Boarding and Turnout

[SFVine]

I am FINALLY looking for a new horse (yay!), I have also had to put off my barn build until summer '23 (boo!). My plan is to go back to the barn that I used to board at, which I love for many reasons, but turnout is not one of them.

They only do 1-2 hours a day. The stalls are good sized (12x12), but they don’t bed heavy (all stalls do have mats). It doesn’t really match my personal philosophy, but it worked out fine for my old horse, a super sensitive TB who genuinely hated being turned out unless the conditions were perfect. The BO allows you to turnout your horse extra if you want, but you have to be there the whole time.

But now that I am looking for a new horse, I feel like I need to find something that is fine with only going out an hour or two a day. I don’t want to disrupt it’s fabulous turn out life and make it stand in a stall all day.

I also don’t really want to go somewhere else because everything else about the barn is fabulous- an excellent feed program, a very attentive BO who notices the smallest change in your horse and calls immediately, a nice sized indoor and outdoor. It is also the only full care facility within 40 minutes of my house.

Anyway, what would the ladies (and gentlemen) of COTH do? Would you still board there even though turnout isn’t great? The goal for my house is to have TONS of turnout, so I don’t necessarily want to search out something that hates it just so I can board for a year- 18 months.

[TXnGA]

If you love the place and the only hold up is that there is limited turnout, but you can increase turnout if you are there, I would stay.

I would also plan on spending more time at the barn so the horse can stay out more. Bring a book, schoolwork/ job work whatever, clean your tack longer, etc to allow for you horse extra turnout a few days a week.

[Foitin]

All of the horses (about 70) at our barn go out for 1-2 hours a day, except for the retirees. I think a lot of horses can get used to this program and I think it is pretty typical of show barns in our area (east coast). That being said, one of my horses would probably stay out for 3 or 4 hours if he could, the other one wants to come in at 40 minutes, and if he can’t, he digs holes by the gate!

[Paint_Party]

@TXnGA

I would also plan on spending more time at the barn so the horse can stay out more.

Unless they’re really enforcing a 1-2 hour rule at that barn, this is what I would do, too. In fact, it is what I do at the barn I’m at. Sometimes it means that I have to get to the barn early to snag one of the bigger turnouts or one of the grass paddocks, or work around the barn staff’s schedule, but it’s worth the extra effort.

So I’d stick with the barn you like, especially since you’re familiar with their services, have a good rapport with the BO and you know your personal Horse Haven is on the horizon. Trust me, when it comes to boarding and training facilities, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.

[Xanthoria]

I’d look for a new place. I can’t imagine making my mare live in a stall (actually I tried it with 8 hours of turnout and she hated it) but I did once have a horse who loved his stall.

My POV:

1. 1-2 hours only is not acceptable to me from a mental and physical health standpoint.
2. I personally feel it’s morally wrong to prevent a horse moving and having companionship they can touch.
3. Buying a horse right now is hard enough without having to screen for turnout phobic horses too.

I’ve boarded at some pretty janky places to give my horses good turnout! So I put my money where my mouth is. I’m sure other people can justify keeping horses in stalls though, but time out of the stall will be imperative and that comes at a big cost to your time. (You say within 40 mins of your house but if you have to spend an extra couple hours per day at the barn handwalking or supervising turnout in a pen, you’re much better off expanding your search area)

[SFVine]

1-2 hours of turn out definitely isn’t an enforced rule. The BO only turns them out when she is home to supervise. They get more time in the summer, but Sept-June it is only 1-2 hours. There are other boarders who are off during the day who are around keeping an eye on things, throw hay for lunch, etc, but they do not do turn out.

There are no employees. It is a small barn with a lot of personalized attention, no extra charges for blanket changes, etc. No drama, no fighting for the rings (I am really the only one who rides regularly, she does teach a couple lessons). It’s really the perfect balance of time at the barn alone vs time at the barn with friends around. She was talking about building a run in and doing some pasture board, but then there was an incident with a horse being injured in the paddock and needing to be put down (not due to fencing or anything preventable). I think it spooked her so now she only wants to do turnout when she is out in the barn watching closely.

[Calvincrowe]

Only for a year? Until your home barn is complete? Are you able to provide extra turn out time, if you feel your new horse might need it? Weighing the positives against that single negative factor, I’d choose to stay. If new horse just cannot adjust or you can’t accommodate sufficient turnout for it to be happy, then look for a new barn. It might not be ideal, but horses are endlessly adaptable and if you can provide that extra stimulus-- or even develop a turnout schedule that provide supervision from the boarders (like a co-op but just for a few hours more turnout), then I’d sure try to stay!

[Bending_Line]

Wait to get your new horse till your barn and turn out are ready. Can you get a pasture and loafing shed set up at your own place in advance of getting a whole barn built? That’s what I would do but we have always done 18 hours+ a day turn out for every horse and it’s what I believe in. We do have 1-2 former show horse or race horse backgrounds that would probably prefer a little more stall time because they used to be turn out deprived. But the vast majority of even the show horses and race horses would rather be out all the time, with shade available, good grass, and friends,

[Calvincrowe]

@bending_line
Ah, to be in a place where space and climate allow that situation! PNW is a tough one to find a boarding situation where that is possible, unless one counts a stall with a 12 x 24 foot run. The OP doesn’t state if she will end up with 2 horses, but buying and moving home a single horse has its own complications and isn’t always cheaper than boarding (cost of building, maintenance and feeding).

Here at my own farmette, my two retirees are ‘out’ 24/7 but confined to large sacrifice paddocks much of the fall/winter/spring due to the incredible wet conditions we have that absolutely destroy pastures if horses are allowed on them. And, the horse I board HATES turnout. Totally loathes being out on pasture for more than an hour or two. He’s ok if he can access his stall/overhang…but if a single bug touches him, he’s off the grass and under the roof. So he’s one of those ‘hothouse flowers’ for whom total turnout would kill.

