Viewing horses in winter with no turnout

[SO1]

I just asked what the routine was and also as I normally like to see the pony being caught from the field as part of the viewing.

There are extra costs involved if not all day as they need more hay and skipping out.

I suppose I could just keep him in for the first two weeks and ask yard to hand graze for very short periods of time until the insurance kicks in.

I wonder if they've mentioned the no turnout as the pony will be fresher when you try and this is not typical of how he would behave on full turnout. It could be a plus as if he behaves even with no turnout, it would be a sign of a pony that's easy.

The wet weather hasn't been that long so if it's due to flooding, it's not been long.

I've sedated horses after long box rest but that's more about not wanting them to gallop around and reinjure themselves and a couple of tubes of sedalin aren't a big cost.

I've also gone from muddy winter fields to summer fields with lots of grass. I've just started with a short time and built up to a full day. It doesn't actually cost anything more on part livery, it just means that the yard bring in earlier.

The colic worry is understandable after Homey however wasn't that an underlying issue not a management one and a fairly rare condition? It's natural to have that in the back of your mind and worry about it.

 

[maya2008]

Does your yard not quarantine new horses? Usually that takes care of the first two weeks.

Ask your vet about likelihood of colic from hay to grass. I’m sure you will trust their advice.

 

[SO1]

Yes I will definitely ask my vet for advice.

No they don't normally have them kept in their stables for two weeks on arrival.

Does your yard not quarantine new horses? Usually that takes care of the first two weeks.

Ask your vet about likelihood of colic from hay to grass. I’m sure you will trust their advice.

 

[southerncomfort]

Honestly SO1, I think if you move pony to a new yard, new owner etc and then keep in for 2 weeks, you are likely to have far more problems than if you just turn it out.

 

[scats]

Is the horse currently having no turn out at all? Not even half an hour in a paddock? How long for?

Back in 2005 I bought a pony who was already on our yard. It was winter at our yard and although we had turnout paddocks, pony’s previous owner did not use them, so pony had been locked in a stable for about 7 weeks by the time I brought him, he hadn’t been ridden either, he used to get tied up to be mucked out and put back in.
First day I owned him, I turned him out in the rubber paddock to play with my other gelding and a few others. He had a whale of a time- playing, bucking, rolling, leaping.. to this day I can’t think of many times I’ve genuinely seen an animal look so happy. Think I let him have about 2 hours out that first day. He was then ridden that afternoon.
He was absolutely fine, despite his hi-jinx.

 

[criso]

I just asked what the routine was and also as I normally like to see the pony being caught from the field as part of the viewing.

There are extra costs involved if not all day as they need more hay and skipping out.

I suppose I could just keep him in for the first two weeks and ask yard to hand graze for very short periods of time until the insurance kicks in.

My yard wouldn't charge for skipping out if they are in. Mine's been in with an abscess and when we had the snow as the track was too icy to get to the fields. They are happy to do a walk in hand/horse walker/hand graze and skipping out if they are in for any reason. If they are not going out those jobs are instead of turning out and bringing in.

With hay most part livery I've been on has included hay and even if it doesn't this time of the year it's most of forage intake as fields don't have much grass and what is there is less nutritious.

Even if there were extra hay costs, an extra couple of bales would cost about £10 a week so even a month is not a significant cost. It would be different for someone on DIY who was going to keep the pony out, then there would be a significant cost for livery.

You could start the insurance as soon as you put the deposit down, there's a 14 day cooling off period during which you can cancel. Then by the time you've organised transport some of the first 14 days will be with the original owners so no change in routine.

 

[Birker2020]

Can you not strip graze him for a few hours on the first few days and gradually move the fencing to open up the field more?

Just because you lost your last horse to colic doesn't mean you will lose another. Having lost four horses in a row all under a seven year period I completely understand how you must feel but I'm sure he will be okay.

 

[Goldenstar]

My horse Sky was used to restricted turnout on his own , oh did he have fun when I turned them out as a group however what he wanted most was to browse in the hedges he must have been able to do that for a long time .

 

[Goldenstar]

Winter is by far the easiest time to turn a horse not used to grass out digestion wise .
I take up to two weeks to turn out as the whole group I let them get used to each other stabled and hacking together .
Horses have to be horses and there is always a degree of risk in turnout then theres also different risks to keeping them in .That’s just horses for you .

 

[SO1]

Yes he could go in the sick paddock and we can make it really small for him.

He would have been on individual turnout for first two weeks anyway whilst waiting for insurance but if not used to grass it would not quite as straightforward and would definitely take advice from vet as to how best to reintroduce grass and turnout.

