Winter turnout

[EllieBeast]

I’m incredibly lucky to be on a yard that allows me to have my girl out 24/7 with company all year round if I so choose.

She has fairly severe hock arthritis and is a totally different horse when allowed to move freely compared to when restricted.

After moving house I moved her to a yard closer to my new home that promised daily turnout whatever the weather- but in the first winter I was there we had a two week stint of no turnout at all. She was incredibly stiff despite my efforts to keep her moving. And at best in winter they went out for 6 hours, in for 18… which I know works for a lot of owners/horses but I find the idea of being shut into a space that, when looking at size ratios compares to me being shut in the downstairs toilet of my house for 3/4 of the day doesn’t sit well with me.

I now have an hours round trip to see to her, but it’s so worth it to see how much sounder she’s is. Luckily the yard is on my commute so during the week fits in well.

I may bring her in for a few hours here and there but otherwise she’s out with ad-lib hay when needed spread across multiple locations in the field. I’m lucky in that she’s very laid back, is happy in or out but, medically -out is the only choice for her.

 

[SEL]

Out 8 and in at 3 seemed to be typical when I was on livery yards and staff were doing turnout / bring in. I now have fields and mine will be out 24:7 for as long as possible - I'm the one who pays to fix fields so my call.

I absolutely hate seeing horses stuck in small stables for days on end (or weeks if we have a wet winter).

Before you jump though just check what other yards around you offer. There are some parts of the country where stopping turnout over winter seems to be the norm irrespective of how much acreage they have

 

[Sossigpoker]

Thanks it’s useful to hear what others get. So ours get 4-5hours max monday-friday. Which means they are in approx 19hours a day unless ridden etc. We are not allowed to lunge. We can’t hack/walk in hand unless we have at least an hour to spare and are happy to go on a busy road- so realistically hacking is restricted to the weekend or the mornings if you work shift patterns, as can’t hack in the dark. Arena is available for use but I personally feel that it is an unsuitable surface as very deep and uneven all round and floods in wet spells. Weekends allow for an extra hour/2hours turnout (but then not sure if they actually do as they get turned out later!)but have a very strict rule of the must be in by x oclock which is quite restrictive. So realistically Sunday night in to Monday is the lesser time spent in the stable with them having 17/18hours in. There’s also talk of them being in 2 days a week.

Do I suck it up or seek elsewhere?

Unsafe arena , nowhere to lunge, on a busy road , not nearly enough turn out....why are you still there ?

 

[Sossigpoker]

Around here a lot of yards don't turn out at all in the winter as the ground is heavy clay. And some have tiny turn out arenas.
I had my horse at a no turn out yard last winter and never again.
I'm lucky that I found somewhere that has well draining ground so mine can go out over night. I'd accept all day turn put if need be but i wouldn't accept no turn out or "weather permitting " turn out again. It's just not fair on the horse.
Ironically, this is a top competition yard ,people thinking that top horses don't get turned out, but turning out is an absolute must here even for the really expensive horses.

 

[Griffin]

I moved yards this year from one where they were in during wet weather to one where they are out at least 8 hours a day and in at night in large stables. My mare has really changed for the better because she loves going out but is also a fan of snuggling up in her stable to dry off.

 

[Goldenstar]

My horses are out atm and come in only to work and have things done to them .
They are muzzled and clipped except the retired one .
If the weather is very wet I will leave then in a little longer for some respite .
They are only getting forage in the stables on days when they stay in longer if they are waiting for the farrier for instance.
I am very lucky and it’s ideal because I choose what’s going to happen .

For horses in work three hours is the minimum turnout I would accept with longer on days when they are not working .
I don’t think it matters if horses miss the odd days turnout for bad weather as long as they are worked .
I never ever leave a horse stabled without some form of exercise each day unless it’s lame and being treated by the vet .

 

[Starzaan]

Around here a lot of yards don't turn out at all in the winter as the ground is heavy clay. And some have tiny turn out arenas.
I had my horse at a no turn out yard last winter and never again.
I'm lucky that I found somewhere that has well draining ground so mine can go out over night. I'd accept all day turn put if need be but i wouldn't accept no turn out or "weather permitting " turn out again. It's just not fair on the horse.
Ironically, this is a top competition yard ,people thinking that top horses don't get turned out, but turning out is an absolute must here even for the really expensive horses.

If it’s good enough for Carl Hester, it’s good enough for me. I can’t bear the people who say ‘he’s expensive, I don’t want to break him’.
The amount of rehabs I get in who have been injured or colicked due to lack of turnout is quite astonishing.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

My horses at home are only in to groom and tack up or do feet/ vet/ dentist /physio etc. Sometimes I relent and bring them in if they are looking miserable and it is very wet. Mimosa is very good at looking pleading and pathetic at the gate. They are on 4 acres for two to three horses, with another 4 acres resting and it’s high up on a hill. It can be pretty cold but the ground stays good all year round.