[swmorse]

I agree with Bending Line. It’s only 18 months, less than that if your place is ready before the end of 2023.

Also it takes some time to find the right horse, unless you already have one in mind

Good luck on the horse hunt.

[Tha_Ridge]

I’d stay. In my experience, most horses adapt pretty well to this situation, especially in the summer when it’s hot and flies can be bad. Mine are pawing at the gate after about two hours right now.

[SFVine]

The problem with waiting is that I won’t have any sort of arena for awhile and I am planning on doing the training myself. I’d like to be at a place with an indoor to get that done before the horse has to have the winters off (we live in an area with TONS of snow that starts at the end of Oct and goes until April.)

[SFVine]

Yes, I know I need two. My hope is to get mine now, train this winter, then buy an older trail horse friend when I have my barn. I also want a mini or two, because who doesn’t want a mini.

We also live in an area with sh*t weather 6-8 months out of the year. I am planning on putting money into a well draining outdoor eventually, but I will never have an indoor at my house.

[Fiesta01]

@Bending_Line

Wait to get your new horse till your barn and turn out are ready.

I agree with this idea. With horse prices so high, maybe there will be some correction in the market by the time your facilities are ready. Then you’ll be able to adapt your routine to the new horse.

[findeight]

Either stay where you are or wait.

You have a long, trusting relationship at current barn. Your chances of landing at a new barn as close as this one and developing instant trust on both sides are just about zero whether they have more turn out turn out or not.

Boarding is compromise, nothing will check all your boxes, sounds like you can work out more turn out where you are now. Don’t forget you also need a place with a good arena that will not require you to use their services…and good luck with that.

Peace of mind your boarding barn is doing right by you and your horse is worth a few compromises and initiative to work around issues on your part.

[erinmeri]

If you have training goals and this facility ticks all your boxes except turnout, then I say go for it. Especially since you have options to extend time outside. The horse will live. I am sorry, but not all horses want to live out or stay out, especially during the day in bug season… and some of us have goals to work for that may not wait 12-18 months.

Right now at my East Coast barn, most of the horses (except those who go out overnight and the handful who live out 24-7 with run ins) are begging to come in after 1-4 hours… or sometimes less if they are on grass during the bad days. The bugs (especially green heads) are super nasty, especially on the grass. I have been riding 5-6 days a week, multiple horses, so I am there for many hours every day and see it with nearly all the horses while I am riding and doing barn chores.

Every single day, except for the very few cooler ones we have had, they are losing their marbles - especially the ones on grass. Mine goes out on dirt where it is less buggy and she loses her marbles sometimes too, and comes in sweaty and bloodied by bites despite her fly gear. She is a diva when it comes to bugs.

When I got my horse, she could only tolerate 1 hour or so of turnout (year round). We have worked up to 4+ when it’s not buggy out. We still can’t turn her out on grass without her losing her mind, although I plan to try again when the bugs get better. Not sure why she runs stupid on grass, since she is obsessed with munching it when I graze her… but she is “special”. I have had her over 2.5 years, so this progress has taken time. I love the philosophy of horses living out but it is neither the reality of my boarding situation, nor what my mare currently would be happy with. She would be miserable being out for 18+ hours at this point in time, especially on grass, especially in summer.

ETA: is overnight turnout an option? Several of ours go out overnight from early evening until morning and are quite happy!

[Tha_Ridge]

@erinmeri

Every single day, except for the very few cooler ones we have had, they are losing their marbles - especially the ones on grass. Mine goes out on dirt where it is less buggy and she loses her marbles sometimes too, and comes in sweaty and bloodied by bites despite her fly gear. She is a diva when it comes to bugs.

Yep. We have some that are going out overnight right now, but those that are not go out at 6am and are begging to come in by 11am at the very latest.

[erinmeri]

@Tha_Ridge

Yep. We have some that are going out overnight right now, but those that are not go out at 6am and are begging to come in by 11am at the very latest.

Yep! I honestly worry for some of the ones who are more reactive. A few days ago, the BO’s working student trotted up the hill from the arena to find a groom to get one that was completely out of control, we were so worried. I was concerned it was going to break a fence or break a leg, it was so out of its mind.

Yesterday I had two different horses chased by green heads while I was riding. One was relentless even as we were cantering. Of course I was riding my horse, who flips out about bugs, so I was a wee bit scared! I don’t recall them being this bad years prior… it’s my fourth summer back in horses. Fourth summer dealing with bugs. Previously (decades ago) was in CA where green heads, B52s, et al aren’t really a thing. Then again, neither was meaningful turnout! Lol.

[gertie06]

Gosh, I’m really shocked at the number of people willing to accept 1-2 hours a day of turnout. IMHO, appropriate turnout is the third highest priority behind safe facilities and quality feeding program.

[Ponyplusaninch]

I came here to say the bugs are the worst they’ve been in the last five years where I am, and although my horse has the option to stay out for 6 hours, recently he’s only wanted to go out for a couple and then come back in and stand in front of his fan. We’ve got in him in fly gear head to toe, covered in fly spray. And he STILL has some bites on his belly that he’s kicked so bad, they’re open wounds we’re having to treat for infection.

While he is admittedly dramatic about the bugs, he’s not the only horse at my barn this year who’s made it known they have a threshold in these conditions.

So yeah, some horses will make it known when they’re done with turnout even if they have it at their disposal.

OP, I think what you need to ask yourself if it’s worth adding in the search criteria “OK with minimal turnout.” Some horses will not care and others will be more opinionated. It would be very unfair to the horse (and probably cause you a lot of stress) if you bought it knowing full-well it had strong feelings about turnout.