Who Keeps Their Horse In 24/7 ?

tricksy said:
So do you think its better for a horse to be out in a field, looning around for hours, constantly skidding to a halt after doing loop after loop after loop of their field. Falling over as they are going too fast, hurting themselves as they have lost all self preservation? thats better than being in a 'warm cosy stable'??

Not having a dig, just asking your opinion :)
Click to expand...

See this is my point though. Horses feel content in their routine. If I had a horse who came from a competition background, I would except them to go looning around if I just chucked them straight out. Funnily enough when I got my Mare she had stayed in all winter and took to going out in the field like nothing, which is great but she was a baby then. Horses who have had a routine will not straight away adapt to something else, even if is for the better. If I had a horse who had/is used to staying in I would make the transistion to them stay out according. And by that I mean according to the horse, so one step at a time really. I wouldn't assume as they are looning around that they hated being out per se. Likewise, if I took my mare to her first show and she went crazy, I wouldn't say ''oh, no shows are not for us, she just gets more hyper'' I would work on the issue and break it down into sizeable chunks.

XX
 
im very lucky in that the horses are at home, so can do as i please, and we are on sandy soil so we barely get any mud, and thus they go out for around 8 hours a day.

if was in livery and only had the choice between being in 24/7 and a hell hole of a field, up to hocks in clay mud/no grass etc, you bet mine would stay in....but they'd get ridden every day, hand walked/on walker every day and hand grazed every day, and loose schooled to let them run off steam.

i wouldnt have them on a yard with **** grazing/mud problems if it wouldnt allow loose schooling as i think all horses need some time to really let rip!
 
I used to keep my tb in fairly frequently during winter, close to 24hrs a day. She was the sort that, as soon as the grass disappeared, she would go out and then 10 minutes later just come to the gate and stand in the mud. She was much happier in her stable munching on haylege.

It was only in winter though, and dictated by her behaviour. My m&m's get turned out regardless and I've seen the fell standing in the middle of the field in a blizzard quite happily this winter!

I think you can't judge anyone for it, without taking their individual circumstances and their horse's temprement into account.
 
Heidirusso - in the case of my old horse, what would you have done? He physically used to jump out of the field and bring himself in - and genuinely hated being out.

What was I supposed to do? Leave him out there to "get used to it?!" and risk him breaking something?

My current neds are out as it suits them - my youngster was out all winter (he didnt bat an eyelid) and he is a finely built wb...but my old horse was not having any of it. He would not keep his rugs on either - preferring to shred them (even when fully clipped) so he was quirky...but he did not like being out.

What would you have done?!!!
 
I know of a person who kept his horses in 24/7
I felt sorry for them, but they survived and got used to it. There was no reason for keeping them in, it just suited owner better as far as I could see.
The really bad thing that used to upset me, was the fact when they were ridden in the arena, they got dragged out of the stable and within minutes were cantering and sometimes jumping. Got washed off and put back in!
Strange thing is, it worked! He has really good BE results, and is aiming his top horse at Badders next year. Not bad for a horse who has 14 days total turnout per year! (when he is on his holiday).
And on top of it all, they are all really lovely quiet horses!
 
I can understand those with horses who hate being out at times - I used to have a mare who refused point blank to go out in the mud/cold/rain/wind and would rear, kick, do ANYTHING to avoid it. If you forced her out she got so stressed she colicked, so we gave up. We shut the door at one end of the barn, and put two gates at the other end, and let her wander in and out of her stable onto the yard. She was perfectly happy doing that all winter, and the colic stopped instantly.
However, I would never, ever keep a horse in 24/7 if their reaction wasn't as extreme as hers. My big lad was a puissance horse, and then went on to do grand prix dressage before I got him (for £10 when he was 19!) and had been kept in all his life, only going out for an hour a day max. I introduced him to my system really gradually, and now he goes out all day no matter what the weather is doing. 7am to 7pm in winter, and 7am to 10pm in summer - my lot all went out all day in that snow in January, with haylage in the fields for them, and came in with VERY sparkly legs! I was rather smug after that, as friends who had kept their horses in during the month of horrendous snow found it rather tricky to ride their ponios when the snow melted, and mine were all calmy calm! I'm lucky in that our fields all have excellent natural shelter, and although they get poached, it's only for about 10m from the gateways, so we just leave them to it.
 
One of mine used to be a competition horse. Limited turnout. Was a NIGHTMARE to turnout to start with (literally, could barely keep hold of him) and would loon around then stand by the gate after 10 minutes. Because he was used to his 1/2 hour a week turnout.

He is now out 12 hours a day, and as long as he is properly rugged and has plenty to eat I have no problems.

Horses who are kept in all the time will obviously hoon about in the field when you do put them out. Horses are also creatures of habit - hence the standing by the gate when they think it is time to come in.

