Stabled at night to 24/7 turnout?

[OldSpeclkledHen]

Yikes, just given notice at my current yard, I love it there, but it's a long old drive, and I'm not spending quality time with the horse.

A fab opportunity has arisen much closer to home, its 24/7 turnout in a small herd...

Am I completely nuts to move in December?! 😳

Tell me she'll cope going from stabled at night to being out 24/7?!

Gargh! Why do we have horses?!

C’mon. You are a horse owner. Are you really telling me you haven’t got a rug for every occasion? Horse will be fine.

Won't they huddle together to keep warm as well as sporting a new winter rug to appease your guilt?

Also, ask a Canadian what temperatures their horses stay out in.

More seriously, is there any shelter in the field? That will make a lot of difference.

I would be more concerned about her fitting in with an existing herd than her living out , although I’m not sure I would have made the move at this time of the year . Has she ever lived out 24/7 , some really don’t like it . We have a 27 yr old native and she used to summer out and really seemed to like it but she hit 20 and can’t be persuaded to stay out at all overnight now .

She'll be fine. When we rough off racehorses they just get slung out on a hill bare and left to get on with it. Do you have somewhere hard standing to bring her in to check/tack up/see the vet or be shod though? As none of this is ideal in a muddy field. You won't be able to clip her really so will have to be pretty slow work. Most horses are chronically over rugged and most don't need it at all but most owners cannot get their heads around this. Rugging actually flattens the coat where a fluffed up up coat really is the best insulation along with ad lib good quality hay. Will this be available? (Rugs or not) having spares if you are rugging is important for very wet weather. Do you have a contingency plan in case she doesn't fit in to the herd? A few things to think about

How are they feeding hay over the winter?

Mine used to get bullied and was starving as they didn’t put out a pile of hay per horse + at least one extra, all well distanced. They only put out four piles for six horses. Idiots.

Was better when they split the field and got a ring feeder. The hay lasted longer too. But I know not everyone likes ring feeders for horses.

Mine had mud fever a couple of times and I had to have about five winter rugs as there was nowhere to dry them so I had to take them home and put in the kitchen. I missed the stable wall and tack room heater a lot! What a stink the wet rugs gave off! Like wet dog!

I eventually got a shed in my garden at home and a oil filled heater and slung the rugs in there to dry. The kitchen smelled much better!!

I also got a field shelter for my horse but his friends bullied him and he was never allowed in! I moved.

There is plenty acreage/shelter and some hard standing for farrier/vet

She's unclipped currently, wearing just an Amigo rain sheet (she rarely gets more than 100gram on anyway)

Don't have many rugs, but the rugs she does have are Rhino/Horseware, so all good quality.

She has lived out 24/7 before.

Main concerns of moving are;

It'll be December! (Never moved in winter before) The short days worry me in case there a problem settling in

And going into an established herd (she knows one of the horses from years ago) Could separate her with the old friend, but concerned they'll be silly if the remaining herd of 5 move out of sight (even though they'd have each other?)

Anyone else switched so late in the year?

I wouldn't worry about the time of year. The horses won't care if it's dark or not, that won't affect socialisation. She'll adjust to the temperatures quickly, they vary so much in Uk winters anyway, but having dry rugs is far more important than warm ones so maybe invest in a couple more, full necks could be handy. Unless she's a very dominant mare she'll likely be accepted fine but otherwise if separated with her friend I doubt that will be an issue unless the other has a specific bond with one of the horses

Friends of ours had to do this, this time last year as their stable block burned down (thankfully during the day whilst the horses were out) with rugs they've been fine. In fact one of them is much better out than in.

She'll be fine, rug appropriately and ensure there's enough hay (ignore any pitiful looks asking to be brought in!).

Do try and manage the 'introduction' to the new herd as best you can, in days of yore we just used to chuck the new one out and leave them to it, though most of the time no serious consequences resulted there nearly always were kicks and bites and stressed out horses for the first week or so (not just to the new horse either, the whole herd pecking order would be disturbed) and I have heard of serious field injuries happening when a new horse is brought in on rare occasions, so I do think the 'modern' way of gradual introductions is better. Ideally you would create a separate adjoining fenced off pen/small area just for your mare and give her 2-3 days in there, then introduce one other horse (not the most or least dominant of the herd, a nice quiet non trouble making type), then give the 2 of them time there together for a day or 2, then mix them both in with the main herd - ideally in daytime when you can be there to supervise (cover your eyes as they hooley around!) and not at feeding time to reduce initial conflict. Obviously it being winter may make this a bit harder and consult with the YO as to practicalities (she may not be that keen on sub-dividing too much to protect the land) and also if your mare is very prone to separation anxiety you might want to reduce or remove the step where she's on her own first but do your best. Good luck!

Thanks everyone 🙂

She is a dominant mare (but also independent once she's settled, but moves do unsettle her) However, normally just a look from her and others move out of her way ...

She'll be going into an established herd of 7, I'm not sure of the current herd dynamics.

There is already a sectioned off bit that she can go in with one other, but I'd worry how they'd be when the others disappear from view... Guess I need to talk to yard owner about this.

She does have a couple of good quality turnout rugs, with liners, but also she could do with losing some weight, so always tend to rug less.

It's all been agreed though, hopefully moving in the next couple of weeks! Eeek!

Think about it logically - are you warmer moving about or standing still? As long as she's dry and has plenty of food, she will be much happier and healthier living out than being stuck in the fanciest stable. We have 6 horses and the last time one was in a stable over night was 2017!!

If she's not clipped just be careful about over-rugging. I have an elderly TB who lives out 24/7 after being stabled over-night for years (but we moved in October so not so late in the year). The first year at our current place and I rugged him to the eyeballs despite being unclipped. He was very uncomfortable poor lad, and got very very itchy. Last year I left him unrugged totally unless it was set to rain for 24 hours plus in which case I put a lightweight rain sheet on but without a neck. He was fine! Well into December now and he's not had a rug on at all so far.

The other one living out with him is much tougher in terms of breeding and NEVER has a rug on. She's fine too.

She will be far happier and very grateful! Don’t worry.

Hope it goes well for you :)