Sometimes I put horses on livery if they need access to an indoor school. They then get about four to six hours a day until it really starts getting boggy and then they get very little turnout at all from about December to Feb. They are on the walker twice a day whilst their stables are skipped out, and ridden or lunged 4-5 times a week. I then hack, walk in-hand or hand-graze on the weekends. I bring them home to have a holiday about every 3 months.

Because I have the space at home, I can always bring them home and turn them out if anyone doesn’t seem happy with life. So far everyone seems ok with the arrangement and I like that they are good to stay in, good to turn out 24/7 and easy and obliging no matter what is asked of them.

 

[Hamlet]

Mine is out at 6:30am and in at 5/5:30 ish but she doesn’t go in her stable until around 6:30pm much to her impatient displeasure! They’ve only been in since just after bonfire night and will hopefully go back out overnight before April. We are never told what time we need to bring in by in the winter so the horses could be out until 8pm if anyone wanted. But the horses are generally waiting from around 4:30 ish, they’re grazing up until then.

Be sure to ask about turnout when you go to view yards, some yards will tell you they have winter turnout…and then suddenly restrict. Or they’ll tell you they have winter turnout and make it pretty much impossible to use. As happened once to me, they insisted the 3/4 of an acre turnout was perfectly suitable for 8 geldings…not to mention it was a complete bog with no grass and about a 15 minute walk to get to it! We didn’t stay long at that yard.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Ours are out 24/7. Wouldn’t want it any other way, although the muddy legs are already a bit of a nightmare.

 

[Sossigpoker]

If it’s good enough for Carl Hester, it’s good enough for me. I can’t bear the people who say ‘he’s expensive, I don’t want to break him’.
The amount of rehabs I get in who have been injured or colicked due to lack of turnout is quite astonishing.

One came here that's never been turned out and now it can't be because it goes mental and runs through fencing. Really sad. A lot of competitive riders don't turn out much or at all so being here is very refreshing. They come off the lorry from the championships and pretty much go straight out.

 

[Starzaan]

One came here that's never been turned out and now it can't be because it goes mental and runs through fencing. Really sad. A lot of competitive riders don't turn out much or at all so being here is very refreshing. They come off the lorry from the championships and pretty much go straight out.

It’s so sad. Breaks my heart. I had a Grand Prix horse in for rehab and he was the same. We managed to get round it by building a tiny pen in the field and then gradually increasing the size.
I would give just about anything to see welfare laws changed in the uk to ensure a much much better life for the horses here.

 

[AntiPuck]

I'm very lucky that mine gets 24/7 turnout year round on a track system now. The least amount i'd willingly compromise on would be in overnight in winter, but it needs to be out with a herd. It really depresses me (and apparently her too) seeing her just stood in a stable.

 

[Ali27]

I’m lucky as got my own 4.64 acre field and when I had the stables built last year, I made sure there was an area outside that I can use as an all weather turnout pen. Now, I’ve got 3, I will section it into three separate areas so can leave stable doors open and little pony can have the open barn. I don’t trust all three of them together in a small area. I am super careful about managing my grazing, they are on track system during Spring/ Summer and the rest of the field gets rested and I also poo pick religiously twice a day all year round. Mine are still happily out 24/7 and just moved them to a fresh part of the field. Still got another 2 acres of long grass left so hopefully they will be out until after Christmas. If they do come in at night in Jan/ Feb, they will see have 10-12 hours turnout in field but will also have their area in front of stables to mooch around in. Mine absolutely love being out! I prefer poo picking to mucking out?
I’m so glad that I’m not on livery anymore! Limited Winter turn out would completely stress me and ponies out! Turnout was always my no 1 priority when looking at yards.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

For those questioning the no lunging rule, it’s fairly common and lunging trashes a school surface. I don’t allow lunging in the school, but I have a lunge pen so there is still somewhere to do it. If I didn’t have a lunge pen I would allow lunging but with some pretty strict caveats to try and save the surface.

I get that with ruining the surface but I think the surface is rubbish anyway as op doesn't like riding on it.

 

[ihatework]

It’s a very difficult balance to strike.
Land availability
Soil type
Market forces
Horse welfare.

No easy answer.

I think I have settled on I will accept half a day (3-4 hours) for a working horse in winter. Obviously I would prefer more but that’s not always realistic.

However that set up is in no way suitable for a non ridden horse.
Even for a ridden horse I wouldn’t want that for them 365 days a year.

