Winter routine.. how early in the morning do you feed?

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FionaM12

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I've had Mollie since June, before that I'd had no contact with horses for 35 years. I last owned a horse in the '70s. I'm getting a bit nervous about remembering how the winter routine works.

Mollie's at grass now, she's only in for a few hours a day if at all, but soon she'll be in all the time. In the evenings, I will expect to do my final mucking out and haynet filling at 6pm ish.

So, what time does everyone feed in the mornings? Are you all crack-of-dawn people?
 
Mine get fed at 7 365 days a year, it's the way it is at my yard. Don't think the YO recognises Xmas Day, New Years Day, birthdays, hangovers and days I feel at deaths door :rolleyes:
 
For 3 years when my boys were on livery, it was 6am as they had to be first out, now they're at home it's at 7am every day, then whilst they're eating I rug up, pick out feet as can't stand bedding on my yard and they're out in field for 7.15 latest. I then go in have breakfast, sort my daughter out and we venture out to muck out!!
 
All year round, times are the same: work days 6am & all chores done then.
Evenings 5.30 - just to bring in, feed & check.

Non-work days, 7am & 4-5pm ish.
In the winter: One non-work day is set aside for 'proper' mucking out & beds up all day, also for filling haynets for the next week, scrubbing buckets, sweeping yard properly & full tack strip - takes a full morning down there, thats all.
 
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I share grazing with a friend, she feeds my two at 7 when she feeds hers on her way to work, then I go up about 7.45 to change rugs, cuddle and take away buckets then off to work!
 
Leave the house at 6.30 get to yard in 2mins depending on depth of snow but this year I got a 4x4 for my birthday present so no more getting stuck for me! Feed whole yard turn out and home by 10ish I take ages and love to talk and drink tea! Back to bring in about 4pm so its not too dark (i'm scared of the dark) x
 
in week 6.30 to 6.45 weekend hour later . evening between half 4 to 6 - main thing is get a routine that suits you and horse and breath lol - I have to keep a reasonable routine as lass is stress head but get to know peolpe on yard and help each other out - i have amazing stable fairy who, whilst she charges , is brilliant so i always have some one to help me out - just egt a good routine feed hay accordingly - if weather bad and she comes in at 4 she gets some more hay - but hey ho regardless if snowing raining or hail she goes out - bless her she would go manic if didnt lol and naked to :)
 
ok flying solo you so off my christmas card list - im sooooo jealous lol :) yard 2 mins away, 4x4 for birthday and sit drinking tea arghhhhhhhhhhhh life unfair lol xxxx
 
Mine get fed at 6am in the winter. I work full time so they also get turned out by 6.30am, hayed etc and won't come in until 6.30pm ish. They go out every day, whatever the weather - if we have snow they get ad lib hay in the field, at which point I find they usually don't want to even come in as would rather stand in field eating their hay!
 
I have no idea what will happen this winter for me. New place, total new routine - been ok for the last 20 years, NOW I have to change!! I've got on site horsey relatives, so if I can't get there, I shouldn't have to panic... but.....!
I like to have fed and checked (hopefully living out) by 9am, somehow incorporating the dreaded school run. Evening check and feed before it gets too dark!
 
During the week - 6am the stabled ones get fed and turned out (3 horses are out 24/7 get fed). Hay is put in the field from about Oct-Nov onwards. (we use tractor tyres to put the hay in - works a treat :) )

During the week - in at 6pm.

Weekends out at 8.30 - in at 5pm. Sometimes in the week my retired mum (who also rides them) might do them in the morning, giving us a lie in - then they get done at the weekend time.

As its only our horses on the yard, and they pretty much always have access to hay they aren't exceptionally cranky if we are late. Most weekday mornings they are barely up by the time we get there, and at the weekends they can get moody if we have been out on the lash, and are late and hungover :)
 
I can't bear to have a stroppy teenager with me in the morning so I sort her pony too. I am such a nice mum but it does make life easier and quicker as I have my set routine. I also love my head torch as have to walk 400m up a very dark track to get to their field. I am the only person around at that time but sometimes see the farmer just as I'm leaving.
Week days - Feed at 5.45am and then turn out, muck them both out with beds up and then do hay nets and water if time. I am then back in the car by 6.25am!
Weekends - Tiny feed and handful of hay at 8-8.30 and then muck out, groom and ride. We are then back by around 11.30 - 12!
 
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