myhorsefaith
Junior BB Member
Run, baby, run... I miss you.
Posts: 71
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Post by myhorsefaith on Dec 29, 2005 16:58:08 GMT -5
I think horses do just fine on 24/7 turnout with in/out access to shelter (I prefer that), but also do fine being stalled at night (and some of my horses truly love their stalls). However, when I boarded my horses I shunned the fancy dressage barns for the run-down multi-discipline barn with huge pastures the horses went out in all day every day. I figure, unless I am committed to showing up every single day to work my horse, it is not acceptable to keep them stalled. And even if I was exercising them every day, I still wouldn't like it. I've seen that too- some horses like their stalls! My ottb in particular had a huge stall, and daily turnout. yet, she was hardly manageable with that situation, and started getting vices. ever since the rough board with shelter, she has done a complete turn around. Very happy horse now. They are all different. I've been looking for some no frills places for Zany, and i havent really found anything. i figured she'd be OK with a stall and daily turn out. i just dont like seeing a horse be pent up all day in a box. it is like paying for them to be miserable! And i know with my schedule- i'm not going to be out there every day. so continuous stalling just isnt an option for me. -Ally
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Post by pdevlieg on Dec 29, 2005 17:27:42 GMT -5
I am greatly in favor of 24/7 turnout also. My horses all live together. In the winter and for nights spring/summer/fall, they stay in what I consider my winter paddock. It's not quite an acre and is mostly gravel, hogsfuel and trees. It does have two shelters, but most of the time the horses perfer to stand under a tree rather than in a shelter. They have 3 grass pastures for day turnout during the nice weather, but since I want them to stay grass and live in the ever wet Washington, I don't let the horses on them at all during the really wet months.
The pony we just recently got was quite nervous even though he was in a great home. He had daily turnout and a big lush stall at night. Now, even being at the bottom of the herd of females, he is so much calmer than he was before. I haven't ever seen him act nervous or spooky since he moved in. What I like most about the all day turnout is that the horses really get to be a herd. Knowing their place and being with other horses is so important mentally for most of these animals - I only wish I had those 100 acres!
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Post by tatesmom on Dec 29, 2005 22:31:35 GMT -5
Tate and Ginger get fed separately but then I open the gate to the extra 2.5 acres for them(hills and valleys of grass)At night, I keep them in the lower smaller pasture with the run in, because its close to my bedroom, I feel I need to hear them to feel safer at night, but, they are both funny girls, at night I put their blankets on to keep off the chill...during the days, I remove them to blow off the stink...hehe
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