You shouldn't have youngsters in - they need to be out!

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Berkeley

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I have decided to bring my youngster in at night for the winter - despite most people saying he should be out as his age (4). I have just backed him and he has become a cheeky little sh*t - I think its the best way of a) creating a bond and b)showing some discipline (not punishment, but routine). Plus, I get to see him every night nicely tucked up - even though he will hate me for it humph!

Anyone else have their youngsters in? Have you been told its not the best thing to do!?
 
Your horse, your choice...

We just kept ours living out, it was more the way of the world years ago with horses imo, they were perfectly happy, healthy and very well mannered without stabling
 
My foal will be brought in overnight and turfed out during the day no matter what
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and he will be rugless even though his mum wont be....been advised to let him rough it and that will be my intentions but not definatly going to happen that way you know what they say about the best of intentions...just go with what your comfortable with
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He's fine, we actually brought him at night from a 2yr old as he would have been left out on his own, he's still cheeky though. It did get him used to being tied up and used to someone working around him in the stable, manners being fed etc.
 
My yearling is out just because she can be, when they move back home she will have to be stabled at night due to lack of grazing. I don't mind too much as she needs to brush up on a few manners and it will be easier to do when she is in.
 
QR- All of my horses, from foals to veterans live out. It is better for their musculoskeletal system, digestive system and mental health. Horses are not designed to walk 2 steps and be stopped by a wall, eat from haynets, etc. I use stables as and when needed (flies/weather/getting ready to ride) but not as a matter of course.

But i agree with pussinboots, your horse, your choice. I am pro living out but not totally anti stables!
 
My 3 yr old has always been stabled at night during the winter. She's spent the summers living out 24/7. Moving her a year ago to a yard where she has a proper routine has been the best thing for her. She lived out most of the summer but now it's winter she's back in at night, I think it's been good for teaching her manners and handling x
 
There's an 18month filly in pretty much permanently over winter where my share horses are. She gets out for a run twice a day, plenty of food and out in the field when it's nice. She's not a typical baby though, she doesn't run around on her own accord even when she gets let out after being in all night. She's happy next to her adoptive mum in the warm. And her manners are gradually coming back after the summer.

Personally, if it were my youngster i would absolutely make sure they got out in the day at least, but i don't see the problem with being in at night.
 
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Why tell them to bog off?
Berkeley was just asking for opinions and wanted to know what other people do. No need to be rude.

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Her OP actually asked what people do "as most people" were saying her youngster should be out..I think the *bog off* was meant for the interfering people.
 
I see nothing wrong with youngsters having access to a stable as long as they get turnout. My youngsters where always stabled during the winter during the night, and even though they lived out most of the time during the warmer months they always enjoyed coming in for a few hours during the day for a rest/haynet/fuss.
 
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Not to worry Mockingbird. FYI - I don't tend to use words like bog off - I prefer words like F-off!
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PMSL yep I think that is defo more apt for interfering numpties...
 
yeah my boys in he's just turned 5 many people at the top yard on the estate have youngsters in from the age of three and my cousin keeps his colt in about 10 months old now but he doesnt have a choice whether he has him out or not overnight

if you think about 4 year olds on competition livery etc they are in as are fillys in training to race the majority of them are in arent they?(not 100% on that one)
 
my yearling filly who is a mini is in at night as my big 2 come in and it saves grazing.she would be unsettled on her own and is a star to handle catch etc.
 
My yougster (2 and a half ) is out as much as possible. Been coming in at night for the last 5 days and will have most nights in now over the winter. Comes in as late as poss and out by 7.30 am every day what ever the weather. He is a well behaved boy and i think the daily leading and handling does him good.
 
My 2 yr old comes in at night in the winter, as my other 2 come in. He gallops to me at night to come in, so I guess he is happy with the arrangement, despite just having gone onto the winter grazing where there is plenty of grass. He isnt overly eager to get out in the mornings either.....

I think we all do what we think is best/suits our situations best, and though opinions and advice are wonderful, there comes a time when you have to make up your own mind........
 
In an ideal world, my 4yr old would be living out, but it is simply not possible as there is nothing else living out for her to have as company over the winter. Therefore in the winter she is in at night, out in the day. In the summer, she is out 24/7. If I had an unbacked youngster, they would stay out 24/7 all the time, as I wouldnt need the same access to afacilities I do with my ridden youngster, that necessitates her being on the routine above
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I think it is completely up to you, it's your horse and your routine. Sure, people will have opinions but you know, I think voice them and then leave it at that.

I would have my youngster out 24/7 but at the start of this week, all the other horses have been coming in and although I know he is perfectly happy on his own, other yard users aren't such fans and also fields are starting to get muddy and they don't want them churned up so he's started coming in. I'm just doing it to keep things simple but if it was vice versa, I'd think it's my time and my bedding etc. so stuff 'em lol!

I'm a wuss and have rugged a couple of times too, only light weight one to keep he a bit dryer and cleaner, not so much for warmth, he's hairy enough for that lol.
 
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