Winter turnout - What do you have?

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Frankieblue

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First off sorry if this has been discussed before but I am interested to find out what Winter Turnout provisions you have (or don't) at your yards? From today we have none, when the snow came in December we went from in on a night and out during day to turn out when you were mucking out. The snow went and we stayed the same, about 4 weeks ago we went to alternate day turnout when mucking out and as I mentioned as of today we have no turnout at all. In previous years we have had a sectioned off paddock to use when mucking out but due to putting in new jumping area that space has gone. I am just interested to know if this is quite normal? We have 3 fields at our yard, which are rotated during spring, summer and autumn with 2 herds (mares & geldings) so 1 is always rested. Tbh I think it is more my sanity that will be effected by this. Sorry for long description.
 
My reply might not be any good as i rent a field to guarantee turn out but have been on yards where it was quickly restricted if weather bad.
I personally like my horses out so put up with no facilities for the peace of mind of turnout.
 
Year round turnout was our no 1 priority when picking yards (bloomin hard to find though!!). Ours v occasionally have a day or 1/2 day in if we've had alot of rain in a short time but other than that they are out everyday - prob about 10 hrs a day atm, then 24/7 spring/summer/autumn.
 
Apart from when there is heavy snow, ice/heavy frost or high winds and rain ours are out from 9.30am - 2.30pm (ish) in a 17 acre field (for 12 horses)

I went to visit a friend at the weekend and there horses are kept on small not much bigger than stable size paddocks during the day in the winter... Holly would absolutely insane if thats all she had :( Grateful my yard has lots of good quality well maintained grazing..
 
My liveries can have unlimited turn out throughout the year, my own horses have 2 trash paddocks they go out daily over the winter.
Generally, everything gets out every day, unless, like today, unforeseen circumstances prevent that - today they are all in due to power failure - my fencing is all electric :eek:
A temporary, battery powered fencer will get set up later today and they will be able to go out tomorrow as normal :)
 
We have 20 horses in one big 32 acre field. It's fairly trashed and there isn't much grass but we can have them out there anytime we choose. We put hay out for them as I really object to having them stuck in. When the spring comes in we rotate around 3 fields and rest the winter one. It was one of my big considerations for choosing a yard. My boy is only 19months old so he HAS to be out!
 
We have 24/7 turnout available all year if you want it. Mine comes in overnight.

We have 17 acres on a hill, a couple of boggy patches, but fairly good considering!

ETS That's for four horses.
 
I keep 3 paddocks as winter trashers. All of mine go out (in the winter) for 2 hours every day whatever the weather. They are blanketed and given hay but my motto is ...OUT! I have a few acres that are mollycoddled and used in the spring/summer but seeing as we have very little rain from May till September, I have to be careful. Its hard work but I manage to have good grazing for at least 4 months a year.
 
No grass turnout in winter in my neck of the woods on any yards I know of.

We have 3 sand paddocks to turnout on and if the weather is truly appalling, we can loose school in the indoor but not the outdoor.
Yard turns all horses onto the sand paddocks during the day, or they go on the walker. If we wish to put them out again when we are around, we can.
 
Weather dependant. I live in Cumbria so its constantly raining haha.
Horse atm hasn't been out in 3 weeks as of today because its been so wet. I prefer it that way because she doesn't come in with cuts from sliding all over mud, no mud fever and no lost shoes. We have a lean to we can put them in when we muck out and I ride her every day.
As of Mid March though they will all be out no matter what the weather.
 
We can turn out as and when we want, all year round. I consider myself quite lucky that on the large yard im on, my boys have a paddock to themselves. Its only about an acre but it suits us!!
 
we have like 15? horses on 25 acres 7 days a week 365 days a year so it dosent get rested....

we cant imagine we will have grass in summer lol... but tbh id rather give her more hay or feed as long as she can go out n stretch her legs!

for now.... they go out half 10 until 5ish....

summer hopefully 8-8 - id love to have 24/7 turnout in summer though tbh! :)
 
Ours are out 24/7/365 as the horses prefer it and are better for it (various ailments that require movement). Five acres split into a winter field and a summer field for two horses and two ponies, three of whom are good do-ers; the one that isn't gets Equijewel daily to help keep weight on her. We have just opened a new bale of hay as they ignore it if there is even so much as a hint of grass, but this field is coming to its end; they will move onto the summer field next month.

The turnout was the deciding factor when we moved yards.

When we finally (ever?!) get sold and moved, if we're limited on land, we'll have a spoil patch so they can be out still 24/7/365, with ad lib hay.
 
We have whatever we want... but also have to plan and care for our fields regardless of how trashed they get.

We have space to bring in or leave out, 3 horses on 10 acres spread over 4 fields.
 
