Winter Routine

[Shoei]

So, I've swapped the boys over to the winter routine this week, and they seem very happy to be in, even if it is earlier than usual. Who else has swapped over already? I normally wait until after bonfire night.

It got me thinking though, I never see Chester lying down in the paddock, but he always lies down in the stable? Do some horses just not relax enough to get down when turned out, he's the herd leader so I wonder if this impacts.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Mine are out 24/7 until it gets to wet for the ground they are on then it will be out at night on a different field and in during the day to start with while they get used to being stabled again. Probably swap to nights in and days out mid December unless it’s really dry and then they will stay out with hay for as long as possible. One has arthritis and needs to move and the other colics at change over so I’m very cautious about being in for extended periods of time. I’m lucky I’m free to manage them as I want to and not governed by turnout rules. They both definitely lay down in the field given the amount of mud on them at the moment.

 

[Peglo]

We usually take ours in overnight sometime in October. We will get a really horrible night and that is the night they start coming in. Thankfully that night hasn’t yet happened and the field is looking alright still so fingers crossed for a week or 2 yet but it is feeling colder.

 

[Barton Bounty]

End of october in off the regular fields, but BB has been getting two extra large haynets a day for three weeks now anyway. Will be in at night from next week ?

 

[Polos Mum]

My 2 y/o does lay down in the field but crashes hard asleep in his stable whenever he's bought in - he definitely sleeps better in than out.
I bring him in to sleep regularly through the summer even when out 24/7 - he sleeps in on his own while I'm riding one of the others and it's no trouble to bring 2 in for 3-4 hours

 

[Abacus]

My old boy is always the watchman in the field while the others sleep. He only really dozes standing up - I've seen him lie down in the field maybe 3 times ever. He never comes in these days but used to sleep in a stable.

When a friend lost one of her two horses, the remaining one simply wouldn't rest. She had to go and sit in the field in a deckchair each evening and then that horse would sleep. The way they guard each other is very sweet.

 

[Shoei]

The yearling takes every opportunity to crash out!!! In/out/alone/ in company he doesn't care It's all that growing!!!

 

[bubsqueaks]

We're leaving ours out at night & bringing in during the day - that way they get more exercise time & in during the day means much more handling for the youngsters - plus save on bedding & hay - win win hopefully.

 

[Sealine]

Currently the yard gives a choice of day or night grazing. Mine is currently out at night but has to be in before 9am and can't go until 4pm. When the clocks change (29th October) we only have day time grazing through the winter. The field the horses are in now has lots of grass and shelter. Unfortunately we will move fields on 29th to a field with less grass and no shelter and stay there until the week before Xmas when we will move again to the fields closest to the yard.

I've never seen my horse laying down in the field.

 

[scats]

I swapped a couple of weeks ago. It’s far easier for me at this time of year to have them in at night and out in the day coz I can get everything done in the morning and just ride in the evening and then finish off.
Once the clocks change I’ll be riding in the mornings too.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Mine were in overnight from end of August. They are out 6.30am til 5pm at the minute. In the next week or so they will be coming in between 2 and 3pm. I like riding in the morning so will carry on with that. I've got Wednesday afternoons off til Xmas so that's our mid week hack sorted in daylight!!

 

[Ali27]

Mine will be out 24/7 until the field gets too wet and they’ve munched 4 acres of grass! Then in at night and out first thing in the morning. My three much prefer being out and less work for me?

 

[atropa]

Had hoped to keep mine out till end of Oct but as soon as we hit October the incessant rain started.
The ground is now wet and there's not a huge amount of grass so mine have been in at night now for around a fortnight.
I normally like to keep out until Bonfire night but not to be this year

 

[webble]

I bought in last week when we had a few wet days, thin skinned pony doesn't do well in the rain even with a rug he thinks he will melt and he is settled in his stable this year which he wasn't last year

 

[GreyDot]

My 2 y/o does lay down in the field but crashes hard asleep in his stable whenever he's bought in - he definitely sleeps better in than out.
I bring him in to sleep regularly through the summer even when out 24/7 - he sleeps in on his own while I'm riding one of the others and it's no trouble to bring 2 in for 3-4 hours

Exactly the same here with my youngster. Boys are still all out till end of October and then yard rules state they have to come in overnight, but only from 9pm, so as I am there at 6am, they will still have a decent amount out in the field.

