Adapting to turnout, your experiences

[S1969]

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.

[Incantation]

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.

[babyeventer]

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.

[candyappy]

@Littlechestnuthunter

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!

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.

[PamnReba]

My filly let me know which stall she wanted to be in, just by putting herself in it at mealtime. I have four stalls, all are open except when I’m feeding, and she’ll go stand in hers and wait patiently for me to come shut the gate. Not sure if that’s a display of emotion, but definitely one of preference.

[trubandloki]

I read it less that they are being idiots in the dry lot and more that they are entertaining themselves in the dry lot. Maybe not how you would like them to entertain themselves, but finding their own fun.

Did they still have hay at the point when you brought them in and they were being silly?

[Libby2563]

@Equkelly

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.

You don’t think horses can be unhappy?

@MsM

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!)

Yes, half the time when I change my routine significantly (not just feeding a couple hours earlier or later), thinking it will make something better, I regret it because it makes something else worse. Some horses mind changes less than others. Cold, windy weather always makes it worse. Unfortunately changes are unavoidable sometimes.

I agree it might help to have them in the dry lots a little bit every day so it’s not such a dramatic change. Maybe you can feed them in there after turnout?

[lenapesadie]

@Libby2563

I agree it might help to have them in the dry lots a little bit every day so it’s not such a dramatic change. Maybe you can feed them in there after turnout?

This seems like a great idea

[jherold]

Do you feed at the same time every day? When they are our on the fields, the have grass and more room to move. On dry lot, they have less room and hay and more time to think about feeding time. Maybe try to vary feeding time a bit to see if it helps.