No, they go out all day, every day. When the fields were icy, they were in the dry lots instead. They just seem very unhappy in the dry lots, whereas before in boarding scenarios when that was their ONLY turnout they didn’t seem to mind.
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Perhaps their issue is that, in their view, their routine changed. You had established that they go out in the big grassy field. Then for no reason their little horsey brains understand, they are in smaller separate grassless paddocks. They have just enough room to bounce around to try to use their energy, but not enough to play as they want (and you see too much!)
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Are they together in the big field but separate in the dry lots?
My guys live out 24/7 and when the weather is wild (suddenly cold, windy, or snow sliding off the roof) they’re wild.
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Yes yes yes, that’s what I’m thinking. So how does one change that?! I guessing I have to either decide to keep them in the dry lots all winter long or let them have the big fields all winter long…
I’d obviously prefer the field, but with this last storm there was no way to get them there without crossing sheets of ice so they had to go in the dry lots.
Yes, they’re together in the field and separate in the dry lots. One horse can be a bully and the dry lots aren’t big enough for the other to get out of harms way, if necessary!
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I’ve seen this with my two. They have stalls that open into a large shared dry lot. When the gate is open, that lot opens into the dirt (ok, mud) sacrifice area and the big pasture. They do act ridiculous in the dry lot sometimes. Drives me nuts but I try to ignore it! Weather is absolutely a factor but they’ll go bonkers anywhere if we get a cold snap or crazy wind/storms. They don’t limit their antics to the dry lot. 
But @MsM mentioned routine and I have to agree. My horses travel and can adapt to changing circumstances, but they like their home routine. They aren’t insane about it, it’s not like I have to feed at 0800 on the dot or they’ll destroy the barn. But there is a system established and they like to know where they’re supposed to be and when. If I start adjusting too much due to weather or pasture conditions, it riles them up.
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Horses are idiots. Period. Mine was on stall rest/hand walking for literally months and transitioned to dry lot then back to her field with no antics and no drugs a couple of years ago. Last week all horses were in for a couple of days due to ice on the way to their turnouts. On the day they went out, “Your horse was the biggest idiot this morning. I should have used a chain.” This is a horse that I literally park anywhere in the barn or around the property and who follows me around like a puppy when not parked. I mean I have to actually work at remembering to put her in crossties when I need to run to the bathroom. Horses are idiots.
A couple of suggestions to choose from:
If they aren’t in danger of hurting themselves in their dry lots, tell them to suck it up, life will be normal again when the ice melts or,
If they are in danger of hurting themselves, make a manure path to their field (if the ice is very hard, you will need to sprinkle hot water on it right before you put the manure down so that it will actually stick to the ice)
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I’m not. Calling them “idiots” for acting exactly how horses act during cold weather after being trapped in a stall is an unfair anthropomorphism.
Lots of people do keep horses in stalls for extended periods of time but they don’t adapt and become “okey” they adapt due to learned helplessness. Just because they’ve never acted like this before doesn’t mean they were “fine” before.
And of course they already resent being confined. Horses don’t “like” living in a 12x12 litterbox. They “like” food, “they “like” shelter, they “like” friends, they “like” a soft place to lie down, and they just so happen to get all of that when they’re stalled but they’re happy to come in their stalls every night because of the food, shelter, friends, and bedding. Not the physical stall. They don’t enjoy confinement and even though it’s common, it’s not healthy. Keeping a horse stalled is for us, not for them. You can take the bedding, food, friends, and shelter and put all of that outside and you’ll see that they never really “liked” being stalled.
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Horses love routine, but it can become a problem. They need to be able to relax in any space if possible.
I’m actually trying to nip this sort of problem in the bud right now. In my set up there is a small sacrifice lot (quarter acre) and a larger almost acre winter lot. The sacrifice lot has never been popular with the original two, as it is is under the trees (which are large old, creaky maples) and close to but not visible from the adjacent winery parking lot (think parties, random car alarms, etc).
I added number three about a month ago and now the sacrifice lot is beyond scary. This is a problem, as that is where the water tank is and where I can tie to groom, harness, etc. And where I need to be able to feed them.
So, on nice days "i.e. quiet, not windy, winery closed’ whether they like it or not, the hay is in the small lot. Locking them into it on bad days just makes them frantic to get out. But, I figure if the routine is that on nice days, or random days, or whenever, the food is in the scary lot they will get comfortable with it again. Horses!
My goal is that they can be in any paddock any day because I feel like it. But, I’m training for this in a sneaky way, the answer I want is easy at the moment. Of course, it is a darn good thing that I don’t need to work with them on cold, windy, rainy days…and the fact is that on those cold, wet, windy days, horses tend to be on edge. Some horses are fine, some most assuredly are not.
