Turnout - what is acceptable to you and your horse?

I would like the option of 24/7 365 days, I am currently at a yard where the only time they can't go out 24/7 is when the winters are very wet. They only came in at night this Jan and Feb which I was quite happy with. I wouldn't go to a yard with any less than 12hours per day turnout though!
 
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24/7 365 days of the year.
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Ditto
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Me too! I have an older tb who absolutely HATES his stable. Even in the middle of winter he would rather be rugged up and out then stressing in his box.
 
24/7 unless they really have to come in through injury. Mine all hunt from the field - they just don't seem to like being in and lose a lot of condition if they are. They have full access to stables in the winter but very rarely do they come in. Even my thoroughbred lives out all year, grows a coat like an exmoor pony and gets fat.

I do realise that I am lucky to have enough grazing to do this but definitely feel that the horses are happier and healthier. My connemara is 43 and still sound, healthy and happy.
 
I would prefer 24/7 365 days of the year in mixed company, in large fields with natural shelter. The minimum I would accept is 24/7 from April to October, then in at night and out during the day for a minimum of 8 hours.
 
As much as possible
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. 24/7 most of the year, but he usually comes in at night about december, until march. Once he's in he's still in the field from 6.30 am until about 9 at night. If I had a field shelter he'd stay out 24/7 all year
 
My boy is out 24/7 in Spring Summer and Autumn and has access to a field stable all the time so can come and go as he pleases. He spends most of the daytime during the summer in his stable with hay as he likes to hide in there away from the flies and heat! I tend to stable him at night in winter, but this year I am going to try him out 24/7 all year round as he will be rugged and can pop in his stable if he wants. He is deffinately liking the come and go as he pleases so hopefully it will work in winter too!
 
24/7/365 and wouldn't want it any other way. uckily I own my own land
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You lucky people having so much turnout!!

Mine get 3-4 hours a day all year round, only due to poor grazing. If theyre out any longer they just hang around the gate getting impatient. But again if they had 30 acres of lush grazing this wouldnt be the case
 
recently moved from a yard that was "sneaking" them in about 3pm, no way, 24/7. horses are happier, herded, flight animals. i would love mine to be in a stable all day and all night preferably with it coated in cotton wool but alas thats not for him thats for me haha. im going to try and tough it out as much as possible in the winter too, im not very brave, or hardy but he is! move move move, youre so unhappy, start looking now while he still has some summer to enjoy.
 
Before I do anything completely rash I am going to broach the subject with the YO as I guess you never know, I think I could cope with the winter situation if I knew he could really enjoy the summer months - will keep you posted!

MissB, glad I'm not the only one with limited turnout, mind you better than the yard where I was sharing a horse before getting George, out 24/7 July-Sept, in 24/7 the rest of the year and this was leisure horses!!!
 
If i had my own place i would want 24/7 all year with a field shelter and stable available. However i'm on a yard and i'm quite happy with 24/7 from April til Nov and then turnout all day and in at night the rest of the year. the YO belives in as much turnout as poss, so do I. My horse wasn't used to being out regularly and it took him a few months to really get used to it. Now he's one of the boys and much happier and hardy.
 
I have my own field so can do as i please in summer and winter, but due to them being little fatties they get from 6.30am till 5 or 7ish pm in summer and prob the same in winter unless the weather gets really bad them they will get a few hours at night. But this arrangement is MY choice.
 
Out at night over the summer (april - october) then none on site during the winter as there is limited grazing on site so it's saved for summer. There is the option of turn out 10mins walk away, so he gets sunday afternoons. Not too fussed as the beast will just stand at the gate during the day (not at night) and can get awful mud fever in the winter.
 
Mine are out 24/7 in the summer, in overnight in the winter. My native cross used to be out all year round, but she is older now and needs a bit of TLC. Both my horses are much happier and relaxed when out as long as there is enough shelter from flies or rain. I had a brief spell at a yard recently that seemed to be trying to keep them in 24/7 and it really messed with their mental stability! Oh, and I am much happier and calmer when they are happy, so it is a win win situation.
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I have 24/7 TO in summer (May to Novemeber ish) and in winter we have a TO mud pitt that we can use for a couple of hours a day but there are various restrictions on it (i.e. you can't use it if lessons are going on and you can only use it for an hour or so at a time as there is often a queue).

I'm really reconsidering my options for next winter as although I *thought* my horse did ok last year, the change in her attitude and temprament since she has been back out is really marked. She is really friendly again, doesn't snap/stamp when you do the girth, will allow grooming and cuddles etc... I think she was pretty stressed last winter.
 
Same as Tia - Mine come in very rarely - usually if snowing but otherwise out all the time..
I think it can be bad for their joints and they create boredom issues if indoors all the time...just wish it was the same for humans....no offices and outside working all day :0)
 
We can turn out 24/7 from April- October ish , rest of time they can be out from 9am ish to 4pm ish .

I'd prefer to have the option of 24/7 turnout all year but those are the rules and the yard isn't all bad !!!

TBH though, my mare seems to quite like coming in when it's really cold and chucking it down even though she makes full use of the field shelter, it's just not the same as a big bed and haynet I guess LOL

They're all different aren't they
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all 5 out om summer.
in winter ive got all our between 8am and 6pm then 3 in over night (the livery, the 25 yearold pony and the 29 yearold pony are in, the connemara and the arab are out).

Ive only got one livery on my yard but i do insist that all of the horses here are out 24/7 in summer with exceptions made for illness and shows. winter if she wants to bring hers in early then she can but she has to bring in one of my old ponies as her horse screams its head off if left alone.
 
24/7 all year round.

They have two buildings to use.

Roundbale haylage in the winter.

I also have a large hardstanding area which helps their feet to dry out.

I consider myself very very lucky to be able to give this freedom to my horses.
 
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