Will my 21 year old TB manage with 24/7 turnout?

Holly Hocks

Holly Hocks

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Well here's my dilemma. I have a 21 year old arthritic TB and a 9 year old TB mare. The yard I am on is ok, although there are too many horses grazing on the acreage and today it rained and there was a note on the board at the yard from the farmer saying " We need to discuss horses being turned out in the rain" (Yes I thought - we also need to discuss why you think it's ok to turn out 8 geldings on 4 acres and 5 mares on 2 acres). Anyway, I tackled the farmer as nobody else will and asked what the problem was. He said that he doesn't want horses turned out in the rain during the day. I explained my position and said that as I start work at 8 or 8.30am I can't just leave work to turn them out later on and I can't finish til 5pm. He said that there is a perfectly good school. "Perfectly good" is something I would beg to differ on, but that's not the issue. My gelding is seriously arthritic and he is currently barefoot due to farrier struggling to get shoes on him and it doesn't look like he's going to be able to get any shoes on. So horse is basically retired. I cannot lunge him in circles - he needs constant movement. Trying to get him out of the stable in the morning is heartbreaking. He is so stiff. But before we had to bring in at night, he was fine. So tonight, I spoke to someone who is offering grass livery to retired horses. It's £100 per month including haylage, she looks after them and will feed them hard feed that I leave for him. He would be out in a mixed herd of about 7 horses. She has two emergency stables for injured or box rest horses. She sounds fabulous and knowledgeable.
So my question is, will my TB retiree manage being turned out 24/7 with nowhere to bring him in? The lady I have spoken to on the phone has said that I can take him there on trial for a couple of weeks if i want first, to see how he settles. I am worried about him being out and getting cold, although I have a full neck heavyweight and can get him another one. Is being turned out in the cold and wet actually better than being in and warm for an elderly, arthritic horse? The yard is only 5 minutes from where I stable my other horse, so I could keep checks on him, but if I make the move, there's no going back....
 
I would really try the other yard - the owner sounds fab and personally I think it would be good for him.

I am a strong believer horses should be in their natural environment! I know he is an old chap but it sounds as if he would have a better life there.

Good luck x
 
I'd make the move, it has to be better than him seizing up in a stable.

Plenty of warm rugs and ad lib haylage and he'll probably be much happier and at least there are stables for emergency use if needed so that is a worry that can be crossed off. Where I worked all the older tb broodmares wintered out without rugs, they weren't just alright, they positively thrived, but did look rather woolly!:)
 
I'd go for it, sounds like a fantastic solution! You can always use more rugs if you think he's getting cold. My 16yo TB does best living out, and constant, gentle movement is the best thing for them. Good luck but to me it sounds like a great option!
 
HH, your tb will be fine hun!!!!

There are several tbs at my yard... ages: 17, 18, 22, 24, 27, 32yo arab. Mine and another ladies' are the youngest at 9, 10 and 11. All unrugged, out 24/7 on a massive run of about a mile square. I rugged mine when it went down to -20 last year but no one else did. All survived and were fat as pigs coming out of winter.

The 32 yr old has cushings and arthritis. Another has an old injury and arthritis in one leg. Mine has arthritis. The rest are... well.... horses.
 
Go for it. I have a 30 yo 3/4 TB who lives out all year (with good rugs) & she's very happy. Still attempts to canter down the field despite knackered ligaments & artheritis. She had spent most of her life stabled when she came home to retire @ 21 & has lived out ever since. Her vet advises that she's better out because (as she is artheritic) she needs to keep moving. During the summer, she is in an all mares herd & during the winter the oldies (mares & geldings) move to a huge well sheltered field a bit further for the yard. We provide food & bute. Our yard owner (who is experienced with old horses) does the rest, including feeds, meds etc.
 
Sounds ideal, there is a stable for emergencies, it has to be better than being kept in possibly 24/7 if we have a wet spell, its only October now so if the turnout is already restricted what will happen in the real winter weather.
 