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Rereading that they have to be in separate dry lots. If your schedule allows, on nice days especially, leave them in their dry lots for a few hours (or less) with their food. Turn them out in the big field before they run out of food. You want them to relax and to not expect that the gate will open Right Now but that they have to be dragged from their hay pile instead. That would be what I would try anyway!
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This says to me they are getting excited because: FOOD!
Can you be flexible about feeding?
I have a wide window of PM feeding time, dependent on where I might be at the “regular” 4P slot.
I’ve fed as early as 2ish when I needed to go somewhere, and as late as 10P when I was out & about.
Mornings are a bit less flexible, because I get up roughly the same time & want to get chores done.
My 3 live out by (their) choice.
They have free access to stalls 24/7/365 from pastures that attach to the sacrifice area, that in turn surrounds the stalls.
They do spend some time in the stalls - evidenced by the few piles left for me to pick, and/or bedhead from napping in the bedding.
But 99% of the time, in all sorts of weather, they prefer Out over In.
They know the routine & inevitably at least 1 of the 3 is posted as a Scout by the fenceline when I come out to feed mornings & evenings.
All 3 go to their stalls to wait for me to dispense hay & grain.
Even so, on occasion there is silliness - running, bucking, rearing.
I don’t bother correcting this, as they settle themselves pretty quick.
I will confess to a minor heart attack when mini came trotting across the ice for evening feed, and TWH slid a hind on the same 
But we all survived.
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What I have found after many years of horse owning and having about 7 different farms, which equals 7 different living type situations for my horses is that mine were happy when they could choose to come and go as they please.
That means that their barn, or primary shelter and feeding place was always accessible to them. They happily come and go despite any weather and are content.
The one place that I had a separate abundant pasture( just across the driveway) that I would put them out onto during the day would have them standing at the gate after about 2 hours. They wanted back into the barn area on 2 acres that had no grass. Go figure.
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Obviously. Again, they were NEVER locked in stalls for an extended period, they go out every single day, all day.
They go in the small dry lots when they cannot go in the big field. They just seem to be very unhappy in the dry lots.
They’re not unhappy. They’re not resentful of being in the dry lot, horses don’t think like that. You’re anthropomorphizing them again.
They just have lots of energy because they spend what? 12 hours a day locked in a 12x12 box?
Thankfully I was able to get them out in the big field today and they are happy campers! Thank you for the suggestions, advice, and commiseration. Winter is rough!
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Adapting to turnout, your experiences
Adapting to turnout, your experiences
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LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
Interested to hear your experiences…
I have two horses at home that had been boarded at show barns much of their lives. Turnout was never ideal, one barn only offered teeny tiny dry lot “paddocks” for 6-8 hours a day, and another had larger grass paddocks but didn’t turn out for days/weeks on end if it was wet/icy/muddy. Horses totally adapted, although one was clearly not as happy at the barn that didn’t turnout for days on end (understandably).
When I moved them home, I wanted the ability to turn them out every day, no matter what. I have some large pastures and just recently had some dry lots built that I planned to use when the fields were icy or muddy. Each horse has a private 50x50 pen with a slow feeder and a heated water tub. We have had ice and snow for the past 5 days, and I was so happy to be able to put the dry lots to use but my horses seem less than thrilled about them. The past two days they’ve been rearing, bucking, and pawing starting about an hour before dinner time, and have needed some strong reminders about manners on the way back into the barn. When they’re in the field, on the other hand, I usually have to call them in for dinner and they mosey on in to the barn happy as can be.
So what gives? I would think they’d be thrilled to at least be able to get out of their stalls…I didn’t expect to see them acting like such idiots! I’m planning to put them back in the big field tomorrow even though it’s muddy or else I worry they’ll go through the fence or hurt themselves with their shenanigans in the dry lots.
So, did I just create a “the grass is always greener” scenario now that they expect more turnout? They used to be content living in tiny dry lots, now they’re going to throw a fit about it?!
Anyone with a similar experience? What did you do?
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EqukellyWorking Hunter
It doesn’t sound like they’re acting like “idiots” it sounds like they’re acting like horses. It’s cold, they’re just wild. If they’re not used to being turned out in bad weather I would totally expect it. They’re probably not “throwing a fit.”
Also IMO I don’t think adapting and being content are the same. I think they probably had to adapt to stall life, because it’s not like they had a choice.
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LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
You are completely missing my point. They ARE acting like idiots 
, they go out most days in the larger fields in this same exact weather and don’t behave like this. I understand they have pent up energy and are fresh. Understandable. I’m just surprised they are behaving this way when they are getting SO much more turnout than they’ve ever had.
I just find it interesting that so many boarded horses adapt to smaller turnout areas, or less turnout time and are perfectly okay with that routine. I wonder if once they get a taste of what more turnout is like, if they begin to resent being confined. In my case, it sure seems like it!
