Yards with no turnout: How do your ponios cope?

To be honest I think your horse will be fine. It's not that he'll be stuck in a box 24/7 -- he will go out twice a day every day!

I'd say go for it, most horses cope fine with no turnout at all, if you say this is only a temporary measure because of the weather even better!
 
I would rather my horses were out in a crappy field with no grass and some hay to nibble on than not at all.


I would hate to be cooped up in my bathroom 24/7:(
 
ladyt25 said:
Plus, all this about the horses 'standing about all day wanting to come in'. How do people know they do this? Sure a horse will stand near to the yard and people if they are there (ours do this as well) but, when we go they mooch off and do their own thing. Of course they'll stand about when you're there - you may feed them, that's all they are really after! I'd much rather they chose to stand about than have it enforced on them.
Click to expand...

Mine live out 24/7 but when they see me they hang about becuase they asscoaite me with food!!!! but I know they dont stand there all day as when I poo pick I have to go round the whole field.

I don't think anyone has any grass over the winter really but that is what hay is for? isnt it?my field does get trashed over the winter but it grows back.
 
QR- if it was genuinely for a few weeks then i may possibly be able to go there.

however, if they are shutting the fields now i can bet you won't have turnout next winter either.
 
only_me said:
amymay -
The field is 6 acres and has been trashed all winter - we are waiting to roll it and my horse dosent gallop on field he canters about a bit and thats it. Has absolutely no grass on it and it only had 2 horses on it all winter!!
Click to expand...

If you have 6 acres with 2 horses would an option not be to tape off a section for them to have a leg stretch and rest most of the field.
 
millitiger said:
however, if they are shutting the fields now i can bet you won't have turnout next winter either.
Click to expand...

Yes, that would be my concern too. We've all (I think) just experiened the most wonderful period of 'settled' weather - which has really dried the ground up and allowed for harrowing and rolling to take place. And it's a worry that nothing on this yard would have been allowed out to graze during this time.

Where is the guarantee that the weather will be settled for any longer period of time in 5-6 weeks?
 
amymay said:
Would never consider moving to a yard that restricted turnout I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Ditto.
Going on a walker is not a substitute for turnout. Horses when turned out dont walk continually on a circle for an hour then stand still for the other 23. Mentally and physically limited turnout is very detrimental. Some horses show these problems quickly, others after a longer period of time but turnout is important for a lot more than just grazing.
 
My yard has 3 days per week turnout in the winter, although the fields were closed for a good few weeks when we had the bad weather.

My horse copes fine, she goes out every other day and is exercised and kept as amused as possible on the days that she's in. I found it really hard when the fields were closed completely and would'nt move to a yard with no turnout in winter but sometimes these things cant be helped.

I had a choice of staying where I was with every day turnout but an awful yard with next to no facilities or where I am now with great facilities but restricted turnout in the winter, you just need to weigh up the pros and cons that are important to you.
 
bethyboox said:
I had a choice of staying where I was with every day turnout but an awful yard with next to no facilities or where I am now with great facilities but restricted turnout in the winter, you just need to weigh up the pros and cons that are important to you.
Click to expand...

Too true! I have NO facilities....not even any hard standing or electricity. However, I would not sacrifice turnout for riding. What is important to me is the happiness of my horse. I can keep her fit hacking and still enjoy my riding.
 
No turnout (unless for box rest reasons) is an absolute no no to me. Can you hang fire and move in five or six weeks time maybe?
 
Sorry, but I'm another one who wouldnt consider keeping my horses anywhere that didnt allow reasonable daily access to turnout.
 
My three are on a yard where they are out 24/7 in the summer and in the winter stabled at night and in winter paddocks during the day, they get to go out in the big field once a week as long as the fields aren't too wet. All the horses on the yard just accept thats what happens, we have a outdoor school with lights so they get well exercised, did have a few problems with my 3yr old getting to excited when being led to the big field on the one day they can go out (i know the situation isn't ideal for him) when it was really dark and i didn't want to take him in the school with the lights (it could be a bit spooky sometimes and he had broken a wooden fence before).
 
don't have winter turn out and havent since november, the summer fields will open at the end of May. we don't have a horse walker either and we manage absolutly fine. My mare is happy and well balanced and used to her routine
 
Horses can survive on no turn out if they have a routine of being excercised by hacking them out for several hours each day (a bit like the old fashioned riding schools did) . However few privately owned horse get this level of excercise and I believe it is unfair to keep them couped up in stables like battery chicken. I know that there are the occasional horse that is happy staying within the confines of a stable all day but they are the exception.
I strongly believe that all yards should have sufficiently well maanged turn out for the number of stables they have. There are far too many yards operating which have got far too high a ratio of stables to turn out and it is unfare to the individual horses. Horses are animals that need time to roam freely and relax - they should never be treated like battery chicken.
If your horse is unhappy being ridden on the roads (a horse walker is no substitute) then I most certainly would not move to a yard with limited turnout. They may say next 6 weeks and it could end up all year if it is a wet Summer. Unfair on your horse.
 
