winter turnout, what would you do?

benson21

benson21

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Donovan is in a field with 2 others, looked after by the same lady. Now this lady and myself are in completely different mindsets about turnout. Come rai or shine, her 2 are out. Tonight we have a weather warning for 3-5 inches of rain, and hers are still out. Don is now on daytime turnout, to hopefully keep the field in better condition for the winter.
The field now is beginning to get muddy where one of hers fence walks badly.
I have the choice of keeping don in this field, or fencing part of it off, and keeping him on his own in there. It means I can do basically want I choose, without worrying what this ladies 2 are doing to their part of the field.
But it means don wont have a playmate, he will have horses either side of him, just wont be able to get to them
So what do I do? Seperate him off so I dont need to worry what the others are doing, or keep him in with the other 2 and me be unhappy with the state of the field?
 
I'd leave him in with the other two. He's young and needs the company. Sectioning some of the field off is a short term solution only, as I'm sure even that would become pretty damaged ultimately - especially given the amount of rain headed our way.
 
I'd keep him with the other two as well. Fields are going to damaged with the amount of rain were getting and you can still bring him in at night if you don't want him to be out all the time.
 
Leave him with the others and do not worry about the field. If it gets intolerable move to a yard where you can have decent turnout and company.
 
I would also leave him with the others, he wont mind some mud and will be able to come in at times to dry off, fields will recover in the spring, although I have been saying that all year, mine have been muddy all summer and I dread to think what they will be like over winter but the horses are happy enough.
 
Depends how you feel he,ll be in his own paddock.None of mine would bother as long as they can groom and nuzzle over the fence.Our younger mare is always in her own paddock as shes a moody bum
 
leave him with the others - by sectioning him off you wont save the field - the smaller the area the more churned it will get even just with him on his own and he may quite possibly fence walk himself !
 
Leave him with the others - the field will get trashed anyway, and in a smaller section your bit will get trashed worse.

He's a horse, he will not melt out in rain or covered in mud. He will be much mentally happier with companions as they are a herd animal.

You can always get some bark chippings delivered, usually free and put in the gateways/poached bits to help with the mud :)
 
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