what I mean. Same thing with these pricey racehorses in my opinion.
 
We take a very pragmatic view of turn out. If the weathers awfull and all they're going to do is sink in the mud standing by the gate waiting for something to do - we keep them in. Same if its snow and ice. If you're able - pen off a safe kick and buck area that you can put them in for 30-40 minutes during the day to relieve the frustration.
 
I find it funny that a lot of racehorses in training espec NH horses, many of them worth £££ are all turned out together in large herds when they are fit and running. Yet I wouldnt dare turn out any of mine with another horses!

I think oofadoofa is right about owners being so easily able to replace their horses- a £100k horse is NOTHING to a lot of these people- hence why they often run them with a damaged leg not caring if they break down, because they can simply go and buy another one.
 
Don't know about racehorses, but most top dressage yards here on the continent most definitely do not allow horses out!! A lot of top yards don't even have paddocks at all.

The place where I am now is unique in this respect (even my trainer's GP horse and Bundeschampionat winner gets turned out every day!), but seriously, most of them just keep the horses in 24/7, and out to be ridden or walked in hand (I am talking about top top yards, i.e. German first-team riders)

In one of my old yards the trainer/YO allowed clients' horses to go out, if the owners wanted them to, but her own GP horses only went out in very small sand paddocks, with very high plastic fencing -- with travel boots on!! However we are talking VERY expensive horses here -- think hundreds of thousands, not tens.
 
We visited the national stud quite a few years ago on a school trip. They had their stallions turned out individually in fairly large but very high sided metal round pens which were each within a post and rail fenced paddock. The grass was very smooth and flat. Silver patriarch was in one when we were there. They went out every day.
 
I know a very well know dressage yard that only turns their horses out by hand to graze for an hour at a time..... each to there own, i guess!!!!
 
I think some racehorses are turned out even whilst training (Venetia Williams turns out every day I believe) and I think Denman and Kauto are turned out at the end of the season (Padlock that gate!). Many racehorses also return to their owners for the summer so that would become their responsibility.
 
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In one of my old yards the trainer/YO allowed clients' horses to go out, if the owners wanted them to, but her own GP horses only went out in very small sand paddocks, with very high plastic fencing -- with travel boots on!! However we are talking VERY expensive horses here -- think hundreds of thousands, not tens.



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But regardless of how risky turnout is, surely keeping them penned in 23/24 hours is going to do more damage to the horses long term viabilty and soundness. So really in the long term the greater overall risk is not turning out!

I fully understand the risks in turning out, but I do think people don't consider the long term effect as it may not happen for years and therefore not considered.
 
The vast majority of our racehorses are turned out. When they're on their breaks they'll be turned out in groups for the summer, no problem. Often out in pairs when they're racing as well, although it's very carefully planned to make sure that friends are with friends and not enemies!! Obviously its a bit limited since the minumum we have in is 100, but we do our best..! They won't get turned out before they're due to race though. A lot of that is due to preserving energy, monitoring very closely what they eat, what exercise they do, making sure they don't pick up any infections or get any heat in their legs... etc.
 
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But regardless of how risky turnout is, surely keeping them penned in 23/24 hours is going to do more damage to the horses long term viabilty and soundness. So really in the long term the greater overall risk is not turning out!

I fully understand the risks in turning out, but I do think people don't consider the long term effect as it may not happen for years and therefore not considered.

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I totally agree with you, which is the reason why MY horses go out virtually every day (weather permitting) and also the reason why I won't even consider a yard without paddocks.

On the other hand, most of the dressage horses competing internationally are not turned out at all, yet they are still working at an amazingly high level well into their teens -- this is the reason why it's really difficult to convince those who are against turnout that it is actually beneficial.
 
The horses where I used to work got turned out for a few hours a day, Bar's GP horse cost £250k and he went out every day with another horse. However I had to keep an eye on him and if he looked like galloping about I had to get him in.
Bar used to watch him from her house and quite often used to come running out shouting at me to bring him in because he was looking up, or walking along!
Nothing was allowed on the walker (it was next to the field) while he was out either.

All her others got turned out all the time, her young medium level horse went out overnight in the summer.
 
I believe in turnout for most horses in most weathers. Some are the exception to the rule, those that stand at the gate in the rainor hoon about etc.
I got my two in today, to find my 4 y o with a huge knee. Someone at the yard had turned there horse out thats been in for ages and they went off for a hoolie round the fields. My 17.2 has kicked him, prob when they got down the bottom and were all squeaking over the fence, great! He's going to Newmarket next week for a lameness workup on the hind legs!!
 
its just impossible to prevent a horse injuring itself- in the field or stable or anywhere between.
they are probably less likely to injure themselves given access to daily turnout in a field with plenty of grass....
 
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