And this is where Angua2 and I (being very good friends in Real Life) will never, ever see eye to eye. (How do I do a smiley thing?) I know that Angua2's horse Ru is happy, content and extremely well looked after at the yard where she is with no winter turnout. I can personally vouch for the fact that A2 cares for her extremely well.

Yet at the same time I am another 24/7/365 turnout advocate - and I would never opt to keep any horse of my own in such a yard. I know my horses are happy and healthy living out all year as they do - and I do strongly believe that with my own horses, because they know no different and haven't ever become habituated to stables/routine, would suffer psychologically if they were ever kept in a no turnout situation.

I appreciate that it's easy for me to say I would never keep my horse in such a yard - and that is the reason why I looked long and hard for a (rented) place of my own - where the decision as to whether or not to turnout is mine and mine alone - and I strongly believe my own horses are all the better off for it. At the same time I do fully appreciate that many people are not fortunate enough to be able to make such decisions and have to put up with what's available to them.
 
And getting back to the OP :p

If the yard has everything you need and normaly has turn out(ask the other liveries,bot the YO/YM who will,understandably be trying to fill the box and may not be as honest as they should) then your horse will cope for a few weeks.
I completly agree that in full time is not a good way to keep horses and that they should get as much turn out as possable,but as it will just be for a short space of time it is not the end of the world.
Look into the local hacking though-if you can take him out for walks and long hacks to stretch his legs in addition to the walker it will make a big difference.
 
Have you considered widening your search for a yard?

I appreciate your circumstances mean that your time is restricted, but how about a yard another 10 miles away and reduce the days you visit. Its obviously not ideal, but might be easier on the horse. I

Finding grazing or a yard without winter turnout restricions in my area is very tough. I'm lucky to have mine at home, but face this problem with winter holiday livery.

Another idea is to give us an idea of the area. We might be able to suggest a suitable yard.
 
I agree with anima, ask the other liveries what is usual. YO/YM may say 6 weeks, but they may have already been in for 3 months. If you have a choice between a yard with turnout and one without, then I would pick the yard with turnout (unless the yard is deficient in some other way i.e. unsafe fencing, lunatic YO etc)

Horses can and do cope perfectly well with no or limited turnout, provided they are in work. For a retired horse I would absolutely not agree, but for example Angua2's horse is perfectly happy and well looked after. In some areas it is just not possible to have AYTO because of ground conditions, it has nothing to do with overstocking. In winter, most of the fields would be reduced to a mud pool, and I think it is preferable for the horse to be in with lots of hay etc and taken out to stretch its legs, rather than standing knee deep in mud with nothing to eat for hours on end.
 
CBAnglo said:
In winter, most of the fields would be reduced to a mud pool, and I think it is preferable for the horse to be in with lots of hay etc and taken out to stretch its legs, rather than standing knee deep in mud with nothing to eat for hours on end.
Click to expand...

I don't see why people think that no grass = no food?! Horses can eat hay in the field!!! It is alot better for them than standing in eating from a haynet.

FWIW my mare LOOOOOVES mud!!! I think it is preferable to YOU to have a horse in rather than out in the mud but (unless in the case of horses who get severe mud fever) most horses couldn't care less if they are muddy or not.
 
I have kept a horse on a no winter turnout farm
He was hunted twice a week and hacked out or lunged on other days
They do get used to it
Much prefer what I do now which is rent grazing and I decide --according to weather forecast if they stay out or come in overnight. Wind and rain in at night, most other weather they stay out and are bucket fed and hayed in the field and rugged as needed.
 
The trouble is, some horses seem to cope well with no turnout, but others turn into absolute nightmares. If your horse has always received lots of turnout in the past you may not be able to predict how he/she will cope until you get to the new yard - and if he/she doesn't like it you will have to put up with the consequences!
 
MontyandZoom said:
I don't see why people think that no grass = no food?! Horses can eat hay in the field!!! It is alot better for them than standing in eating from a haynet.

FWIW my mare LOOOOOVES mud!!! I think it is preferable to YOU to have a horse in rather than out in the mud but (unless in the case of horses who get severe mud fever) most horses couldn't care less if they are muddy or not.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, not every yard will allow you to hay the fields - or in some cases, it is not appropriate/unsafe due to the herd etc.

And what do you know about what is preferable for me or my horses? Do you know me or my horses? For your information, I actually am one of the few people on my yard who turn out regardless of the weather and dont care at all about mud - that's why I have a large supply of rugs and in fact why I have moved yards in the last year - to get better turnout.

As for your opinion, it is worth very little to me after you have made such sweeping generalisations.
 
I am not particularly bothered whether my opinions are of consequence to anyone. This is a forum for sharing opinions and I have given mine.

This is a post about keeping horses in 24/7 and I really don't understand how anyone can try and say that being in ALL the time is preferable for ANY horse. I will make sweeping generalisations since all horses are herd animals whose natural environment is not cooped up in a little box 24 hours a day.

As for your post.........there was no reference in your post about you turning your horses out every day. The OP is asking about horses being in 24/7. THAT is what we are all talking about.