I know a lot of people are very gung ho about changes but if that is with a new horse there may be more risks as you are not sure what the behaviour will be like and how sensitive to changes in grazing etc.

Can you not strip graze him for a few hours on the first few days and gradually move the fencing to open up the field more?

Just because you lost your last horse to colic doesn't mean you will lose another. Having lost four horses in a row all under a seven year period I completely understand how you must feel but I'm sure he will be okay.

 

[sjdress]

I once purchased a horse in April who hadn’t been turned out since September! I got him on the bank holiday and had some extra annual leave so used this time to increase his turnout. So he started with a few hours increasing to day turnout (stabled at night). I also booted him up the first couple of days in case he hoolied round the field! Had no issues, other than he always preferred his stable to his field so only ever managed a days turnout, would not tolerate 24/7 as much as I tried.

 

[Ossy2]

I think wanting to manage the turnout introduction is a choice your entitled to make but I wouldn’t ask for a price reduction because your circumstances mean it will cost you more money to do so. If the horse is advertised as OVNO and you want to make an offer then that’s your prerogative but I wouldn’t make it about the turnout.

Also surely your insurance covers you for injuries from day one, it would be illnesses cover that takes 2 weeks to kick in.

 

[Birker2020]

And of course, congratulations about you impending purchase! I hope you have years of fun ahead of you.

 

[Starzaan]

I work in rehab. I take in literally hundreds of horses a year, and I very rarely have to be this careful about reintroduction to turnout.
I have a cage for those who are coming back from major surgery, and that has to be done gradually, but even with my job being to fix broken horses, I never understand those who are so risk averse.
I would ride him, and then chuck him out. He will be excited, but getting him in after twenty minutes won’t stop that.

Interestingly the worst injuries I see and deal with are never from horses who are turned out, in herds, and gallop about with their friends. The worst injuries I see are caused by haynets, tendons going due to lack of appropriate movement and conditioning, or metabolic disorders caused by high cortisol levels due to being alone or kept in too much.

 

[Fieldlife]

Yes he could go in the sick paddock and we can make it really small for him.

He would have been on individual turnout for first two weeks anyway whilst waiting for insurance but if not used to grass it would not quite as straightforward and would definitely take advice from vet as to how best to reintroduce grass and turnout.

I know a lot of people are very gung ho about changes but if that is with a new horse there may be more risks as you are not sure what the behaviour will be like and how sensitive to changes in grazing etc.

Do you really have good enough grass at this time of year to be worried about digestive issues from reintroducing grass? I would just do a few hours, first day, and build up if your grass really is rich.

I bought my current horse who had been stabled for 12 weeks with no turnout but regular work before I bought him.

I think I stabled him the first night, working him fairly hard the next day and turned him straight out for the night (was moving onto overnight turnout). He now has very strong feelings on his right to turnout!

 

[gallopingby]

It’s great you’re going to view a potential new pony. I hope it goes well but as said l do think you’re way over thinking which is understandable. l would be very surprised if he didn’t have any turnout at all. I’ve kept ponies who’ve been turned out onto a hard standing in winter because of ground conditions and managed fine When turned out in the spring. If you’re thinking you’ll have to sedate then l’d query if he’s really the pony for you. Most native ponies are hardy and able to cope with varied conditions, you don’t want to have to worry unnecessarily so there will be lots to consider including whether he really is the right pony for you once you’ve met him.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I too would ride the horse then turnout by all means restrict it in the beginning if your that worried but its not a huge issue, it wouldn't be something I would be stressing about, it's totally different when they have been on box rest that is stressful but not a horse in work.

 

[SO1]

I had forgotten how stressful horse buying is and how many things they are to think of. I think sometimes the more knowledge you have of things that can go wrong the more worrying it is.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If you go on to buy him, can you keep him on at his current yard on his current regime for a fortnight until the full insurance cover kicks in? Then travel him back to yours and settle him in knowing that least you have full insurance cover.

 

[chaps89]

Good luck with the viewing OP.

My pony was on no grass turnout from mid-October. I moved at the end of December to having grazinfand for the first week I did 2 hours turnout am, 2 hours turnout pm. It’s 3 and a half weeks later and they’re now out from 8am-ish to 6.30pm-ish.
I just gradually increased the amount of time they were out and kept a keen eye on any sign of trouble.
I did it for the same reason you did, not wanting to risk a colic (or laminitis) - field had rough grass that had been rested all year so plenty of it.
Tbh, I wish I’d just got on with it and saved myself at least a week, if not two, of the extra trips up and down, extra hay and bedding!
They have been absolutely fine and loving being back on grass turnout.
It bought the biggest smile to my face to see him cantering around just because he could.
So yes, by all means be cautious as it will help your peace of mind but I do think talk of sedation and taking weeks/months is unnecessary.
On the plus side, if you can ride him when he’s had no turnout and he doesn’t feel like he’s a ticking bomb then you’ll have found a good one!