Thanks everyone - it's what I was thinking. He does come to stand at the gate in the field that he is in now, but I don't think it's the weather that's the problem - I think he's hungry. I'm pretty sure that if he has haylage in the field, he will be fine. I am going Sunday morning to have a look at what she is offering. She said that she also has a school, but no lights currently, although it's something she's thinking about getting. If she does, I will probably move my mare there as well, as she also loves living out. I am becoming a much stronger believer in horses living a more natural lifestyle. To be honest, in the current situation, I don't think he will make it through winter if he keeps seizing up.
 
I would say go for it for sure. I've never had a horse which didn't live out 24/7 and have never had any problems because of it (I know that there are exceptions!). :) A decent quality warm rug, good company, plenty of haylage and hard feed when required and I'm sure he'll be as happy as larry.
 
Definitely go for it. Living in - even overnight - is not good for arthritic sufferers. They need to be moving! And as long as he has some natural shelter and plenty of grub he'll be fine. I have a 23 year old retired TB broodmare who lives out all year round WITHOUT a rug - even in the harsher weather. She babysits my youngsters who have ad-lib haylage (and she is boss!) They keep her moving around and lively! She looks fantastic - if a bit porky!
 
Can't think of a more ideal lifestyle! It will prob be a culture shock initially but once he's made friends and has plenty to eat he should love it. You'll be amazed at how warm he manages to stay too. It'll be late this year but next he may well grown his own mammoth coat.
 
My 17 year old TB does fine out 24/7 and we are in Aberdeenshire mega cold. You just need to feed ad-lib haylage. She didn't do very well the year she was lactating though (as she will be this year) so will come in but I absolutely hate the thought of it - so much more natural for them and fine even in 2 feet of snow.
 
Our 27 yo TB lives out 24/7 365 days of the year - to be honest he doesn't DO being stabled anyway! He likes to come in on occasion and have a roll on some nice straw but that's it, he wants to be out then! He's getting a little more difficult to keep weight on these days but, in the main does pretty well and wears a nice thick rug on teh really miserable winter days. I certainly think it is soo much better for any arthirtic horse to be out so they can keep moving. Our TB has b*ggered tendons on both fronts (from his NH days) and is a little stiff behind but I think his legs are much less swollen now than when we took him on 8 years ago so i think it's done him nothing but good.
 
Paddy and his field mate ( 20yr old pure bred arab) are out 24/7 and i would say that being able to move around freely will probably keep your horse warmer than if it was stuck in a box all night..You may need to just get a couple of extra rugs to change if one gets soaking wet , I use an amigo insulator as an under rug when it gets really cold then you can just adjust either a heavy or med weight on top depending on the day time temp. Ad lib haylege if the grass is poor , is there natural shelter i.e hedges ?
 
This is all music to my ears as I am going to try and winter my 21 ISH out this winter at a new yard. In the six years I've had him he has come in at night all winter (about 6-7mo of the year) and so I am a bit hesitant but he will be hayed in the field and the fields have hedges etc.

I've a stable on standby just in case.

He's not retired but is arthritic in his hocks (Sjing history) and his legs fill terribly when he is in overnight (12+hrs) and so I'm hoping being out will help. He does like his creature comforts but I guess what he really likes is grub so as long as he has forage and a rug I guess he'll be fine!

No doubt I'll be back asking for tips!

Does everyone let their's get woolly before they start to rug or not? I'm unsure as I don't want him to lose condition.
 
I have wintered out a group of TB oldies for the last few years and they are perfectly happy. Last year the group was a 29 year old retired mare (who is very arthritic but hates being in), 22 and 21 year old retired broodmares and 22 and 18 year old retired geldings. They had rugs on (3 had Rambo Wugs, 1 Masta and 1 Shires), they had ad-lib hay and were fed stud nuts and beet pulp twice a day. They wintered brilliantly and will be treated the same this year. So I say go for it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, it sounds really good and will probably save you a few pennies!
 
