How Much Turnout Is Enough For A Horse?
We know that horses have evolved to roam and forage, so it makes sense that our equine friends benefit from getting as much turnout time as possible. If your horse doesn’t live out 24/7, how much turnout is enough for a horse? In this blog, we discuss.
Health & Wellbeing & Turnout
We know that field time is an essential element of your horse’s well-being. Horses stabled for extended periods will often develop gastric ulcers and be prone to coughs, respiratory inflammatory issues, and associated stiffness of mobility.
That’s not to say horses with turnout are resistant to developing the above health issues; they are less likely to encounter problems given their free access to forage and movement combined.
How Long Should You Turn A Horse Out?
This will depend on your horse and the conditions in which you are turning your horse out. If your horse is in a livery yard, you may have no other option but to follow its whole yard’s routine, which may change seasonally.
Often, livery yards will have decreased turnout during the winter months due to a lack of field rotation options or poor grazing. They may need to ‘rest’ fields in readiness for spring.
Ideally, 8 – 12 hours would be a good amount of grazing time. However, there are other factors you need to consider.
Considerations In Turnout Time
The ground conditions, grass quality and availability are all important considerations. In the autumn and spring, grass sugars can cause laminitis, so consumption needs to be monitored carefully; this may require strip grazing or reduced field time to prevent laminitis outbreaks.
During scorching and dry summers, the ground may become hard and baked, and any grass dies off, leaving horses open to concussive injuries and nothing to eat.
The fields may become slippery and hard to navigate in the winter due to heavy rain and mud. This can cause ligament and tendon injuries and lost shoes, making it a haven for mud fever to take hold.
Factors To Remember
Only some horses will enjoy 24/7 turnout or want to stay out in the field during bad weather. Young, ill or older horses may struggle with lengthened turnout time during the colder months, so monitoring individual horses carefully is essential.
Some horses are just a liability to themselves and will gallop around regardless of ground conditions, especially if there is no grass and no hay being provided in the field. To prevent accidents, these horses may be better suited to have short turnout periods in the field when the grass is poor, with increased daily exercise or additional access to a small turnout pen with a consistent surface.
Some horses don’t enjoy being out under the beating sun, or in the pouring rain, so again, you may find that if your horse is stood by the gate waiting to come in for any length of time, you might want to consider reducing their turnout, time for a while and gradually increasing it when the weather improves.
Enjoyed This Blog? You Might Enjoy Does My Horse Need Supplements?
