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Post by Kath the Magic Dragon on Nov 1, 2013 16:00:35 GMT
Are your horses out/in/bit of both? Why - is it yard-dictated or what works best for you? Ours are in at night all year round. We always used to have them in during the day in summer and out at night, and then the reverse in the winter, but when Gus was about 2 he turned into an amazingly good doer so we started taking him and his fieldmate in at night to minimise grass time. Ammi then started coming in for the same reason, so it was just Flash and his girlfriend who were on the 'summer' routine in summer. His girlfriend's owner then decided she wanted her in at night in summer as well, so poor old Flash had to do the same (he needs out as much as possible due to arthritis - we get around this by leaving his stable door open so he can roam around). I dont think i could cope with horses out now at night. I find it a lot easier and they seem to love their routine; it minimises fat bellies and also minimises poo picking, i'd rather muck out than poo pick a field any day  |
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Post by haltnotsquare on Nov 1, 2013 16:19:31 GMT
In the summer ours go out 24/7 and then come autumn, usually Bonfire night at the latest they come in at night.
If we had better grazing they could probably be out later in the year but our field gets pretty wet. gthen again if we had better grazing the good doer that is Splash would need to spend more time in!!
This year has been a vast improvement on last year - they had to come in at night in September because the weather was soooooo awful!
I do like seeing them tucked up for the night
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Post by buster on Nov 1, 2013 17:01:07 GMT
Previously in at nights during the winter.
Now out full time with big shelter that gets bedding in winter.
Why. . . .long story but at last yard there where just too many injuries and new horses always coming and going, when the bay got a very bad kick that was an operate or pts job when he was still at the bush I got a field two minutes from the house as just couldn't take him back to previous yard. It has worked out well and although I miss them tucked up in there jammies they are happy as Larry and I don't have to worry about new horses in and out off their field, it just my two and a friends pony. Also less travel time can just walk across a field if we get snowed in .
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Post by jeni17 on Nov 1, 2013 23:30:40 GMT
Mine are out all the time, but my stables are in the field and the doors are left open so they can come and go as they want. If the weather is really bad they still want to be out, much as I keep suggesting they might want to stay in!
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Post by sparkler on Nov 2, 2013 7:06:02 GMT
Summer due to having good do-ers they are in the paddock at the stables which is only around 1.3 acres, I split that into 3 and strip graze as well, if Im short of grass I supplement with hay. Stables doors open at all times for them so they can tootle into the yard and get in from flies/weather.
Winter - out, Joker has no rug unless its very wet ( as per the past 2 winters) they go onto the cattle/sheep fields which have lots of excellent natural shelter and I only feed hay when it snows as there is so much for them. Storrim needs to be out and keep moving and he wears a medium weight rug - a heavy and he sweats in it. They turn almost feral.
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Post by gill on Nov 2, 2013 9:42:17 GMT
Mine are all out 24/7 unless there's a apecific management reason for them to be in (ie, if I'm trying to ride one or handle something over the winter). With 14 beasts on the property and only 5 stables I don't have any other option. This winter they are most definitely staying out as there is no way I could muck out every day with a bump or baby. I actually find the bind of them having to come in really tying, you always have to be there to bring in and turn out and Flare in particular starts waiting to come in from about 3pm and just stands at the gate shrieking until he comes in, then he's desperate to get out again in the morning.
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Post by bingbong on Nov 2, 2013 23:12:04 GMT
my Welsh pony is in at night all year round
but two warmbloods are out 24/7 in summer in a rubbish three acre field with feed twice a day and come in for a couple hours to get hay and a wee sleep. I mostly ride at night after my daughter is in bed, in the summer.
and winter they are all in at night and go out in the 16 acre (cows field) during the day with haylage and less hard feed. in the winter I ride in the morning while my daughter is at nursery
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Post by bingbong on Nov 2, 2013 23:15:25 GMT
gill I feel your pain how far into your pregnancy are you?
I thought the same about mucking out but it wasn't too bad, but then I only had two then!
I was actually in labour while filling haynets, had to make sure my other babies were sorted lol before I went to hospital
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Post by gill on Nov 3, 2013 10:12:58 GMT
I'm 36 weeks today and starting to suffer from PGP so mucking out definitely isn't an option, really hoping I don't have to have a section as that will render me even more useless than I currently am!
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Post by minstrel on Nov 4, 2013 20:29:02 GMT
Ted is in all year round. He is a great big pansy and so comes in at 12 every day. Soon he will have friends in the field he will have my shetland Angus and George my baba, they will be out all year round so I am hoping I can lengthen his turnout, whether or not this will work I have no idea but since we are planning our own place and I plan to keep him out all Summer at least I hope this does work for him  |
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Post by gemzy on Nov 5, 2013 12:34:59 GMT
Mine are in all year round too. Out during the day for 6 / 7 hours then ridden and in at night. Harry has to stay off grasss for laminitis / EMS and Tom cant get too fat as cant have weight on his stifles. In the winter though they are very keen to come into their bed otherwise Harry is a proper grumpy guts! lol
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