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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 12, 2010 20:26:35 GMT 1
Thats what happens at the uni i went to no turnout from about October till April/May time. The cases of colic rocket over the winter, and so do the cases of ambulances being called to injured students because their horses have gone bonkers. Can you blame them?!?!
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Post by donnalex on Dec 12, 2010 20:26:48 GMT 1
I dont think it is fair on a horse that is not getting a lot of work. Fair enough if they are hacking out every day and hunting twice a week they may not really need it but youngstock, broodmares, retired horses and leisure horses whose owners are at work all day through the week need to get out in the field to keep them happy.
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Post by mandal on Dec 12, 2010 21:06:45 GMT 1
I think so much time in a box is unacceptable personally. No doubt it's to keep the fields looking nice!
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Azrael
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,733
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Post by Azrael on Dec 12, 2010 21:19:31 GMT 1
I'm at a yard that doesn't have turnout in fields most of winter but we do use the school for turnout and it works pretty well. The fields get really muddy so most of the horses aren't too impressed with going out there, and if they do go out they get fed up pretty quick, Mia is an especially big wuss and perches on the ramp into the school looking disgusted at the whole idea of getting her feet wet . Instead we throw them out in the school for a bit 2-3 at a time and they play or groom each other or whatever and seem pretty happy with it. I think a lot of the reason they cope so well is our nice stables that let them see each other through the partitions and a good routine with plenty of entertainment from the slaves throughout the day. I'd love to have proper turnout every day through winter but I'd rather our routine with the school than throwing them out in mud all day.
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Post by gordo on Dec 12, 2010 21:34:22 GMT 1
Hhmm, mud is par for the course with horses and I fear many owners tolerate lack of turnout in favour of a clean horse! I know that is a strong statement but speaking from my own personal experience, they are horses not 4 legged humans!
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Post by jes on Dec 12, 2010 22:00:59 GMT 1
I think this is sadly far too common.
Most of the yards by us have restricted turnout in winter and most didn't turn out at all during the snow over the past two weeks.
I'm very lucky in that my YO turns out every day. My two are on a small winter paddock now, to save their summer grazing, but they get to go out every day. My gelding would be uncontrollable if he had to stay in Nov to May! It would be dangerous to ride him.
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emma
Olympic Poster
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Post by emma on Dec 12, 2010 22:04:10 GMT 1
Some of the livery yards round here close their fields from September to April so the horses get 10 mins in an arena or on a walker
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Post by sandy on Dec 12, 2010 22:13:12 GMT 1
I think no turnout/ very limited turnout is awful. My horse can go out all day, every single day and I wouldnt want it any other way. There are things at my yard that annoy me but I can put up with things so long as my horse can have turnout. Many yards in my area now have restricted turnout - looks like i'll be staying put!
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companymagic
Grand Prix Poster
Horses are for life not just for riding....
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Post by companymagic on Dec 12, 2010 22:26:11 GMT 1
Our yard is the same... We have massive 20plus acres fields and they still get closed when it is wet or rains over winter.. And then when Summer comes we have some much grass no one can go out 24/7 as they get sick!! Grrrr
But I have this year rented a small paddock next to my yard, so I can still turn out when its wet and in the summer I can have my ponies out 24/7 without getting to fat.. Only down side is the cost! I have to pay twice in effect.. Keeping two Natives is very expensive where I am :-(
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Post by sara on Dec 12, 2010 22:52:14 GMT 1
Lloyd is one of the most easy going, chilled out horses I have ever met. But even he, after a week of box rest a couple of years ago, his behaviour was horrendous. I could not even imagine keeping him in any longer than necessary.
Even when we had nearly 2 foot of snow last week Lloyd was out every day without fail. He enjoys going out, and he is a horse, he is designed to be outdoors
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Post by bertie666 on Dec 12, 2010 22:57:17 GMT 1
Im honestly appalled at the idea it is better for the horse to be in a tiny box all the time!!! Holy sh!t what do you think they did about mud before humans arrived?! FLEW?!
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Post by gordo on Dec 12, 2010 22:58:58 GMT 1
Makes you wonder why livery prices are so high when they impose such strict regimes!!
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milo
Grand Prix Poster
milo, lily, bob,henry and monty
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Post by milo on Dec 12, 2010 23:21:48 GMT 1
theres about 65 horses on this yard,so ive been told, poor things,i'd rather have mud and a happy horse!!
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daisysp8
Grand Prix Poster
People only see what they are prepared to see
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Post by daisysp8 on Dec 12, 2010 23:38:26 GMT 1
A place local to us is the same, no turnout at all End of Oct through to beginning of May ... I can`t think of anything worse
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Post by kafee on Dec 12, 2010 23:48:07 GMT 1
Thankfully mine are natives and are out 24/7, with a shelter. However, I've been unable to get on with schooling my 6 year old in the field this year due to the drought and lack of grass. There is a sand school 5 minutes away, which the YO would happily let me rent, but if I do, it means that some horses can't be turned out for the day, so I won't use it.
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