It is getting to the point that those of us reliant on livery will have tough choices ahead.

 

[Starzaan]

I get that with ruining the surface but I think the surface is rubbish anyway as op doesn't like riding on it.

Oh I agree the surface sounds like lunging would be the least of its problems, but I noticed a few people saying it was an odd rule, so thought I’d explain it from a yard owners perspective.

 

[holeymoley]

Im still here because location-wise it really suits me. There’s very few yards in the area. Although potentially three that I would be willing to add the extra mileage too. It was the only yard to offer assistance too but that has changed recently with the others now offering.

The no lunge rule has been in place since time began. There was once one livery (one!) who around 15+ years ago lunged their show jumper and it motorbiked round and round. Since then YO is adamant no one is to lunge as no one can do it properly except her. That said I have wondered if I would really want to lunge on it anyway.

 

[Winters100]

It’s so sad. Breaks my heart. I had a Grand Prix horse in for rehab and he was the same. We managed to get round it by building a tiny pen in the field and then gradually increasing the size.
I would give just about anything to see welfare laws changed in the uk to ensure a much much better life for the horses here.

Terrible what happens to some horses. After all the horse does not know that he is expensive.

One of the things that I love about our yard is that every day turnout is not just permitted, but it is mandatory. The yard is well located with good facilities, and there is always a waiting list. YO will not accept clients who want to keep their horses without turnout as 1. it is a welfare issue and 2. he says that some of these horses then become unruly and dangerous for staff to handle. Every horse is turned out at 6am, then it is up to the owner to pick a bring in time of either lunchtime or dusk, giving every horse a minimum 7 hours outside. Most go out in groups, but there are also individual paddocks if required. They can also stay out 24/7, but due to the climate that is suitable for only a few months, and in this case they will bring them in to feed and change rugs if necessary morning and night. The only exceptions are horses requiring box rest on the advice of a vet. Of course no yard is perfect, but this is one of the things that I really appreciate.

 

[Starzaan]

Terrible what happens to some horses. After all the horse does not know that he is expensive.

One of the things that I love about our yard is that every day turnout is not just permitted, but it is mandatory. The yard is well located with good facilities, and there is always a waiting list. YO will not accept clients who want to keep their horses without turnout as 1. it is a welfare issue and 2. he says that some of these horses then become unruly and dangerous for staff to handle. Every horse is turned out at 6am, then it is up to the owner to pick a bring in time of either lunchtime or dusk, giving every horse a minimum 7 hours outside. Most go out in groups, but there are also individual paddocks if required. They can also stay out 24/7, but due to the climate that is suitable for only a few months, and in this case they will bring them in to feed and change rugs if necessary morning and night. The only exceptions are horses requiring box rest on the advice of a vet. Of course no yard is perfect, but this is one of the things that I really appreciate.

I am the same. I have no interest in having liveries who want their horses shut in all the time.
Obviously things are a little different with my rehabs, but the vets and I work really hard to box rest as an absolute last resort. It’s just dreadful for them.

 

[Gallop_Away]

During winter mine go out at 8am and come back in at 6pm.

I once kept them at a yard that limited turnout in winter and I will never ever subject my horses to that again. We lasted 3 months into a winter there. My mare had impaction colic, which my vet (who I trust implicitly) said that lack of turnout was the most likely cause. She also said that in her experience, impaction colic during winter is more common in horses who are on limited or no turnout.

I moved yards 3 weeks later to a yard that offers unrestricted turnout throughout the year regardless of the weather, and haven't looked back.

I think it's appalling that some yards expect owners to keep their horses in or severely limit turnout in winter. It's not acceptable imo and if they can not accommodate turnout for horses throughout the year, they should not be running as a livery yard.

 

[2 Dragons]

Most of the the yards in my area have restricted turn out, so I now share a rented basic set up with a few friends. My 2 are currently living out 24/7 but will be moving to their winter routine next month. they both have ex-event stables with attached "gardens" (small but well-draining paddocks.) so can come and go as they please. My girl has just come back to me this year and has hock arthritis so once the grass has gone down she is going to have a fenced path to the field so she can go for night wanders if she wants. All the horses will be out from about 7 to 6 each day. Have sacrificed having a school- but can hack, ride in fields or hire a nearby arena- for turnout

 

[Sossigpoker]

I think it's appalling that some yards expect owners to keep their horses in or severely limit turnout in winter. It's not acceptable imo and if they can not accommodate turnout for horses throughout the year, they should not be running as a livery yard.