No different from summer turnout, all day, everyday.

Soil is sand, floods a bit but drains equally as fast, very little mud - ever!

Most live out, stalled horses are out 7.30 ish ---> whenever they want to come in.

Usually we only get a couple of weeks where the fields are wet when the snow melts, winter the ground is frozen/covered in snow for 3 or 4 months anyway. I never, EVER, restrict turnout and our mud is, at the very worst, on a wet day, top of the hoof deep in gateways, not the godawful, up to the knee mire I experienced in the UK.

My best friends are my bush hog/topper, the harrow and the roller, my fields survive.
 
we have all year turn out at our yard, some days they dont go out for long as some fields are quite exposed for rain and wind. But fields drain well only gateways get muddy and mainly due to the tractors filling up water not horses!!
 
Turnout all year round no matter what.

They come in on a night during November to middle of March but between then they are out 24/7, if you wish however you can still bring them in.
 
We have reduced turnout during the winter due to the fact that someone else puts out/brings in during the winter on weekdays and the state of the field that they have to go in from November to end April. The soil and therefore drainage is not great and the field doesn't get much done to help it recover over the summer and I think it is too small a field for the 11 geldings that are in it. Have heard if the rain returns with a vengeance this week they will only go out for an hour or two (currently out about 9.30am, in about 3pm). As I have a good do-er I would rather he was mooching round for a bit longer outside with limited grass (assuming there is some rather than the none we have at the moment) than in for far too many hours on good quality haylage. Makes this time of year a constant battle to get weight down before they go out on good grass for the summer but that's just what would suit my type.
 
Our horses live out 24/7 year round. We rent a small private yard and manage the grazing to ensure they are on the driest part of the land when it is really wet. Turnout is one thing I would never compromise on at a livery yard. Previously the horses have had to be in at night at other yards during winter but had daily turnout whatever the weather.
 
We have 3 on 8 acres 24/7, which I manage, went on a great land management course set up buy the Forestry commision last year (free, yipee), so have got grass, and will have grass, and had grass all of last year, it has reduced my hay bill by half :D
 
Ours are out 24/7 most of the time - they come in occasionally overnight if the weather is bad. The bottom third of their field is pretty muddy atm but the rest is fine. They'll probably move into a new field around March time, depending on the weather.
 
24/7 turnout is a priority to me as far as my horses are concerned - which is why I rent land rather than be at a livery yard. Shall I make you jealous now? I've got 30+ acres of winter grazing just for my 4 horses (they've got access to approx. 10 acres of it at the mo). Mine don't come in at night ever!

Okay, so I have no luxuries as far as the human side of things is concerned, (although I do have access to electric, water, parking, storage), but that doesn't matter one bit when I see how happy and healthy my 4 horses are.
 
ThePony said:
Year round turnout was our no 1 priority when picking yards (bloomin hard to find though!!).
Click to expand...

That.

We have 4 herds with 4 or 5 horses in each. There are 2 fields per herd which are rotated. At the moment it is pretty muddy but they got daily turnout even during the snow.
There isn't enough grass or shelter to allow for 24/7 in winter but people turn out and catch when they like if on DIY. I'm on 5 day livery so he goes out at about 8 and comes in about 4pm.
In the summer I reverse this and bring him in during the day.

There are lots of yards round here that only do alternate days in the winter or shut the fields down or only do short time slots so it's not bad.
 
I have a field for each of my horses, however I only use one in the winter and one for spring/summer. They can trash the winter one and that has a break all spring/summer as the grazing is far too good for them to need more than their 1.6 acres - old cattle ground so rich you have to be so careful for lami.

We turn out 365 days of the year if we want. We can only have 24/7 turn out from 1 april to 30 september and then we have to bring in overnight for winter. Only restriction is we have to keep in for shooting, I think we had 4 days this year and it was only until 9.30am I think. Tbh some still turned out but after watching the old boys shoot I thought they were safer in till they left lol
 
We turn out every day no matter what the weather. Three herds, one 'big boys' herd of 8. mares are 8 and little boys 5. They each have a large winter paddock that gets trashed but we hay them, and two summer paddocks.
I'd never move to a yard where fields were closed for weeks on end I'm afraid. My little arab would be climbing the walls and big youngster much more of a handful to ride I'm sure! He has a great time in the field as there are three his age who play the whole time. Very nice for him to be in a natural 'herd' enviroment.
My old girl lives out 24/7/365
 
2 fields - one 4 acres on a very steep hill and one 3.5 acres in an apple orchard. Apple orchard for winter, hill for summer. One horse turned out for 10 hours a day.
 
Some of my turnout, the horses are actually standing on a pond. usually we skate on it but haven't bothered to clear it this year.

Mud is not a problem right now:D

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