 

[Sossigpoker]

Be prepared to be laughed at if you ask for money off as he's not being turned out!

The only thing that would concern me us not knowing the horse is good to catch. But I'd just work the horse , then hand graze and then leave in a small area where I can catch him a few hours later and then build it up from there.

 

[Nudibranch]

If you were going turnout to none, and grass to hay I would worry. Not the other way round. Wet winter grass isn't going to cause colic. Standing in too long and not enough liquids or fibre may do.

A few weeks back I turned out a small colt who had been kept in since he was weaned and sold on at an auction. He'd only been on haylege since, and had lived in a small box. I kept him in for a couple of days purely to handle him, and switched him to hay. Then he went out. Had a quick run about then off to graze. His droppings didn't even change consistency.
I did give him a course of protexin as he was having 5 day Panacur (no worming history).

 

[Nudibranch]

Meant to add, as a seller I'd be a bit annoyed if someone tried to get money off because of their routine. It's up to the buyer how they manage the horse. Nothing to do with the seller tbh. If you don't want to chuck it out straight away that's your decision not theirs - they could easily sell to someone else who doesn't want to turn it out on a permanent basis either.

 

[Cortez]

I have regularly imported horses from southern Spain where they will have never eaten grass in their lives, and often not been turned out since foals. There is no need to be so cautious, especially at this time of year. Turn out for a couple of hours after a good piece of work, and increase the time out grazing over the first week or so. Was your last horse's colic a result of eating too much grass? Colics have multiple causes.

 

[SO1]

From I gather they would prefer him to go to a home where he can go out every day over one where he cannot go out in the winter.

It feels like they are looking for a good home as she is turning down viewings from people and they are very fond of the pony.

There are quite a lot of positives about me in being an adult who has lost their pony who they had for 15 years I am less likely to sell on. I can also offer all year turnout which it seems like a lot of people cannot do now and I have knowledge of the breed and NF proof fencing.

Meant to add, as a seller I'd be a bit annoyed if someone tried to get money off because of their routine. It's up to the buyer how they manage the horse. Nothing to do with the seller tbh. If you don't want to chuck it out straight away that's your decision not theirs - they could easily sell to someone else who doesn't want to turn it out on a permanent basis either.

 

[Lamehorses]

Firstly, good luck with the viewing ?
Stop panicking, you've lost a horse to colic, I believe there was an underlying condition? It's unlikely to happen a second time, but appreciate you have concerns.
Many years ago I worked at a hunt hierling yard, they had no turnout all season. After their last hunt of the season, shoes were removed & they were all chucked out 24/7 without rugs. I don't remember any colicking, worst was the odd scrape from re-establishing herd dynamics.
Take a few days, maybe a week to build up to being out all day, but don't stress & spoil those lovely early days with a new pony.

 

[doodle]

I can understand why you are so worried. When we loose a horse the way we did sticks in our mind and we desperately don’t want that to happen again.

I do think you should be sensible with turnout and not just turn out. However I think if you just go for 20mins you risk a run around each time you turn out. I would start with maybe 2 hours. That gives him time to settle a bit and so when he goes out the next day it is less exciting. I would also avoid sedation. The thought of a horse not quite in full control of itself in a field scares me. There is also the risk that the sedation itself can cause colic.

I would also boot all round and with over reach boots. Even if there is a lot of grass there is less risk now than in spring.

Good luck at viewing.

 

[sport horse]

If you are so worried, maybe you should not even bother to view this pony. Why buy worries?

 

[SO1]

He seems pretty much exactly what I am looking for and there has been nothing else under 15k worth looking at.

I though appreciate more may come for sale later on with better weather.

If he is all that the owners say he is then it might be worth taking the risk and extra costs associated with reintroducing turnout.

If you are so worried, maybe you should not even bother to view this pony. Why buy worries?

 

[ihatework]

He seems pretty much exactly what I am looking for and there has been nothing else under 15k worth looking at.

I though appreciate more may come for sale later on with better weather.

If he is all that the owners say he is then it might be worth taking the risk and extra costs associated with reintroducing turnout.

There are far bigger risks to worry about when owning horses than a very short period of time and minimal incurred cost to change over a routine. Seriously.