I moved my horses last year, to a place where they can live out. My old tb, 29 (!!) at the time, is the one I was a bit worried about. I needn't have, he is fine. He has a turnout rug for every occasion, lots of natural shelter from hedges and trees on the fence line, and access to a field shelter overnight. He is put in a small bedtime paddock with the shelter overnight so he can have free access to his feed and hay/haylage (the other two are natives and would mug him for his feed.....)

Re the very cold weather, he has turnout boots that help a lot to keep his legs warm.

He has had a massive improvement in his stiffness since I cut mixes and cereals out his his feed - he now has Allen and Page veteran vitality, and fast fibre. And Alfa oil. Plus his various supplements. but no mix, the improvement was almost instant.

So yes I would say go for it!
 
All the oldies here stay out 24/7 here - so much better for them - they range in age from 40 - mid 20's - all have good rugs and ad lib hay/haylage and if necessary hay replacer and all do really well.

Who ever asked about growing their coats - let it grow as much as possible it is natures way of keeping them warm as they trap air in their coats and the natural oils give them some water resistance/repellant. Rugs will flatten the coat.

For those with arthritis try magnetic boots or rugs as well - really helps.
 
Absolutely he will be fine! My 22yr old tb still lives out 24/7 and is more than fine. It will do wonders for his arthiritus. My only piece of advice would be to invest in some seriously good warm rugs. Mark Todds are great because their combo rugs go right up to their ears and under their belly - I didn't even have to double rug my boy last year even when it was -10! Don't scrimp if you can afford it because it's the rugs that make all the difference for the oldies. Equestrian Clearance often have amazing deals where you can get expensive brands quite cheaply.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm quite excited now about going to have a look at the place on Sunday now, you've all put my mind at rest. I currently have a Rambo supreme heavyweight, but I will invest in a couple more if I move him there. I'll let you all know the outcome on Sunday night!
 
Holly Hocks said:
Thanks everyone - it's what I was thinking. He does come to stand at the gate in the field that he is in now, but I don't think it's the weather that's the problem - I think he's hungry. I'm pretty sure that if he has haylage in the field, he will be fine. I am going Sunday morning to have a look at what she is offering. She said that she also has a school, but no lights currently, although it's something she's thinking about getting. If she does, I will probably move my mare there as well, as she also loves living out. I am becoming a much stronger believer in horses living a more natural lifestyle. To be honest, in the current situation, I don't think he will make it through winter if he keeps seizing up.
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Hi there,
Is this in Surrey? If it's Rosemary she's great and the horses there all seem happy! My boy nearly went there but my only concern was not being able to see him after work in the dark because there is no lighting, however if you're happy to visit on weekends and the odd lunch break or something your horse will thrive there! There's a big open barn too if we're thinking of the same place.

Good luck!
 
Just to add to the mass agreement, I have a 20-year old mostly-TB who lives out all year - at the moment she doesn't have a rug on most nights and this is NE Scotland! October unseasonably warm! My girl is in work, and will have a bib clip soon. She is also barefoot - if your boy is struggling for the farrier, why not just go down the barefoot route completely? If you got him some boots to start off with, you might be able to start riding again straight away.
 
Rug your horse well, making sure it doesnt get cold, ad-lib hay/haylage and he should be fine!

ETA: It will be better for him, if he is arthritic, to be out and moving around rather than stood still in a stable.
 
Keeping him moving is far better than shutting in a 12x12 and letting him seize up

Arthritic horses need to be kept moving and its one reason why if stabled they are better when hacked out

There are lots of really good rugs now, so I'm sure you and your horse will be much happier at yard number 2!
 
And I swear that my 30 year old retired Arab mare is only as completely sound as she is because she lives out 24/7/365 (rugged as necessary). If she were stabled, I'm as sure as I can be (without trying it) that she would be crippled with arthritis.
 
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