Why don’t you turn your horses out every day?
We don’t believe in pre-exhausting a horse. It is most commonly done so that the horse will be more ridable, but this is not the same as actually training a horse. Same as underfeeding a horse because it has too much energy and is hard to control. Horses need to be able to build muscle, not starve them into submission. You can not develop a horse that isn’t getting enough to eat. To reach the highest levels of Dressage a horse has to have a tremendous amount of energy but be submissive.
If it has learned to be submissive simply because it is tired, or weak, this is not training. I’m not sure why horseowners think their horses are having such a great time. Some horses I see turned out in large areas look terrified as they run around screaming for their mates and are most intent on finding a way to get back to them. Horses are herd animals and to be separated from the herd in their minds can mean danger and vulnerability. Or the other scenario are the horses that aren’t affected and you see their owners trying to scare them into acting scared and running around chasing them.
8 responses to “Why don’t you turn your horses out every day?”
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Helle says: I am not sure if i get this straight; your horses aren’t let out to pasture? Or am i mistaken?
I love your website, your riding really speaks to me and is a great inspiration. I love how horse-friendly it is.
But in my book the 23 hours a day where the horse is not ridden is at least as important. Horses are social animals built to move around all day. This is not compatible with a life in a stall…
So i am a firm beliver in horses being out all day with fellow horses! This is key to a happy and healthy horse.
In my experience if the horse is out every day it will have a better allround condition and actually be less easy to tire out doing excersise..
So i am hoping i misunderstood something here 🙂
Thanks for a lovely blog and sry for spelling mistakes, i am from Denmark, so english is just a second language for me 🙂
All the best
Helle
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Admin says:
Hello Helle,
Thank you for your interest and your response. In a perfect world yes, horses should be able to be in their most natural state and being in a herd out to pasture is just that. Especially important for young developing horses. It depends on what your priority is for your horse, the facilities you have available and your horse’s level of fitness and training. Yes, it is important for horses to be able to be social-able but the amount of horses we have personally seen and the endless stories of horses doing serious damage to each other while in pasture together is enough for us to want to see them safely separated.
Andrea Mainwaring says: Hi, I’ve been reading your blog and love your sensitive approach to horses. I don’t agree at all with the idea of keeping horses in for 23 hrs a day. I don’t believe that those who turn their horses out are doing it to exhaust them before riding. They are simply allowing their horses to be horses for at least a few hours each day. My own horse grazes alone in his field but is next to a field with 3 horses and happily stands next to them.
My yard is run by professional show jumpers who also like to keep their horses in 24/7 – their top horse had stopped performing well, and looked depressed to me. I suggested he might ‘cheer up’ with some free time in the field, at first I was met with , oh no he’s too valuable etc abut then they thought they’d give it a go. He’s been out on a few occations recently and is back on top form winning a prestigious show last weekend. it may not have been the reason for his transformation but it has certainly done him no harm and I’m sure he appreciated the warm sun on his back.
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Hi Andrea,
We hear your concern and yes, in a perfect world horses should be out as much as possible. Our objection is not that horses are turned out, it is the way it is done and if you re-read the post it is about owners/trainers using turn-out to exhaust their horses before riding where they force them to run around if they don’t do it on their own. Many times when they are running around on their own it is because they are frantically wanting to get back to their “herd”. They are kept locked up for most of the day/night, pulled out first thing in the morning and turned out in large turnouts for maybe an hour so they won’t be “fresh” for the rider. The horror stories are numerous about what happens to these horses and how many have to be put down or retired because of the injuries they sustain.The reality of our area is finding a facility that has the right set up can be difficult and we are thankful that we have found it. Our horses are in double sized stalls overnight, ridden in the mornings and if needed lunged correctly before riding (developing connection and relaxation through education, not exhaustion) THEN they are turned out for the rest of the day either on grass or dry turnout. We totally agree with you, the horses are much happier being kept this way but it is also keeps them safe. They are next to each other but we don’t put them in the same pens, they get their social time but can’t hurt each other. We have seen too many horses have to be put down from being kicked.
If a horse is worked correctly it finishes the ride very relaxed and mellow. We rarely see them running around haphazardly because they no longer have pent up energy and are explosive. When trained correctly horses become more and more relaxed about all aspects of their lives and even on their days off they quietly enjoy their outside time and their exercise on the “walker”.
Again our point is that what we are doing with horses is unnatural and yes, they are creatures of movement and it is healthier for them to be moving/walking as much as possible but we need to find the right balance. Chasing horses around so they run out of control just so they will be quiet to ride is not our idea of creating a good environment or a replacement for training, this is our objection. Done correctly we feel you can create a good balance of an unnatural situation.
