What would you do, whats best for him?

You Wont Forget Me

You Wont Forget Me

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My horse is currently out from 7am-4/5pm everyday he is usually fine and loves being out no matter what the weather but over the past few months its been brought to my attention that he is spending an awful lot of time standing at the gate. I know when he is first turned out he stands and waits for his friends but then ive assumed he goes off when they come and goes back to the gate when its time to come in but several people have told me thats not the case, he is actually standing there for hours at a time. Obviously the gate area is muddy and he already has mud fever (just starting to clear up again) nothing about his routine of being out has changed and there is still grass. Im not sure if i should just leave him in a few days a week or what else i could do as i feel awful seeing him standing at the gate looking lost every day...help:o
 
Bring him in if he's not happy out. No point in forcing him to stay out just because it's "good for him", or whatever. Some horses don't like being out in the muck and weather.
 
Neighbours horses always in at spot of rain and they would wait all day at gate when they tried leaving them out. If mud fever is a problem put out for a short period and bring in.

I think its what they are use to really. Is he out with others?
 
Try leaiving him in a few days a week and see how that goes. Its not fair having him standing at the gate in mud for hours at a time he's be just as well standing in keeping his legs dry which will help mud fever. However if he doesnt stay in well eg. gets restless picks up boredum habbits then try putting him out with hay in the field for him
 
Although there may be grass, it could just be hunger, rather than being in. In which case could he either have a leaf or two before going out, or hay in the field?
 
littlelegs said:
Although there may be grass, it could just be hunger, rather than being in. In which case could he either have a leaf or two before going out, or hay in the field?
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I wont put hay in field simply as i buy my hay seperate from other liveries so am not paying to feed others horses and with his field companion being the boss he wouldnt get a look in at it :rolleyes:
As for giving him hay before going out he always has half to a full haynet left in his stable from the night before lol
 
Sounds like he is hungry when out, or cold. I'd turn out daily but for less hours if you won't feed hay in the field. (I would feed hay in the field but I have my own field so irrelevant really!).
 
My TB mare can be like this when winter starts to set in. She kicks to go out, so I put her out, then she wants to come in! She has gone from wanting to be out 24/7 to only wanting a few hours out. And it isn't because there isn't grass in the field and she is definitely not cold! I'm lucky as my OH is retired now so will go and get them in if I put her out in the morning, but when winter really sets in I put her out while I muck out and sometimes she doesn't leave the gate and wants to come back in so I get her in when I've mucked out. No point in leaving them out when they want in!
 
Does he get on with his "field companion" ? If not maybe this is why he wants to be in and waits by the gate.

I would probably go for half-day turn out or early bring in - failing that maybe alternate days.
 
Holly Hocks said:
My TB mare can be like this when winter starts to set in. She kicks to go out, so I put her out, then she wants to come in! She has gone from wanting to be out 24/7 to only wanting a few hours out. And it isn't because there isn't grass in the field and she is definitely not cold! I'm lucky as my OH is retired now so will go and get them in if I put her out in the morning, but when winter really sets in I put her out while I muck out and sometimes she doesn't leave the gate and wants to come back in so I get her in when I've mucked out. No point in leaving them out when they want in!
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+1

If the weather is really nice, my TB mare loves to go out and have a good roll and she will happily eat the hay I put in the field for her. However...even on the best of days, she wants in after an hour or two. She will stay out, but if she is left out too long, she will simple stand at the gate and whinney at the slightest possibility that someone might be there to bring her in.

As warm and cozy as she may be, she just prefers being in than being out.

I would say it might be better to see if someone can bring her in earlier for you rather than just turn her out a few days a week only. Horses are creatures of routine, so changing up from day to day whether they are going to be in or out might not be the best idea. Your horse though and you will know him when none of us do, so do what you think will be best for him.

Good luck
 
I have a new horse (had him 2 weeks) who is the nicest, most laid back chap (he's a PRE stallion), but he hates being in the field and will stand and weave at the gate (there is grass, there is also hay in the field). He's perfectly happy to be turned out in the school however.
 
Thanks guys, he is certainly not cold and he does get along with his companion most of the time have their odd fall outs, don't they all. I will possible try him out for a few hours a day and see if I can get someone to bring him in earlier and if not then keep him in and give my self extra mucking out haha
 
Horses can be so strange when it comes to winter.. My tb gelding has been wanting to stay out all day even in heavy rain so far this winter where as last year some days he point blank refused to walk down to his field! Last year he also fell out with a field mate that went for him (& a few others in the herd) a few times & even when that horse was removed he really lost his confidence & wanted to stay in. Another thing... Are horses being taken from the field throughout the day, I know some if the horses on our yard like to come in once the first horse is brought in.
 
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