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mmeqcenterGrand Prix
So did you keep them stuck inside for 3-5 days (during the ice and snow), and then put them in the dry lots? If so, of course they’re wild.
Even if not, well, sometimes they just do things.
Horses don’t compare what they have now to what they had for a decade before. They don’t have the ability to think “well it sucked being inside today, but I’m sure I’ll get to go out tomorrow, and that’s way better than being in for weeks at that other barn.” They were in long enough to develop pent up energy, and they released that energy once they got room to stretch their legs. That’s all.
I have never had an issue throwing a show horse out to 24/7 pasture life. They still have an “idiot” day on occasion, especially the first couple cold days of the season.
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LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
No, they go out all day, every day. When the fields were icy, they were in the dry lots instead. They just seem very unhappy in the dry lots, whereas before in boarding scenarios when that was their ONLY turnout they didn’t seem to mind.
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MsMGrand Prix
Perhaps their issue is that, in their view, their routine changed. You had established that they go out in the big grassy field. Then for no reason their little horsey brains understand, they are in smaller separate grassless paddocks. They have just enough room to bounce around to try to use their energy, but not enough to play as they want (and you see too much!)
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NaturalSelectionWorking Hunter
Are they together in the big field but separate in the dry lots?
My guys live out 24/7 and when the weather is wild (suddenly cold, windy, or snow sliding off the roof) they’re wild.
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LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
Yes yes yes, that’s what I’m thinking. So how does one change that?! I guessing I have to either decide to keep them in the dry lots all winter long or let them have the big fields all winter long…
I’d obviously prefer the field, but with this last storm there was no way to get them there without crossing sheets of ice so they had to go in the dry lots.
LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
Yes, they’re together in the field and separate in the dry lots. One horse can be a bully and the dry lots aren’t big enough for the other to get out of harms way, if necessary!
I’ve seen this with my two. They have stalls that open into a large shared dry lot. When the gate is open, that lot opens into the dirt (ok, mud) sacrifice area and the big pasture. They do act ridiculous in the dry lot sometimes. Drives me nuts but I try to ignore it! Weather is absolutely a factor but they’ll go bonkers anywhere if we get a cold snap or crazy wind/storms. They don’t limit their antics to the dry lot.
But @MsM mentioned routine and I have to agree. My horses travel and can adapt to changing circumstances, but they like their home routine. They aren’t insane about it, it’s not like I have to feed at 0800 on the dot or they’ll destroy the barn. But there is a system established and they like to know where they’re supposed to be and when. If I start adjusting too much due to weather or pasture conditions, it riles them up.
saschaGreenie
Horses are idiots. Period. Mine was on stall rest/hand walking for literally months and transitioned to dry lot then back to her field with no antics and no drugs a couple of years ago. Last week all horses were in for a couple of days due to ice on the way to their turnouts. On the day they went out, “Your horse was the biggest idiot this morning. I should have used a chain.” This is a horse that I literally park anywhere in the barn or around the property and who follows me around like a puppy when not parked. I mean I have to actually work at remembering to put her in crossties when I need to run to the bathroom. Horses are idiots.
A couple of suggestions to choose from:
If they aren’t in danger of hurting themselves in their dry lots, tell them to suck it up, life will be normal again when the ice melts or,
If they are in danger of hurting themselves, make a manure path to their field (if the ice is very hard, you will need to sprinkle hot water on it right before you put the manure down so that it will actually stick to the ice)
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EqukellyWorking Hunter
I’m not. Calling them “idiots” for acting exactly how horses act during cold weather after being trapped in a stall is an unfair anthropomorphism.
Lots of people do keep horses in stalls for extended periods of time but they don’t adapt and become “okey” they adapt due to learned helplessness. Just because they’ve never acted like this before doesn’t mean they were “fine” before.
And of course they already resent being confined. Horses don’t “like” living in a 12x12 litterbox. They “like” food, “they “like” shelter, they “like” friends, they “like” a soft place to lie down, and they just so happen to get all of that when they’re stalled but they’re happy to come in their stalls every night because of the food, shelter, friends, and bedding. Not the physical stall. They don’t enjoy confinement and even though it’s common, it’s not healthy. Keeping a horse stalled is for us, not for them. You can take the bedding, food, friends, and shelter and put all of that outside and you’ll see that they never really “liked” being stalled.
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B_and_BGreenie
Horses love routine, but it can become a problem. They need to be able to relax in any space if possible.
I’m actually trying to nip this sort of problem in the bud right now. In my set up there is a small sacrifice lot (quarter acre) and a larger almost acre winter lot. The sacrifice lot has never been popular with the original two, as it is is under the trees (which are large old, creaky maples) and close to but not visible from the adjacent winery parking lot (think parties, random car alarms, etc).