Thanks for the post!!
Keith says: Interesting post…..personally I keep my horses out 365 days a year in all weathers and with rugs on in the winter. They are all unshod too. I ride wherever I like and take them on the roads to wear their feet down and even the beach too. They get trimmed every 6-12 weeks. They all live in a 20 acre field with a large hard standing area where I feed ad lib forage during the winter months. They have a choice of quality hay AND haylege to choose from, which is covered with a slow feeder net and enclosed by a heavy duty plastic hay ring. They are all competition warmbloods. The 4 boys (2 of them I bred myself from my mare and 2 other geldings live as a herd so they can socialize. Until last summer I also kept my 2 mares with them so the herd was 6….however my mare’s 2nd colt So far the stallion is kept in his place by his older brother and the other older geldings which he has been with since he was born. Now his mother and the other mare are now in a separate field. They are all very “sharp” and “hot”, ( having Sandro Hit as their Grandfather) but incredibly chilled out. The only wounds I get are cosmetic sustained from biting in play……they have NEVER in their lives been stabled so well used to living out. Its the most natural and for me the easiest way to keep horses. Its difficult to find such facilities, but we owe it to our horses well being both physically and mentally to provide them with everything they need to expect them to perform to their best. This is in STARK contrast to the rest of the horses on my yard which are imprisoned in a stable 24/7 and get to be ridden once a day.
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Lyndsey says:
Very blessed horses. We just lost our own place where our horses were turned out 24/7 unless extreme weather (2 were very old) My Welsh D mare is now on livery and although is looking great as I am actually riding more, has become more difficult to ride and stabled more as we don’t have a lot of grazing. In thick of winter she gets out every other other day for 2 hours and rode the days she’s in. She doesn’t find this ideal as hoofs the doors. She has a lovely big stable and friends she can touch but am sure misses being a free range pony! I love Art2ride but 100% agree Keith about owing it to our beautiful friends to make sure their physical and mental wellbeing is looked nurtured.
Kimberly says: I’m so grateful I found this blog! I am new to horse ownership and I’m still learning how to do everything needed to properly care for my horses. I would love to one day be able to show my horses, but right now I’m working on bonding with them and caring for their many needs as their previous owner had no clue what he was doing with them! Any tips on getting started?
Oh and as for my comments on this particular blog, I understand what you’re speaking about. There are too many owners trying to use cruel technique and outright brute force to train their animals and it is atrocious! I’ve recently acquired a beautiful standard bred mare who’s previous owner felt the need to beat her with a metal handmade whip in a futile attempt to train her. She is a sweet and amazing animal and I can’t fathom how someone could be so cruel to her or any other animal for that matter! Thank you for the blog and for the information I’ve acquired through reading.
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Kali says:
Hi, start with lunging and thanks for saving the horses you are working with from abuse!
I am not sure if i get this straight; your horses aren’t let out to pasture? Or am i mistaken?
I love your website, your riding really speaks to me and is a great inspiration. I love how horse-friendly it is.
But in my book the 23 hours a day where the horse is not ridden is at least as important. Horses are social animals built to move around all day. This is not compatible with a life in a stall…
So i am a firm beliver in horses being out all day with fellow horses! This is key to a happy and healthy horse.
In my experience if the horse is out every day it will have a better allround condition and actually be less easy to tire out doing excersise..
So i am hoping i misunderstood something here 🙂
Thanks for a lovely blog and sry for spelling mistakes, i am from Denmark, so english is just a second language for me 🙂
All the best
Helle
Hello Helle,
Thank you for your interest and your response. In a perfect world yes, horses should be able to be in their most natural state and being in a herd out to pasture is just that. Especially important for young developing horses. It depends on what your priority is for your horse, the facilities you have available and your horse’s level of fitness and training. Yes, it is important for horses to be able to be social-able but the amount of horses we have personally seen and the endless stories of horses doing serious damage to each other while in pasture together is enough for us to want to see them safely separated.
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog and love your sensitive approach to horses. I don’t agree at all with the idea of keeping horses in for 23 hrs a day. I don’t believe that those who turn their horses out are doing it to exhaust them before riding. They are simply allowing their horses to be horses for at least a few hours each day. My own horse grazes alone in his field but is next to a field with 3 horses and happily stands next to them.
My yard is run by professional show jumpers who also like to keep their horses in 24/7 – their top horse had stopped performing well, and looked depressed to me. I suggested he might ‘cheer up’ with some free time in the field, at first I was met with , oh no he’s too valuable etc abut then they thought they’d give it a go. He’s been out on a few occations recently and is back on top form winning a prestigious show last weekend. it may not have been the reason for his transformation but it has certainly done him no harm and I’m sure he appreciated the warm sun on his back.