I don't agree with keeping them in myself. Not natural.
 
I would personally never have a horse if I could not provide it with year round good grazing. It's a pre requisite to horse ownership IMO.
The exceptions would be horses in a job such as racing or the police force, where they get plenty of exercise and a job to do.
Being on clay is no excuse for no turnout, we are on heavy clay, and our horses are out EVERY day no matter what. If your paddocks are hidiously poached, then you don't have enough land to support the amount of horses being kept on it.
Think of your stable as a cage, would you leave a dog in a cage as small all day, just taking it out for a walk once a day? I think not.
 
My ID mare was a fence walker the best thing i did for her was leave her out 24/7. She fence walked for about a day then just gave up and went and ate grass. I could of left her in 24/7 she wanted to but i thought tough *&!* she is a horse. She used to jump/walk through fences so the fence got a bit higher and it stopped.
I kept her at a riding school outside of newmarket on clay she went out everyday no matter what weather she was only 1 of 3 horses that went out no matter what the weather.
Since living in Scotland she lives out 24/7 -25 some nights in the winter just gone knee deep snow most of the time!!! Most of the winter she spent her time stood at the gate but not wanting to come in thats where they seem to sleep. Her health is 100% better she has no coughing (she had always had a stable cough) when she came in of a night (when at the riding shool in england) she was always lazy had no energy but i dont have any of these problems now.
 
R2R said:
Heidirusso - in the case of my old horse, what would you have done? He physically used to jump out of the field and bring himself in - and genuinely hated being out.

What was I supposed to do? Leave him out there to "get used to it?!" and risk him breaking something?

My current neds are out as it suits them - my youngster was out all winter (he didnt bat an eyelid) and he is a finely built wb...but my old horse was not having any of it. He would not keep his rugs on either - preferring to shred them (even when fully clipped) so he was quirky...but he did not like being out.

What would you have done?!!!
Click to expand...

Firstly there are exceptions to the rule, though I hand on heart believe not many. So whilst I can agree some horses are happier being in, I don't think they are happier being in per se, I think they are happier being in their stable compared to there particualar turnout.

That said, I would do anything I could to settle my horse who did not for some reason like being out. I treat this the exact same way as if I had a horse who didn't like to be ridden. I mean say we were trying to back a horse and they simply refused to except it, I would look at everything surrounding the situation. Maybe when you had the best advice, trainers involved it can be said that being ridden isn't of course for every horse. In which case fine. BUT considering being in a field is quite a simple task and of course on the horses side in terms of being natural for them, I would say in most simple cases that we are talking about there is a way around it. Whether or not we want to try and sort that out is another thing.
 
nikkiportia said:
I would personally never have a horse if I could not provide it with year round good grazing. It's a pre requisite to horse ownership IMO.
Click to expand...

I'd better sell my horse then, and get everyone else on the yard too as they're sometimes kept in during really bad weather in the winter.

As for being unnatural keeping them in, some yards which do allow 365 days a year turnout are small fenced paddocks with none or 1 other horse for comapany, how is this "natural"?
We have domesticated horses and there is very little that is "natural" about the way we keep our horses.
 
Both of mine are in 24/7 at the moment - one is lame and spent all yesterday afternoon at the vets. One is on a diet - She was getting fat, so I decided that being in for two/three weeks on soaked hay, then back out onto restricted grazing was much better for her than getting fat/laminitis.

Fat one goes out in the school/round pen twice a day for an hour ish each time. Lame one obviously doesn't but she gets walked to the school to go for a wee morning & evening, and eats her breakfast tied up on the yard and spends 30mins or so watching the world go by.

If I went up there now, both of them will be crashed out sleeping.
 
I too wouldnt have horses if they had to be in 24/7.

I live in Scotland, my 3 live out 24/7 with a nice big shed to come into but tbh they use it more this time of year to get away from flies. Its clay, so part of my 2 acres gets trashed-but it always recovers, even without fertilizer. Half the shed has a good shavings bed, half is compacted hardcore and they have hardcore hardstanding outside but there is still mud. This winter was great for them, they coped really well with the blizzards and minus temps (I didnt, hauling water for weeks on end was no fun!). ok, so 2 are natives but the other isnt (not of the UK anyway).

even the main livery yard got the horses out every day bar three.
 
My girl has been in 24/7 for the last 9weeks as she has laminitis. She used to be out 24/7 in th Summer then in winter satbled at night. I dont think she's ever going to have that freedom again but we will see.

The pointers at our yard are in all the time and they seem happy enough.
 
monkeybum13 said:
I'd better sell my horse then, and get everyone else on the yard too as they're sometimes kept in during really bad weather in the winter.