Around here most yards offer no winter turn out or it's very limited or it's "weather depending " ,which in reality means no turn out. Or the turn out on offer is literally knee deep mud.
It's accepted around here as the norm and it's sad how many people buy into the "as long as they're exercised it's fine " argument. I did one winter like that and it was horrific!

 

[jules9203]

So, we have 12 horses on 19 acres. As a livery yard I guarantee daily turnout. In the summer it can be 24hr. In the winter it is daylight hours and if the land is drenched with rain then 1/2 day 7am - 2pm. When covered in snow it's usually turn out, muck out, bring back in (same pm).

 

[Hackback]

This is the first winter I've had mine at home and because the grass is only a couple of years old I've restricted them (two Arabs) to about half an acre while we've overseeded the rest of the land and intend to rest it until Spring.

Obviously there's not much grass so I put hay out each day.

My dilemma is - if it's bucketing it down and they are just miserable and hanging about in the mud, is this really any better for them than coming in and standing in their stable, with dry legs?

Older horse much prefers to be in - it's how he lived as a colt on a stud yard and he's never got the hang of enjoying the outdoor life in bad weather. 2 year old lies down and has an afternoon nap if I bring him in early, which must surely be good for his growing body and mind?

 

[nagblagger]

Mine are out 24/7, i felt guilty when i have had to have them on box rest under the vet.
I was just wondering that if the rspca, or other rescue agencies, do not rehome without turnout, where do these livery owners stand offering no turnout?

 

[palo1]

We have incredibly wet and sensitive ground so I have arranged a large Horse Hall - part undercover/part open yard for my 3 when they can't go out. It is about 30x40 m with a large area of made up bed undercover. In winter (November to March) I try to turn out from 7.00 am to 3/4pm but if the weather is vile (and we are quite high up) then they stay on the yard. I did have 3 in work but lately have not been able to do enough so have 1 in full work and 1 in light work as well as 1 roughed off. They seem really content on their yard but I still troop them up the field whenever I can; they have been out all day for the last 7 days but this week is not looking so good. It means I MUST ride which is sometimes not delightful tbh but horses need to move. At least on their yard they can play, groom, sleep, eat together and there is enough room for them all to have a trot and canter but it still feels difficult. On the other hand, we need as much 24/7 grazing as possible and protecting the winter grazing means that from March - October/November they can be out full time. My preference would be for full time turnout AND the yard!

 

[palo1]

This is the first winter I've had mine at home and because the grass is only a couple of years old I've restricted them (two Arabs) to about half an acre while we've overseeded the rest of the land and intend to rest it until Spring.

Obviously there's not much grass so I put hay out each day.

My dilemma is - if it's bucketing it down and they are just miserable and hanging about in the mud, is this really any better for them than coming in and standing in their stable, with dry legs?

Older horse much prefers to be in - it's how he lived as a colt on a stud yard and he's never got the hang of enjoying the outdoor life in bad weather. 2 year old lies down and has an afternoon nap if I bring him in early, which must surely be good for his growing body and mind?

My experience is that if the field becomes really grim (ie nothing but mud) then horses can be pretty static and miserable in bad weather. 2 of mine would definitely choose to be on the yard, particularly the senior horse but they are not stabled (they have a house share lol!!). I had one winter where I had created a track with foggage. It was utterly awful; the horses simply wouldn't eat the foggage and it increasingly turned to bog. They barely moved from their pile of hay; nothing to interest them or motivate them to move and I started to see the field arrangements as a possible welfare issue. Never again. Turnout has to be a reasonable quality for it to be valuable to a horse; standing miserably in the mud and cold doesn't do any favours and they get a bit frantic over food/coming in then I think.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Oh I agree the surface sounds like lunging would be the least of its problems, but I noticed a few people saying it was an odd rule, so thought I’d explain it from a yard owners perspective.

Oh I know people tend to stay in one area so it makes a permanent circle and all liveries use the same bit, I like to move about and I use the outside track quite a bit anyway so I would like to think I'm not contributing to it.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

This is the first winter I've had mine at home and because the grass is only a couple of years old I've restricted them (two Arabs) to about half an acre while we've overseeded the rest of the land and intend to rest it until Spring.

Obviously there's not much grass so I put hay out each day.

My dilemma is - if it's bucketing it down and they are just miserable and hanging about in the mud, is this really any better for them than coming in and standing in their stable, with dry legs?

Older horse much prefers to be in - it's how he lived as a colt on a stud yard and he's never got the hang of enjoying the outdoor life in bad weather. 2 year old lies down and has an afternoon nap if I bring him in early, which must surely be good for his growing body and mind?

One of my Arab's hates heavy rain the other couldn't care less, but I also don't see the point of them out in winter all night in torrential rain so mine come in.