Hi Andrea,
We hear your concern and yes, in a perfect world horses should be out as much as possible. Our objection is not that horses are turned out, it is the way it is done and if you re-read the post it is about owners/trainers using turn-out to exhaust their horses before riding where they force them to run around if they don’t do it on their own. Many times when they are running around on their own it is because they are frantically wanting to get back to their “herd”. They are kept locked up for most of the day/night, pulled out first thing in the morning and turned out in large turnouts for maybe an hour so they won’t be “fresh” for the rider. The horror stories are numerous about what happens to these horses and how many have to be put down or retired because of the injuries they sustain.
The reality of our area is finding a facility that has the right set up can be difficult and we are thankful that we have found it. Our horses are in double sized stalls overnight, ridden in the mornings and if needed lunged correctly before riding (developing connection and relaxation through education, not exhaustion) THEN they are turned out for the rest of the day either on grass or dry turnout. We totally agree with you, the horses are much happier being kept this way but it is also keeps them safe. They are next to each other but we don’t put them in the same pens, they get their social time but can’t hurt each other. We have seen too many horses have to be put down from being kicked.
If a horse is worked correctly it finishes the ride very relaxed and mellow. We rarely see them running around haphazardly because they no longer have pent up energy and are explosive. When trained correctly horses become more and more relaxed about all aspects of their lives and even on their days off they quietly enjoy their outside time and their exercise on the “walker”.
Again our point is that what we are doing with horses is unnatural and yes, they are creatures of movement and it is healthier for them to be moving/walking as much as possible but we need to find the right balance. Chasing horses around so they run out of control just so they will be quiet to ride is not our idea of creating a good environment or a replacement for training, this is our objection. Done correctly we feel you can create a good balance of an unnatural situation.
Thanks for the post!!
Interesting post…..personally I keep my horses out 365 days a year in all weathers and with rugs on in the winter. They are all unshod too. I ride wherever I like and take them on the roads to wear their feet down and even the beach too. They get trimmed every 6-12 weeks. They all live in a 20 acre field with a large hard standing area where I feed ad lib forage during the winter months. They have a choice of quality hay AND haylege to choose from, which is covered with a slow feeder net and enclosed by a heavy duty plastic hay ring. They are all competition warmbloods. The 4 boys (2 of them I bred myself from my mare and 2 other geldings live as a herd so they can socialize. Until last summer I also kept my 2 mares with them so the herd was 6….however my mare’s 2nd colt So far the stallion is kept in his place by his older brother and the other older geldings which he has been with since he was born. Now his mother and the other mare are now in a separate field. They are all very “sharp” and “hot”, ( having Sandro Hit as their Grandfather) but incredibly chilled out. The only wounds I get are cosmetic sustained from biting in play……they have NEVER in their lives been stabled so well used to living out. Its the most natural and for me the easiest way to keep horses. Its difficult to find such facilities, but we owe it to our horses well being both physically and mentally to provide them with everything they need to expect them to perform to their best. This is in STARK contrast to the rest of the horses on my yard which are imprisoned in a stable 24/7 and get to be ridden once a day.
Very blessed horses. We just lost our own place where our horses were turned out 24/7 unless extreme weather (2 were very old) My Welsh D mare is now on livery and although is looking great as I am actually riding more, has become more difficult to ride and stabled more as we don’t have a lot of grazing. In thick of winter she gets out every other other day for 2 hours and rode the days she’s in. She doesn’t find this ideal as hoofs the doors. She has a lovely big stable and friends she can touch but am sure misses being a free range pony! I love Art2ride but 100% agree Keith about owing it to our beautiful friends to make sure their physical and mental wellbeing is looked nurtured.
I’m so grateful I found this blog! I am new to horse ownership and I’m still learning how to do everything needed to properly care for my horses. I would love to one day be able to show my horses, but right now I’m working on bonding with them and caring for their many needs as their previous owner had no clue what he was doing with them! Any tips on getting started?
Oh and as for my comments on this particular blog, I understand what you’re speaking about. There are too many owners trying to use cruel technique and outright brute force to train their animals and it is atrocious! I’ve recently acquired a beautiful standard bred mare who’s previous owner felt the need to beat her with a metal handmade whip in a futile attempt to train her. She is a sweet and amazing animal and I can’t fathom how someone could be so cruel to her or any other animal for that matter! Thank you for the blog and for the information I’ve acquired through reading.
Hi, start with lunging and thanks for saving the horses you are working with from abuse!