You can do whatever you like with your horses, but please don't get arsey with me when i haven't made any assumptions that weren't implied by your post.
 
I'm on a yard now with not much turn out, or the size of a postage stamp and the grazing is rubbish in summer too, as more moss, nettles,weeds than grass, and when the grass goes here, it takes forever to pop back up again, never gets looked after unless I do it, also when it rains, the water stays on the land here for days... I'm moving myself in a few weeks times as not putting up with it anymore, and would never go to a yard again like it is here. we have a horse walker, lovely school but thats it... horses are heard animals, not to be in their stables all the time nor to stand in mud all day long...
 
MontyandZoom said:
I am not particularly bothered whether my opinions are of consequence to anyone. This is a forum for sharing opinions and I have given mine.
Click to expand...

Really? you were beside yourself earlier when you got a little pat on the head.

I prefer to treat horses as individuals - some like being out, others really do not.

And there was nothing implied in my post about how I kept my horses or what is preferable to me - you chose to read into it (incorrectly) so maybe you should stick to commenting on what has actually been said. I said if there is a choice between a horse standing knee deep in mud with nothing to eat all day then I would prefer said horse to be in a stable with hay.

Maybe what you should have implied from that, is that if field could be hayed then that would be preferable to me (as this in fact the case).

OP - if you feel that you are able to keep your horse without turnout for any period of time and the yard suits your horse and you, then move. Otherwise, maybe look around for a small private yard which might suit better. It is difficult to find the perfect yard, so all things being equal, I would pick the yard which suited the horse better, in terms of turn out, stable size etc. Good luck with your decision, in most cases it isnt easy to make the decision to move!
 
Well 12 months ago I would have been in the camp of no way would I keep my horse in 24/7 I alway have had my horses out as much as poss 24/7 all summer and most of winter. but last year things changed. My horse damaged her tendon and was put on strict box rest rehab programme. She is quite highly strung and could be quite a handful to say the least. needless to say I was dreding at least 6 months of box rest! after 4 months I then got a new job which included my horse with everything included but the down side was no turnout from Oct till April. well she still had another 2 months of box rest and rehab to go so went for it (having the job without the horse there out of question due to hours). And can honestly say she has been in for 10months and I am truely amazed with how happy she is. I am very lucky though as I hand walk her for grass at lest once a day she is being ridden now up to an hour of reasonable work and will quite often hand walk her again or we have a small woodchip pen she goes in for an hour. people that knew her before have seen her and said how chilled she is and happy she seems. I am also lucky in that we have indoor schools to turn out in if they need to let off steam. but I would say 90% of the horses on the yard do very well with no turnout they do go out regualy and get plently of hay and attention. but I would say don't knock it till ypu have tried it. Sure I would still love to have her out 24/7 but it was not possiable for several reasons I was really worried about but she has been fab now im jus worried about turning out in a few weeks!!!
 
Faro said:
And this is where Angua2 and I (being very good friends in Real Life) will never, ever see eye to eye. (How do I do a smiley thing?) I know that Angua2's horse Ru is happy, content and extremely well looked after at the yard where she is with no winter turnout. I can personally vouch for the fact that A2 cares for her extremely well.

Yet at the same time I am another 24/7/365 turnout advocate - and I would never opt to keep any horse of my own in such a yard. I know my horses are happy and healthy living out all year as they do - and I do strongly believe that with my own horses, because they know no different and haven't ever become habituated to stables/routine, would suffer psychologically if they were ever kept in a no turnout situation.

I appreciate that it's easy for me to say I would never keep my horse in such a yard - and that is the reason why I looked long and hard for a (rented) place of my own - where the decision as to whether or not to turnout is mine and mine alone - and I strongly believe my own horses are all the better off for it. At the same time I do fully appreciate that many people are not fortunate enough to be able to make such decisions and have to put up with what's available to them.
Click to expand...

In actual fact I agree with Faro more than she realises. In an ideal world I would have my girl at somewhere where AYTO is an option, however, at my location grazing is at a premium at the best of times (as both Faro and CB anglo can attest to), and I cater accordingly. I do worry that my lass is instituionalised, as if she does go out into what passes for winter turnout she lasts for 30 minutes (if I am lucky) before she breaks out and comes back to her stable. But at the end of the day, it is a routine that she is used to. She is happy, healthy and as well balanced as any other horse, so I cannot complain
 
Last edited:
I am in the perhaps enviable situation of having land and stables at home - and my horses get turned out at least 10am-4pm every day, HOWEVER I don't keep my stallion at home - he is on a yard with restricted turnout, and in fact at this time of year he doesn't go out in the field at all, and is MUCH happier - he hates being out in weather, has a lovely big box, and really enjoys the social aspect of being on a yard, where he can see 'his herd' and has a good routine - he is a very happy and relaxed horse - I have the choice to have him at home with as much turnout as I want, and yet I would rather pay livery for my horse to keep him content - as has already been said, all horses are individuals, and you have to assess what YOUR horse needs to be happy - yes it is natural for horses in the wild to be grazing all day etc, but we have domesticated these animals after all, as long as your horse is happy and healthy that is what counts
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top