As for being unnatural keeping them in, some yards which do allow 365 days a year turnout are small fenced paddocks with none or 1 other horse for comapany, how is this "natural"?
We have domesticated horses and there is very little that is "natural" about the way we keep our horses.
Click to expand...

LOL! Why? Because of my opinion? Blimey, didn't realise my opinion was so important :)
I said 'personally' I wouldn't ;)
I don't agree with small paddocks with no company either, unless there is a health reason, such as lami. ;)
I know we don't live in an ideal world, and many people have to go with what they've got. But if I couldn't find a yard that would allow me daily turnout in good sized paddocks, with company, then I probably wouldn't have a horse. Simples. But remember that this is just MY opinion ;)
Being on box rest due to lameness or other health issues is a different matter altogether.
 
I grew up and worked with horses in South London, and none of the yards in the area had turnout. The horses worked hard, and most yards sent them away for a couple of weeks holiday once or twice a year. From my yard in Brixton I competed and hunted all year round. I now have a yard with turnout and the horses are out every day, regardless of weather, but I don't have enough land for 24/7 turnout. I wouldn't go back to my old yard, mainly because I now work elsewhere full time and don't have the time or the energy to work my horses as hard! I do believe that horses are adaptable but it may be harder for horses on yards where different people do different things, ie some staying in when their buddies go out.
 
Not mine, he goes out every day... but I used to be at a certain large competition yard where some horses were in 24/7, even 2 and 3 year olds. It was very sad to see. They all had to be lunged prior to riding, it was a rarity to see someone just get on a horse straight from the stable as they'd go completely crazy. This also resulted in horses being ridden all the time in draw reins... bit of a vicious circle going on.
 
wow there are some super sweeping statements on this thread ;)
my old yard had zero turnout from october to april/may and i was there for 5 years, i honestly don't think the horses were bothered. they were ridden, lunged or walked out every day with some time to play in the school also. i would rather have a horse in than tearing about a paddock up to the knees in mud (i'm from lancashire and we have a lot of mud here- if you haven't got muddy fields on the side of hills you can't possibly understand).

i moved yards last year to one with full turnout and i do prefer it for my youngster but i feel sorry for the horses that have to go out for 12+ hours in the winter when there is no grass- i can't see how standing in mud all day by the gate is a sign that they want to be out?! mine go out for about 5/6 hours a day in winter.
 
Me!
I am keeping one of mine in the stable day and night at the moment.
Soon, though I will alter my form of cruelty by leaving her in a teeny tiny electric fenced enclosure (or 'cage' if you prefer), well out of range of her ex-field mates (who she misses a lot).
S :D
 
diggerbez said:
wow there are some super sweeping statements on this thread ;)
my old yard had zero turnout from october to april/may and i was there for 5 years, i honestly don't think the horses were bothered. they were ridden, lunged or walked out every day with some time to play in the school also. i would rather have a horse in than tearing about a paddock up to the knees in mud (i'm from lancashire and we have a lot of mud here- if you haven't got muddy fields on the side of hills you can't possibly understand).

i moved yards last year to one with full turnout and i do prefer it for my youngster but i feel sorry for the horses that have to go out for 12+ hours in the winter when there is no grass- i can't see how standing in mud all day by the gate is a sign that they want to be out?! mine go out for about 5/6 hours a day in winter.
Click to expand...

Also in Lancashire and mine live out 24/7 but it's not easy to find land where the land owner is happy with that. TBH I'd prefer a large hardstanding area or track to put them on in winter however I'd still rather they were out 24/7 than stabled. I've done stabling 24/7 in winter (most Lancashire livery yards have no winter turnout) and would never consider it again. My horses are all happier, fitter and healthier living out. Re the standing in mud all day at gates - of course horses will do that if there's nothing to eat in the field. If there's no grass then there has to be hay/haylage available in the field. If there's plenty for them to eat they won't hug the gates.

Horses do become institutionalised to being kept in but I don't agree with it. yes they will adapt and cope, some very well but others not so well. It's like battery chickens. If you've ever adopted some you'll know that some adapt to new found life of freedom straight away but others take much longer, and some not at all. I can't see much difference between keeping horses in 24/7 and battery chickens, or zoos animals in cages in the 1970s. No one would support the last two so why is 24/7 stabling still considered okay by lots of people?
 
