How long should horses be turned out?
Hi!
That sounds great if those times work for you and your horsesš
Many things affect how long it is sensible to keep horses out. Assuming the people can adapt, here are some examples of why horses might not want to be out around the clock:
š„ Insects: at this time of year there can be a lot of midges in the afternoon and evening, so you may need to bring in the most sensitive horses. Rugs and insect spray are sometimes enough, but not always. You can bring the horses in for the worst hours of the evening and then turn them out again later on. Earlier in the summer, horseflies and ordinary flies are common, and biting insects can be a real torment for horses. They struggle to settle to eat or rest, so many horses appreciate coming in to rest during the warmest hours of the day.
š„Field shelter: if you have a shelter in the field that the horses choose to use, that can be enough, and you avoid bringing them into the stable. Horses often use a field shelter, or choose to go in, on hot days with heavy insect pressure rather than when it is cold.
š„Temperature: horses cope with both higher and lower temperatures than we do. They rarely get cold as long as they can eat and stay dry. In strong wind and rain they like to seek shelter.
š„Wildlife: at certain times of year, animals such as elk and wild boar change their routes and can suddenly come very close to the horses, sometimes into their fields. Sometimes this is no problem, but if your fields, fencing or indeed your horses are not an ideal mix with wildlife, you may need to bring them in as darkness falls.
š„Ground type: if you have grass fields, perhaps with varied terrain such as woodland and meadow, there is stimulation, food and the chance to shelter from the weather. The horses can probably stay out longer than in a dull, square, gravelled field.
š„The horses themselves: the make-up of the herd affects how they get on in the field and which times suit them at different points in the year.
The best thing is to know your horses well. It is worth watching them in the field at different times of day to see whether their behaviour changes, as that can affect how long they can be out.
Keeping horses out all the time is not automatically the best option. Among other things it needs good ground without mud, enough space for every horse, and generous room for the horses to seek shelter.
Good luckš¤©š“
