With this set up would you leave horse out?

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Popos

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We keep our horses/ponies at home and have one large horse on an acre field with a small yard area and 16x12 shelter/stable (it has a gated front) just off the field. It is easily accessible from the field and the gate can be left open and secured back.

We've been bringing him in each night, feeding him in the shelter/stable and shutting it for the night with bedding etc.

Was thinking of changing how I currently bed the stable (as he is really messy!) and now wondering if I should just leave it all open each night for him to come and go.

What would you do with this set up? Thanks for any advice.
 
It would be a perfect set up if the field was bigger That would be my concern. My big horses would trash an acre in about a month out 24/7.
 
Ideally he needs a companion, could you leave the stable open but shut the gate to the field at night, with all this rain 1 acre will become a mud bath!
 
Great, thank you. Have just gone and opened it up!

The shelter does have 3 & 3/4 sheltered sides, difficult to explain, but he is totally out of the rain etc when in, but would sooner he was out and not making such a mess and think he will be happier like this.

Will feed him and give hay in the stable each evening but leave it all open for him then. Should I still bed it down?

He has companions by way of three miniatures in the field next to him. We don't have them all in together though as they are so naughty and I worry would come off badly if they tried to battle with him (one we rescued got battered up doing just this at previous home). They seem happy to kiss over the fence for now!

Thank you for replying. I'm very grateful for the help! One day I'll feel like I know what I'm doing!
 
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Yes, the gate swings back and either shuts the stable off, or shuts the stable and yard off from the field or it can be secured open and he has the whole lot.

The field is getting in a state. Thinking I may try and turn him out elsewhere during the day when I can. Would this be a good solution?
 
What a fabulous set up - very jealous!

I'm not sure that feeling of knowing what your doing ever comes! I routinely ask my non-horsey other half what he thinks of X, Y or Z. He never has any actual input, I just find it helps to talk a plan through :D
 
I have three kept like this. I just leave the stable doors open and they come and go as they please. They also have access to a field shelter but hay and water are in/by the stables. I love watching them and find it fascinating how they all use the facilities in the way that suits them best. Last year I only had the field shelter and worried a lot about the wet ground and their feet. Since they've had the stables they use them quite a lot but still some nights they don't really use them at all.
 
I have two youngsters who are free to be in or out. Our stables are in the paddock nearest the house so I just leave them the run of our paddocks and field.

They have hay outside in the morning so we can lift droppings from beds, but in the afternoon they come in for a feed and handling, I put up hay nets inside then I leave their stable doors open .

I feel if they stand in with hay for a couple of hours their feet etc. will dry out. They do use the stables and often lie down in them, so yes I have deep litter shavings beds in the stables.

If you have some alternate daytime grass, that would save your paddock area for night times.
 
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