Im lucky as Mum is around most of the day so if the weather gets bad then they can come in early. We have 3, a 16.2 oldenburg mare, a 13.2 welsh/hackney gelding and a 11.3 welsh/shetland gelding, in the summer the boys stay out 24/7, weather permitting. They all go out at least from 6.30-11.30, if the weathers nice they stay out 'til later, they go out in the snow too, unless its really bad! The 16.2 and 13.2 are ridden 5/6 times a week (the 11.3 is happily retired at 19, he's been waiting for retirement ever since we had him as a 6yo!!), and all have hay/haylage whilst they're in, and they are all very happy :)
 
mrdarcy said:
Also in Lancashire and mine live out 24/7 but it's not easy to find land where the land owner is happy with that. TBH I'd prefer a large hardstanding area or track to put them on in winter however I'd still rather they were out 24/7 than stabled. I've done stabling 24/7 in winter (most Lancashire livery yards have no winter turnout) and would never consider it again. My horses are all happier, fitter and healthier living out. Re the standing in mud all day at gates - of course horses will do that if there's nothing to eat in the field. If there's no grass then there has to be hay/haylage available in the field. If there's plenty for them to eat they won't hug the gates.

Horses do become institutionalised to being kept in but I don't agree with it. yes they will adapt and cope, some very well but others not so well. It's like battery chickens. If you've ever adopted some you'll know that some adapt to new found life of freedom straight away but others take much longer, and some not at all. I can't see much difference between keeping horses in 24/7 and battery chickens, or zoos animals in cages in the 1970s. No one would support the last two so why is 24/7 stabling still considered okay by lots of people?
Click to expand...

but the difference in horses is that most horses that are kept in 24/7 are ridden/competed etc and so have some form of mental stimulation....? this is very different to battery chickens. i think you hit the nail on the head tho- its finding YOs that will let you turn out oer winter- they are few and far between round here- and also many won't let you put hay out in the field either- i know they don't on my yard coz they think its wastage and also causes fights.
 
oh dear look what i started :o I only asked because I was with Ethel and thought that maybe I should be real mean and keep her in in an attempt to stop her hurting herself, but I'd never be able to do it to her (plus at that precise moment I noticed a cut above her eye she obviosuly did whilst in her box so it wouldnt work anyway :p ) so I was just wondering why some people would do it. I can understand racehorses etc, I work at a racing yard and most of ours are kept in 24/7 bar being ridden, the ones who have raced have around a week off after they've raced and there are a few on holiday and ones that tie up go out almost every day after being ridden. But I never meant to start a big dispute about it all ... oops :o
 
Heidirusso - I don't think that I'm explaining very well :D My girl is turned out when it is not raining, every day. She is as good as gold, no messing around, grazes peacefully and is no problem at all. If it is raining, windy and cold she goes mental from the moment you turn her out and is a danger to herself, she hates it, she may not be human but she has got a very strong mind :rolleyes: and she knows what she doesn't like!! I have tried everything and spent a lot of time trying to 'cure' it. I am not willing to put her out when she is going to injure herself and she is much much happier in on those days. :D I think that each horse is an individual and you have to do whats right for each one :D
 
My boy has photosensitivity quite bad on his hind leg so is now in from 9 in the morning till about 7 at night! I think i am mean by doing that through the summer.

Seems a shame as the others on the yard are now living out but its for his own good!!
 
Am i the first person to say ''yes'' as my answer. Well... not me but the person who I bought my last mare off kept her in 24/7 as the yard she was on had v limited grazing so she was kept in all day everyday.

Now whenever she comes in, she stresses and hates being in.
 
I think if at least they are taken out daily for exercise then it is better than nothing. Our 13, from tb to dartmoor hill pony live out 24/7 except in case of illness. Some of them I would prefer to be in through winter but since our personal circumstances changed we have no choice. A certain 'arab stud' just up the lane has 2 stallions, one is better behaved than the other and gets an hour or so out of his indoor barn stable, where he is kept alone, every few days. The other literally gets an hour every few weeks, in between he doesnt get to step out of the door, he isn't mucked out properly until he gets his turnout because they are so scared of him, I think they only turn him out when they do so that they can muck his box out because it gets too horrendous to leave any longer. To me, that is IN 24/7, it is also extremely cruel and the poor lad would be better off gelded and turned away, he is incredibly unhappy and very aggressive because of his management.
 
My horses are turned out 24/7 in the summer and in at night in the winter. I owned a horse in the past who was stabled 24/7 (not by me) and it took her a long time to get used to being turned out, but I persevered and she soon liked being out.
I don't think it is right to keep them in 24/7 and only allow them to move their legs when and how we tell them to, they love having a canter round the field or enjoying the sun on their backs.
 
My horse gets about 5 hours turn out most days in winter and out 24/7 in summer. He seems fine with only 5 hours a day in winter. If he does get kept in for a day he doesnt fret or get loopy. But its only odd days. He gets ridden 6 days a week.
My previous horse had to go out every day, was stabled at night in winter and had access to his stable day and night in summer (sweet itch). If he was kept in for a day when i came to ride you would have to hang on for dear life!
I think as long as the horse gets turn out and isnt stressed its whatever works best for the horse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top