 

[Dave's Mam]

We come in overnight 1st November til 1st May. Currently there is only Dave & 2 other geldings out overnight.
6 months mucking out is long enough & he will stay out until I have to give in to getting up early.

 

[MarvelVillis]

Ours come in overnight from 1st Nov, although I have been bringing mine in for the odd day/night this month so it hasn't been a sudden change. Another horse at the yard has had a couple bouts of colic recently and made me more cautious about introducing the change slowly.

 

[Mrs G]

Mine is still out 24/7 but the change to coming in overnight is imminent and Im absolutely dreading it! Ive got a bad back and while he's been living out Ive just about been able to live a normal (if stiff and achy!) life. Mucking out is going to hurt, and then there's the mud and the cold and rain as well, ooh I could cry!

 

[ponynutz]

Ours move over now but are still turned out all day just in a sand paddock instead.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes I had no choice but to swap. My horse had escaped several times, usually just to a nearby secure (from the road) field but recently onto the road which obviously can’t happen.
He seems far more chilled in the field now. I feel bad for the others but they have had to slot in with him because he’s the difficult one!

 

[jnb]

My cob is out 24/7 and has a morning siesta in the field around 9-10am without fail, sometimes outside sometimes in his shelter (fully rubber matted and big shavings bed). More likely to crash inside there in summer.
Overnight, he has several lie down flat out sleeps in the shelter athough often outside, sometimes also lying curled up like a dog, others literally flat spark out. He gets up for a wee/poo/drink, off out for a graze or nibble at his haynet but definitely sleeps outside day or night as well as in his shelter.
I can see all this as I have cameras (I don't sit there all night on a deckchair apart from Bonfire Night

I feel sad that there are horses not relaxed enough outside to sleep. Though - if they get half/daytime/less turnout perhaps they make the most of the opportunity to graze/move around/interact with others?

Edited to say this completely avoided the question - to answer - No, I haven't swapped to winter routine as 24/7 out (apart from rugging now I have clipped, when its cold/wet enough)

 

[Shoei]

Well, when I popped up at lunch in the torrential rain, they were wanting to come in! But the cruel woman I am, I left them out until later and the rain has eased somewhat!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

So, I've swapped the boys over to the winter routine this week, and they seem very happy to be in, even if it is earlier than usual. Who else has swapped over already? I normally wait until after bonfire night.

It got me thinking though, I never see Chester lying down in the paddock, but he always lies down in the stable? Do some horses just not relax enough to get down when turned out, he's the herd leader so I wonder if this impacts.

Some of ours were never out at night during the summer - the other changed beginning of September.


out at 7.30 then in 4pm going back top 3pm when light goes

lami group out at 9pm in 4 then 3pm.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Ours are out 24/7 all year round. We swapped to this routine 2 years ago, instead of bringing them in overnight around Bonfire Night. They are happier, healthier and easier to deal with in this routine. They are at home They have 3 proper visits, every 24 hours and of course we check that they are where they should be whenever we go outside. We wish we had made this change years ago.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Does anyone put out at night and in during the day? Do horses prefer being in at night?

Just thought they would have more time out.

 

[BSL2]

Still out 24/7. We leave ours out as much as possible during winter, just depends on weather. May bring in if really heavy continuous rain, just for a bit of respite. We feed hay and bucket feeds as weather gets colder and grazing gets less. Edited to add ours are also checked 3 - 4 times aday.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Duplicate

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine are in tonight as the weather is bad but I generally like them out as much as possible year round. They come in almost everyday for a few hours in the morning for some hay and a snooze and to be exercised and probably have 1-2 days per week where they dont come in at all but we do have plenty of grass. They live at home so get checked at least twice per day when out.