Turnout - How Many Hours?

ours go out 6.30am (so in the dark) and come in 3pm(so before it gets dark)............i have found horses are weird and dont mind going OUT in the dark, they just wander off and start grazing but god forbid they get left out when it gets dark in the PM..............que mass hysteria and galloping around!

i have them in overnight all year round anyway and have a lovely girl and her mum who help on the yard so to come in at 3pm year round is no problem at all, so they get 8.5 hours year round.

they are all FAB walking out to the field in the dark(un lit track between 2 rows of paddocks) by torchlight, even the 2yo colt but they have no choice, they have to get used to it as otherwise we would be late for work!
 
My yard only allows turnout every other day in winter, I would so much rather they went out for a few hours a day but currently they go out from half 7 til half 5 on the days they go out so 11 hours which I think is too much as they're hungry and a pain to bring in in the pitch black down a slippy track which is a foot deep with mud and only wide enough for single file! I just put my headtorch on and get on with it but it's really not ideal.
 
I don't like how little turnout time my horse has at the moment, but then do find that every time I look at him throughout the day he's waiting at the gate wanting to come in- So I suppose he doesn't mind the measly 5 hour a day turnout!
 
On a very small DIY yard and we all work full time so ours go out at 6.30am and back in between 5pm and 6pm, depending on who is bringing in. It is always dark but we use head torches and, to be fair, the horses' behaviour is the same whether daylight or not. I just wish mine would be as sensible in the school when it's dark! It does make for cleaner boxes in the mornings as they are in for fewer hours.

However, was previously on a yard where they went out at 9am and back in around 2.30pm-3pm. I agree that any turnout is better than none and I think they do get used to a routine, whatever that routine is.

My current horse was out 24/7 over winter when I bought him and remained so for three months. I then moved to a yard closer to home the day before heavy snow and he ended up spending the next four weeks in 24/7 until we were allowed to turn out again. Not an ideal situation at all but it did make me realise how adaptable they can be.
 
my horses have about 18 hours turnout. They come in during the day if I want to ride then are turned out about 4pm until next day. If I dont want to ride then they stay out 24/7.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
ours go out 6.30am (so in the dark) and come in 3pm(so before it gets dark)............i have found horses are weird and dont mind going OUT in the dark, they just wander off and start grazing but god forbid they get left out when it gets dark in the PM..............que mass hysteria and galloping around!
Click to expand...

Lol! this is just like mine - they do exactly the same!
 
Well thankfully as of tomorrow mine is out on better grass :) So he'll be out for a good 7 hours or there abouts. Happy, just hope the weather isn't crazy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top