Turnout/overnight stable? what would you do!

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nicnag

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I'm left with a bit of a dilemma this winter as our yard has changed hands this year ( I am now yard manager!). We have all stabled overnight in previous years but as we now have access to all the sheds we decided to open up one of the large sheep sheds with direct access to the fields allowing the 5 horses on site 24hour turnout but with the option of housing at any time. This has worked brilliantly and they really do use it when the weather is bad but now all other owners would like to continue with this during the winter rather than stabling. I can quite see the benefits but my mare is a wee bit of a woose and has always been stabled. At the moment she is happy out and not asking to come in at all. They will have ad-lib hay as soon as it's required. She won't stay in on her own happily so either I throw a strop and insist they all stable (not an easy one, 1 owner has 2 horses and 6 month old twin boys, another works odd hours and the third can only do mornings) so I'd end up on my own with the lot. Or I take the chance, let my girl stay out, well rugged and fed and see how it goes.
I must admit the thought of only having to skip the shed every second day is very, very appealing!
Also, anyone with experience of turnout boots? Do they stay on?
 
It's the best thing!!! I was very lucky to be able to do this for the last 12 years. Now our farm has been changed into a livery yard, however, it is no longer possible. Horses love to be able to go in and out as they please. Not moaning though as I now have lovely stables/facilities, but it was very nice just deep litering on straw and only skipping out everyday.

Turn out boots are a waste of time IMO.
 
Dont worry about her she will be fine.. All my guys have been stabled in the winter all their life, rugged to their eyeballs and even in the summer when it rains they have lightweigh turnouts on.. however this year we purchased field stables which are basically big field shelters that look like stables, they have straw beds in them and haynets and my guys come and go as they like, I have my big guy out fully clipped, legs and all, they love it and they will be out all winter in them and i dont have any intentions of shutting them in at night at all.. Being a freak i have been down very very late at night when the weather is bad and all my guys are in the shelters happy and eating hay.. I think they would be happier if they have the choice to go in and out as they please. I think many others would love to do that do but just dont have the choice. I also have used the equilbrium turnout socks on my guy.. they are okay, dont really slip down too much unless they are really active.. however not suitable for 24hour use.. your girl will prefer it having the freedom i am certain.. big rug with hood and have some chill time yourself..
 
Sounds like a lovely set up - we had our horses like that in Johannesburg and my old mare has it in her new home. I thought she would be a big woose, but as I've said in a previous post, it has really suited her. Of course, you could always revisit the situation when the weather is really dire, and maybe coopt one other to be your 'stable buddy' for those horrendous nights when you really want them in.
 
i'd def say try it and see how it goes. i have one who was a wimp with the rain when i got him, if there was any sign of rain he refused to go out, but one winter i tried letting him live out - and he has now for a few years
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also, i have baby twins and i know that your livery with twins would reallllllly benefit from it
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as a YO though i would say to liveries that they may not be able to stay like this all witer and you will just see how it goes.
 
Let them get on with it and sort themselves out! We have one that is an absolute, complete wuss. She has access to her barn at all times and is fine with it. As long as you rug her correctly she'll be alright.
We usually divide hay between outside and inside to make sure she is eating whilst in as she loses condition easily, but it suits her and has done for the last 8 or 9 years!
 
I used turn out boots and they just made the legs sore from the mud and wet so a total waste of time! I did have night turn out but no shelter so my guys hated it but if they have some where warm and dry def go for it!
 
I would love that set up. I years ago had a nice big field with stables at the end and would leave a bed and nets in them for them to come and go as they pleased.

Farra has come from this set up and I would love to keep her like this with my cob, but unfortunately don't know of anywhere near me where I could, so they will be stabled at night from the end of the month.
 
I am doing this with my boy this year for the first time as he prefers to be out and has access to his field stable at all times. He has been getting so bad on the hay in the confines of a stable that he is better out in the fresh air...it also saves me loads of time and effort in the mornings!
 
I'd love to be able to have this kind of arrangement, sounds great to me. Horses at our yard have to come in at night in winter though, yard rules. Lovely roomy stables etc but having the option to come and go would be even better as far as I am concerned.
 
On the yard I'm on all horses have to come in at night all year round!! I would love to have the option of leaving my girl out - the only thing I would worry about is her putting too much weight on in the summer months.
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Give it a go at least your girl has got the option of a shelter so she'll choose for herself. She will probably love the freedom
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I honestly can never understand why the question is should I leave out? It should always be "why should I stable" IMO!

Your horse will be absolutely fine and a hell of a lot healthier for being out. A large barn is a brilliant field shelter which as you say, they do use. As long as he's rugged up well and has access to hay he'll be fine. All mine live out 24/7 even through our Scottish winters and that includes my main competition horse who is a hunter clipped lightweight Luso x TB...! Modern rugs are so warm nowadays, anything can live out even clipped.
 
Lol!! Well in your words, I "take a chance" on over 40 horses here; every winter, every summer
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. Every horse at my farm lives out 24/7 and they all have access to large barns/field shelters. They come in if they want to, they stay out if they want to - suits them, suits me.
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i would be so chuffed to have that situation, i reckon your horse will be fine
i hope one day to own my own land and would have a similar set up, a large shed they can go in and out of exactly when they please, i think it is ideal for horses
 
Thanks everyone. I felt she would be ok but it's nice to hear it from someone else! There are so few horses that live out round here and I've been met with shock from anyone I've said to that she's staying out.
I didn't really make it clear that she will be in work and is normally fully clipped as she is a real sweaty betty but I'll try with a high trace first and can always take off more if need be! I've got 80 odd rugs so she should be warm enough in them!
 
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i would be so chuffed to have that situation, i reckon your horse will be fine
i hope one day to own my own land and would have a similar set up, a large shed they can go in and out of exactly when they please, i think it is ideal for horses

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto
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