Would YOU compromise on turnout for other facilities?

not had chance to read all of the replies but IMO, once you and your horse have got used to lots of turnout - its hard to go back to restricted turnout.
You may also say that its £10 cheper, obviously it depends on if it includes bedding etc but i guess now you dont really use any bedding, much hay in the summer, at the new yard, you will be buying it all year around.
I know for me, i couldnt go back to restricted turnout for my horses, but thats just me.

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
nope, i couldn't move to a yard with restricted turnout.

i would keep looking and try to find a yard with turnout and a few facilities
 
We went to a yard with what tuned out to be restricted turnout. The place had good faciliites, but actually getting to use them was difficult and the hacking was pants.

Where we are now, the hacking is good, we anticipated year round 24/7 turnout, but there isn't a manege/lighting: I now ride early in the morning (six-ish) and I can see there is going to be a problem in autumn/winter
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The potential new yard sounds like it would be worth a go - if you're happier, your horse might settle well.
 
It seems I'm going to be the odd one out here because YES, I would (& do) compromise on turnout for other facilities.

I'm on a big yard with a 20x40 indoor school with mirrors down one short side, a 30x70 outdoor school with a decent set of jumps, a lunge pen, a fab YO, lots of friendly liveries, nice staff & BD & unaffiliated dressage (just in case I ever turn to the dark side) every couple of weeks. I love the yard & couldn't cope without the schools & all the people but the downside is our turnout isn't fab. Our horses are in at the moment 'cos our fields are like swamps & we have no winter turnout at all.

I cope with the lack of turnout & so does my horse. He's an ex-racer & I don't think he's ever had much turnout. He doesn't seem at all unhappy being stabled & is worked every day. He also gets turned out in the lunge pen for a bit of a hoon around when he needs it. I know people will argue that I'm keeping him 'caged' & he's probably miserable but I really believe he isn't. He's the nicest, most chilled out horse but has been seen to weave in the past. If he's worked daily he never weaves but when I gave him a week off at the start of 'summer' he was being turned out all day but was standing weaving in the evening when he'd normally be being ridden. His previous owner told me he liked to be in work & she was right. He also doesn't really seem to graze, he only uses the field as an excuse to run which unfortunatley causes him to lose weight & condition.

I really think some horses aren't that fussed about turnout & I'm lucky to have one of those. I would never buy/keep a horse that needed constant turnout as I need to be on a busy yard with good facilities so it wouldn't be fair to me or the horse.
 
Putting aside the mental issues for a moment or two. I prefer my horses to get decent daily turnout because I think it is a more healthy option. They get fresh air, and they are continually gently exercising their joints etc. My chirpractor lady comments on how quickly my live-out ponies recover from problems after she's worked on them, she says that this is common with horses that are out 24/7. I have one who comes in at night, but even in winter he's out at least 10 hours a day. I don't think that a bit of lunging, exercise, maybe a half hour turnout in an arena can ever be a substitute for the constant movement of a horse that is turned out in a field.
Just to add, unless the horse had severe mental issues, I would never keep a horse turned out alone either. I've rehabbed several horses now that supposedly couldn't be turned out with others, and after they have been transformed. But there's another can of worms.
 
Depends on the horse tbh!

BUT horse aside, if you are on DIY and on restricted turnout, you will have to go down a minimum of 2x daily. You will also have to work your horse everyday when not being turned out, as it is not fair for them to stand in all day without a leg stretch! Also, take into consideration how much feed/hay/bedding will cost you with a horse in more often. The yard sounds fab, but take all of this into consideration with your decison
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