Working In Your Turnout Fields...?

F

Forget_Me_Not

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 August 2006
Messages
5,097
Location
West Sussex.
Visit site
Someone was telling me that it's so bad when you can only exercise in your turnout fields, and the horse will never work properly, and achive. Do you agree?
confused.gif
Anybody else work in there horses turnout field??

In my books *working with young, problem horses* I totaly don't believe in the idea... because the horse feels more relaxed in his own field.... Thinking about it horses have just a few 'thinking pods' hence can only learn a few things in a session. So if I was going to take the horse out of its home and into a manage he'll be using his say 3-7 'thinking pods' on the scary bush... strange looking box... etc.... Where as he knows the bushs, boxes etc in his home field aren't going to eat him..He has more free 'think pods'? Surely?
crazy.gif
 
Really?? Never ever had a problem TBH, i nearly always ride in my turnout fields, well all of our fields (600 acres) so i suppose i don't just go in one field, although i only school in 2 fields, never had a problem.
 
We work in our turn out fields, even though we have a outdoor school. The YO got the school done on the cheap so there wasnt a proper hard core laid before the surface went down so stones are constantly working to the top of the surface, it is also realy boggy if we have as much as a small shower. So as soon as we can we school in the fields, even drag the show jumps down over the summer months. I think all our horses School so much better on the grass so I dont think it is wrong in any way.
 
'think pods'? pmsl!

the school will register with the horse the first time as the place he goes to work, and distractions will only be distractions the first couple of times..I think is is good to seperate his relaxation environment from his working environment as far as possible. Even when we didn't have a school we never worked a horse in their own paddock
 

We always work our horses in their turnout fields. Never caused a problem. I think if you can get them to concentrate at home when their field mates are busy chomping around them then so much the better really. So long as you make sure you take him to other schools every now and again so he learns to concentrate away from home also.

Love the "think pods" bit, I think mine are lacking a few of theirs.
 
My mum told me this the other day but I used to jump and school my old horses in the home paddock.....never had a problem.

Think it's the same as alot of things with horses - if you think it's a problem, it will be a problem (if that makes sense). Never gave it a seconds thought!
 
'Think pods' makes me laugh to but easy way to explain them.... Of corse I work in different places to vary and give them experience... Farmers fields... Cow fields... Xc courses... Indoor out door schools etc....Sand can be hard work and helps mine work harder... But when I'm backing I perfer there turnout field.... I do natural horsemanship so don't try my bestest to sep work and play...
 
I use the hill in our turnout field for canter work when it's dry enough, but just now it would wreck the summer grazing.

It's too unlevel to try schooling in.
 
We rent 6 acres for our horses to live out 24/7 and in the summer we always ride in there as its either that or hack out. cant say we have ever had a problem, a horse should know when it is supposed to be working!
 
Ours is not flat enough to school in but occasionally i jump in there. fine with 3 of the horses but Sunny just goes crazy if i take her in there. When i move house she will have to get used to it though because in the summer i want to be able to school and jump in one of the fields. Im not sure if this will work but i think i will ride her in there before she is turned out in there so she realses that she has to work there aswell. No idea if it will work or if she will still be a b**** in the field!
 
I don't ride in his turnout field because theres' plenty of other fields to ride in. Plus Chex devoted pal follows hum round if I ride in there. At my last yard I used to ride in it all the time, but it was 90 acres and there weren't many other places to ride. I've never noticed any change between riding in his own field or not.
 
My YO won't allow me to ride in the turnout fields anymore, thats why im moving my two at the W/E. As we don't even have a school.
 
I would never work a horse in their pasture fields. That is their private space and I don't believe in mixing business with pleasure.
 
I have always schooled my horses in their own field as well as on the beach and out hacking, in local sand Schools and of course at Trainers yards.

It has never crossed my mind that it could be a problem.

I feel that once I am on board, my horse should be ready to listen, work and have fun with me. Regardless of the enviroment we are in.

I always find the youngsters stand and watch. I think they are learning
wink.gif


Interesting subject to think about.
smile.gif
smile.gif
 
....yes but don't forget.......we are OLD!!
wink.gif
New ideas and all......

I don't mind plodding down their field to the gate bareback on a horse but when it is time for proper work then no their private place is not the place to be doing it I don't think.
 
I always used to when I lived at home with my parents because otherwise I would have been limited to hacking only. We used to rotate our fields use but we didnt have much space. They didnt seem bothered by working in the field they were grazing in last week.

Our YO says we can school in the turnout fields because we dont have a school but they are a bit too muddy at the moment, so we really dont have anywhere to school. It will be better in the summer when the fields dry out.

Cassandra
 
I wouldn't work a horse in his home field but I do ride the fences in the winter field for deer damage at the moment as I'm lazy and walking through 3' of snow is tiring, PP seems to enjoy the plod anyway.

If I want to work her I use the track or another field, or, the garden! Sssshhhhh don't tell OH, although hoofprints in the snow may be a bit of a giveaway
blush.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top