turnout or in???

Just wondering, for those who only get a couple of hours turnout in the winter- ow do you manage this when working? Do you have to pay someone to bring in for you?


In the winter I turn mine out at 7.30 and the yard staff bring them in at 2.30ish

I have to pay £1.50 a day for them to do this for me. Also 50p to change rugs and £1 to hose legs, so an extra £15 a week on top of livery costs.

But it means that I can ride after work on a dry, clean horse.

In the summer I bring in about 7ish after I have poop picked.
 
out 24/7/365.

Luckily am at a yard with lots of grazing that doesn't get too muddy.

My horse is 17hh TB xShire - 21 years old and lives out clipped and rugged. They don't get hay in the field so she comes in every morning for some feed (simple systems) and hay. Apparently if it is really wet we will have to bring them in overnight but that hasn't happened in the two years I've been there.

IMO she is much happier and healthier living out. I have had her 12 years and have had her in before out of neccessity and would always have her out by preference.
 
Very interesting what everybody does , I am all for turnings out but mine have always been used to coming in at night , they ate usually out in field at 6am and brought in 1pmish ethier I get them in or pay sometimes leave them until 3 pm wheather depending , as I like them to have rested before they all get worked , last years tried a different system of all day t/0 and they hated it , I think they are all inndociduals and should be treated to how they are most happiest x
 
I have a 3year old cob who is not yet broken who will live out all winter, I am on a great yard that allows 24/7 365days a year. Most people bring in but a few of us with cobs keep them out, plus the YO keeps her two older girls out
 
Out 24/7 unless weather is particularly bad and they are really fed up. I prefer to keep mine unrugged as much as possible- they have a field shelter as well as natural shelter. They will get hay in the field when the grass is poor and I will feed mine once a day when the temp drops. I have been on yards where the horses all have to be in every night throughout the year, and when we have just brought them in at night in winter. He always adjusts to different routines but being out 24/7 definatley suits us both the best.
 
24/7 365 although I wouldnt mind a stable for the odd super muddy cold day, then again I'd rather a field shelter with a nice straw bed in one end for them to choose if they want :-)

I too think that movement aids digestion and general health because of the horse's physiology, but can understand some horses do get bloated with a lot of grass and that some people do it for weight management purposes.
 
Mine are out 24/7 but stables are open to the fields so the horses can come in for shelter if they want or stay out. They generally only come in when the flies are really bad or there is heavy rain and wind. They chose to be out most of the time.
 
i am curious for those of you who's horses are lucky enough to be able to come and go from stable to field as they want, do you not get problems with some of the horses being lose around their stables and pushing others about?
 
I must admit I wasn't sure how this would work at first but not had any problems. There is an occasional disagreement about who should be in what stable and sometimes two stand together in one but there have been no injuries. There are only 4 of them and they know their pecking order so know when to get out of the way of a more dominant horse.
 
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