I added number three about a month ago and now the sacrifice lot is beyond scary. This is a problem, as that is where the water tank is and where I can tie to groom, harness, etc. And where I need to be able to feed them.
So, on nice days "i.e. quiet, not windy, winery closed’ whether they like it or not, the hay is in the small lot. Locking them into it on bad days just makes them frantic to get out. But, I figure if the routine is that on nice days, or random days, or whenever, the food is in the scary lot they will get comfortable with it again. Horses!
My goal is that they can be in any paddock any day because I feel like it. But, I’m training for this in a sneaky way, the answer I want is easy at the moment. Of course, it is a darn good thing that I don’t need to work with them on cold, windy, rainy days…and the fact is that on those cold, wet, windy days, horses tend to be on edge. Some horses are fine, some most assuredly are not.
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candyappyGrand Prix
What I have found after many years of horse owning and having about 7 different farms, which equals 7 different living type situations for my horses is that mine were happy when they could choose to come and go as they please.
That means that their barn, or primary shelter and feeding place was always accessible to them. They happily come and go despite any weather and are content.
The one place that I had a separate abundant pasture( just across the driveway) that I would put them out onto during the day would have them standing at the gate after about 2 hours. They wanted back into the barn area on 2 acres that had no grass. Go figure.
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LittlechestnuthunterGreenie
If you have never seen a horse display happiness and can’t tell when they are unhappy, angry, depressed, etc. you need to step away from horses immediately and permanently.
I work with dairy cows. I completely understand not letting anthropomorphizing get out of control for the good of being able to continue to produce food. However, being careful with language and being able to see when an animal is being stressed, is content, angry,
being an idiot, depressed, etc. and following up on those signs to find at least a remedy if not a cause are not mutually exclusive.
The OP is clearly a problem solver who uses normal human language to get to the bottom of a situation and find a remedy to make her animals happier. There are people who could do worse with “better” language and less anthropomorphizing.
4 Likes
My horses much prefer the larger front pasture (3 acres) to the smaller sacrifice pasture (1.5 acres), despite it being more than sufficiently large for them. For one - they know that pastures are better than dry lots. Because they are horses.
And, mine are kind of nosy. They like being able to see up and down the street, watch people walk by, see what’s going on the world. In the back, their view is limited, and they know it.
So, when they get moved from the pasture to the sacrifice area, they aren’t really that happy about it. I am lucky that mine all have access to the barn so I don’t need to lead them. I’m sure they would be idiots a lot of the time too.
Usually, mine get over it. Then when I reopen the larger pasture they go crazy for it. Again - I’m glad I don’t have to lead them out in the spring because it would be like flying 1000lb kites.
Not sure there is an answer, but it sounds perfectly normal.
1 Like
Where are your dry lots situated? It is possible that they just don’t feel safe in them. With only 2 horses, they may feel the need for more eyes keeping a look out, if say, the paddocks are along a wood line or a similar scary location.
I have one of these (kinda). My guy gets super rangy and pushy when he is on full turnout in my big pasture. Yeah, he comes in when it’s time to eat, but when things aren’t how he wants, he used to throw fits. So, I stopped feeding him at scheduled times, when he was turned out. Sometimes, I let him go all night, and fed him in the morning. If he didn’t come, his problem. He was there an hour later when I would go back out. Also, I started using my drylot every. day. In the summer, I find him in the barn escaping the heat and flies anyways. So, in they go. In winter, he’s in every night. And stalled 3 nights a week because he will pitch a fit if he’s confined after being allowed to be a wild pony. Just stick with making confinement and non-routine, routine. If you have good footing in your lots, I wouldn’t worry too much about a little crusty footing. Let them show their butts and have tantrums. Life is what it is! Anyways, this worked for me. Also, some discussions on what it means to have a halter on. I have the bad habit of letting my horses out halterless, and I don’t recommend it. It lets molehills turn into mountains.
I boarded my horses in a very urban area for 13 years and they were stalled 24/7 as were all the other 60+ horses on stall board there. Some had 12x24 stall with run and some just 12x12 stall and all were just fine.
When I married and moved 2000 miles East we bought a place with 7 acres and my 2 horses had the luxury of freedom and shelter and thoroughly loved it ( as did I ). I have no doubt they would have protested to going back to stall life but eventually they would have adapted as before.
Mine are out all the time right now ( no dry lot overnight) and depending on the weather they can act like " idiots" too!
ETA: I have goats, cows and pigs here on our farm as well as the horses and I agree with you that they all display emotions of happiness, depression, anxiety and preferences as far as how they are housed. You can’t compare it to human emotions, but if you know your animals you can see when they are displeased.
