Winter turn out

Mine are usually out for 6 hours this time of year. They are both very settled with that amount of turnout. They go out around 6am and back in around 12 to a nice big haynet.
 
6 hours out means 18 hours stood in a small box. If you can get the horse out of the stable for proper exercise and hand grazing in addition to this and enrich the time it's in then I could accept that in the short term, but it's not great for the horse's welfare either physically or mentally.
But you will find many who happily justify it because the horses cope. Mine are out 24/7.
 
They are currently out from around 8.30 to about 2.30 (six hours seems to be the ability maximum for one of mine before he starts pacing) they are on good grass though except for the mare who has ad-lib hay out with her as she is a laminitis risk. I rebuild the paddocks for geldings on fresh grass almost every day and rotate them around our driest field. They actually come in full and go to sleep! I’ll extend the time once it warms up and we start to get new grass coming through.
 
TheMule said:
6 hours out means 18 hours stood in a small box. If you can get the horse out of the stable for proper exercise and hand grazing in addition to this and enrich the time it's in then I could accept that in the short term, but it's not great for the horse's welfare either physically or mentally.
But you will find many who happily justify it because the horses cope. Mine are out 24/7.
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Ours are also out 24/7 but when we had too many for the land to support that they were outfit 12 hours 7.30 am - 7.30 pm
 
This year mine is wanting in earlier than he ever has, and isn't fussed if he isn't the first out either - I think he's more fed up with this weather and the wet field than I am. Hay in the field makes no difference, he wants back in. To be honest I'd give up and let him in earlier some days but he also isn't happy if he can't see anyone else when he's in.

I know in a lot of the time isn't ideal, but if it's a choice between standing in a dry stable or a wet field I can't say I blame him wanting in.
 
12ish hours in the week (I work away from home) and about 9 at weekends usually this time of year. I don’t think they would enjoy less socialising
 
Depends. If I’m riding before an office day, out by 7am and in 4.30pm. If I’m under less pressure out anytime I want and in anytime I want but 6 hours minimum roughly.

It is all very well making noise about 24/7 turnout, but it’s simply unavailable to many and/or doesn’t work with peoples lifestyles. We are all trying our best.
 
Right now it varies. He’s usually out by 6.30am and in by 3pm during the week and at the weekend he’s out a little later but in at the same time as I’m riding.

Bad weather days he’s either out later or in earlier.
 
Mine are usually out 24.7 but we flash flooded earlier in the week on top of Friday's heavy rain so my winter field is awful.

2 out of the 3 usually hate their stables but seem very happy to park themselves in there around 5pm at the moment. They get turfed out around 7.30am so about 9 hours turnout.

I hate mucking out so as soon as the field dries out they'll be back to 24.7
 
Mine are out for 7 hours and they are very content with that.

In response to a poster above saying about justifying being in, my horses are happy because they have plenty of grazing left during the day and aren't stood in a quagmire. One is a laminitis risk so out for longer during frosty spells is a no go. Let's not judge everyone who isn't on the 24/7 brigade when you haven't considered the circumstances of others.
 
Ours are out at 8am and in at 6pm ish. This is the first year in a long time that they’ve been in every night over winter. Usually they’re out 24/7 with the odd night in when it’s particularly gross out, but the field is so wet and the grass is poor so they’re enjoying coming in out of the mud to fill up on hay (also saves me lugging it out there)
 
Out at 7am ish & in about 3 then he does something either ridden or groundwork or a bit of a pamper / mud removal.
We're not dictated to about times, just as long as they're in overnight. My bring in time is determined by my circumstances.
 
24/7 bar the occasional day the tbs come in for a snooze on big beds
Usually on a particularly awful day

Gloria is on restricted turnout this week due to a minor injury from the storm but will be back out soon
 
Out at 6, in at 8 so 14 hours. Unless the weather is horrible then they come in a bit earlier as they are better off standing in eating than standing sheltering getting wet.
 
24/7, with about 18-20 hrs of that on the big yard/turnout area and the rest with the gate open to the track to the dryest (but still very soggy) paddock which still has some grass. If it's really wet they stay on the yard but I open the gate to the arena as well, so they can have a run and a roll.
 
Usually about 8 hours but it depends on what is happening work wise and weekend routine. Of the 2 oldies at home, one i out from 5am-5pm and the other is then in. but once the field dries about the littler of the 2 will be out 24/7 again as he wont be sharing the yard
 
Out at 6.30 in at about 4pm most days. She was being ridden 3 or 4 times a week until recently. She’s now not doing any ridden work waiting for a tooth extraction, so ground work, in hand grazing and free schooling in the arena are the best I can do for her at the moment. Roll on summer when she will head back to 24-7 turnout.
 
Generally 8.30 to 4.30 depending on weather at the moment. One is desperate to go in at 4.30pm but my other will stay out till 6.30pm.
 
TheMule said:
6 hours out means 18 hours stood in a small box. If you can get the horse out of the stable for proper exercise and hand grazing in addition to this and enrich the time it's in then I could accept that in the short term, but it's not great for the horse's welfare either physically or mentally.
But you will find many who happily justify it because the horses cope. Mine are out 24/7.
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All of this really.

Whatever your reason for not turning out adequately (and I mean those who have horses who are routinely stood in for 17, 18, 19 hours a day), doesn't change the horse's reality. You can't say to them 'Oh sorry, it just isn't possible to have you out as much as is appropriate for your species because it's not compatible with my lifestyle'.

I just can not fathom how boring and lonely it must be.
 
My retired one is out 24/7 but her field is very muddy, however she does use her field shelter and I see her stood in it often!
Horse on main yard goes out at 630am and in at 2pm at the moment, then exercised or hand walked in the evening after work.
 
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