Who's horses live out 24/7?

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Minnies_Mum

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Just a wondering really. I'm looking for a loan horse and will need him/her to live out 24/7, with either a field shelter or a nice high hedge to shelter under.

My old full TB lived out probably 85% of the time and was very happy (in fact he disliked being in and would whinny when you brought his turnout rug!), he only really came in if my sister brought her mare in because he wouldn't stay out alone. So I figure that if he can as a full TB (of 24 years) then most others will be OK too.

I've only phoned a couple of adverts so far and the owners are generally reluctant over the living out 24/7 thing. I'm not searching for a full TB, just a nice hack +/- a bit of low level dressage, so breed/type doesn't really matter.

So who's horses live out and what types are they? I'm starting to worry that no one will loan me their horse to live in a good old fashioned, and let's face it, totally natural, field.
 
Well - I have an old TB, an anglo-arab and two arabs and the poor beasts live out all year on a hillside in Wales. ;) :p

ETA a photo of the grey tucking into the hay when we had weeks of snow. (winter 2010-11)

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I have an arab out 24/7. I did have 2 arabs out 24/7 but the older one died last year at nearly 34. She hated coming in. even when we had very deep snow, horses were out - there were several shed collapsing due to the weight of snow on the roof and I wasn't going to risk it - they thrived being left out and were fed hay as they couldn't dig deep enough for the grass!
 
Mine both live out 24/7 with reasonable natural shelter. I have a full TB who was hunter clipped - he's come out of winter really well covered. He was well rugged and fed well. I also have just purchased a little welshy for my little boy and she just has a lightweight for when it is truly horrid weather. Both happy and content. We are in the process of building some stables in the field but this is more a convenience thing than anything else, i.e. somewhere to tie up for shoeing/clipping/grooming if weather is not good.

FWIW I would far rather horses live out as much as possible as I think most are happiest this way. :D
 
I have two that live out! one of which is a very fine Irish sport horse, who is very nervey and hates his stable with a passion. since I've had him his not spent a single night in a stable and he has constantly remained condition on a small dinner and some haylage in the winter and a token sympathy bowl in summer. even in that really deep snow we had he was fine, just made him a bit more playful! :)
my gypsy vanner cob also lives out with him and its safe to say he has no problems at all. he has COPD so is actually healthier living out then in a dusty stable.
 
My 2 live out and brat fit about coming in! One very wimpy 4yo kwpn and one 26yo native x, they are happy as larry left out :)
 
Nice to know there are like-minded owners out there! Maybe I just happen to have come across a couple of the more "precious" ones. I live in Wiltshire, which doesn't exactly suffer from extremes of weather (and both owners I phoned were also from Wiltshire, so they would know this).

Just got to find the right one, I guess, going to try a wanted add with "must be able to live out" so hopefully any responses will be from people happy with this!
 
I have a TB x Welsh 2yo who is a free-range (24/7) pony for the first time in his life. He's taken to it very well and really loves it - I can spend hours just watching the herd dynamics between them. He did lose some weight after the horrid weather we've had but is gaining it again. I also have a PBA who I wouldn't allow out 24/7 as he's an ex-lammi and a massive worrier in the field having been born and raised on numerous showing yards so never had much exposure to turnout as a youngster and only lasts 6-8 hours before really wanting to come in. I do think many horses could tolerate it but some people are quite precious with their horses, you will find one eventually.
 
My share is an ish, 23 year old mare of medium sort of weight and her 8 year old son whose dad was an ID so he's quite chunky, they both live out with a field shelter when they are in the right paddock or hedges elsewhere, I just don't understand people who don't like the idea of them living out! The oldie wears a rug a lot as she gets shivery when wet but they both love being out and never bother with their shelter! The younger one would go absolutely bonkers in a stable... he has a lot of 'character'! I guess maybe people worry more about lami than the cold though and maybe access to box rest?
 
That's a good point mandwhy, and I agree that a laminitis prone horse would not be appropriate for 24/7 turnout. If I needed to box rest a horse I could have access to a stable, which I have mentioned to those I have contacted. I think they are more worried that I won't be able to tuck the horse into bed at night, but I'm not convinced this would worry most horses.
 
I have a finely built WB X TB who, when she came to me, had been stabled and wore 3 stable rugs. She couldn't keep weight on until she lived out. She is mostly unrugged except for very wet weather.
She has blossomed physically and mentally.

I'd be delighted for any of mine to live with someone who could offer good grass livery, in fact,previously, any potential new home that hasn't been able to offer a decent amount of turnout has been rejected.
 
I think most horses can live out with shelter and appropriate rugs and feed. I choose to bring mine in overnight during the worst of the winter but they have wintered out in the past fine :)
 
Oh and I meant to say one of the TBs is on full loan, and the other was given to me so he had a nice retirement home for life - so keep looking, any decent owner will be happy for their horse to live out all year so long as they have plenty of forage, shelter and friends!
 
Our broodmares and foals live out 24/7, they're are (with the exception of two) tb or warmbloods. I'd rather rug than keep our youngstock inside rapidly going stir crazy.
 
Mine are out 24/7. They've all done well through the winter - they have plenty of natural shelter and if there is really really bad driving rain (as we have had recently) they are lightly rugged but otherwise not.
They are Welsh cobs and a Welsh mountain pony though, born and bred and living out in the Welsh hills...so if they couldn't manage in it there'd be something amiss really..
I do have access to an emergency stable if something dire happened.
 
Cob lives out 24/7 no rug

Toffee 20yo lives out 24/7 in a rug, she has bad arthritus and struggles to hold weight now but she will bash a stable door down or try and jump out. So have now choice. They have natural shelter and a wind break (triagle of wooden walls) again, she wont even go in a shelter
 
My ex-racers all live out and are very happy but even i was tempted to get them in during that really wet windy cold weather as they weren't very happy.
But i didn't and they survived :p
 
My 20 year arthritic cob and 22 year old COPD sufferer live out 24/7...they didnt get a night in a stable once last year even through the heavy rain and then thick ice and snow. Most of the ponies on our yard stayed out 24/7 but got the odd night in to dry off. My 2 are much happier being out even if they just huddle in the shelter. Then it's their choice not to move instead of being confined. My older one has cushings and currently just comes in for half a day to help keep him off the sugary grass and then he is happy to be muzzled the rest of the day.

At my old yard, we had a very fine TB who stayed out 24/7 up until she died at 29. Rug them, feed them accordingly and they thrive.
 
I have a KWPN,who turns demonic if left in a stable for more than a couple of hours and a KnabstrupperX. Both live out with no rugs high up on Exmoor. There is plenty of shelter from all directions in their fields.
Last week,after nearly a month of constant rain,the wind swept round to the north east they were looking very miserable in just their summer coats so I did leave them in overnight. I do think they appreciated it.
I would make it clear to owners that you have the facilities and judgement to offer a stable if the situation ever arises when you might need one.
Good luck with your search.
 
I have 4 Cleveland bays, section A, Shettie cross, Dutch and Danish warmbloods out 24/7 and only the Dutch mare needed rugged..
 
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