[QUOTE=Nestor;8278990]
I don’t know if it’s totally area-dependent, but it’s also property-owner-dependent. At least here, most property owners don’t put in the time, money, and maintenance to have paddocks that are usable 24/7/365. Often they get too sloppy in wet weather, or too icy or mogul-y in the winter. Frozen moguls are a big culprit here, and when we get wet weather, followed by a freeze, the footing in our turnouts just isn’t safe. I’m at a place now where the owners do put in all of the effort to keep the place up and running, but our winter weather simply does not allow for regular turnout without risking injury. We definitely go through long spells of no turnout. Some BOs may not be as discriminatory about turnout conditions, but my BM is, and my wallet and I appreciate it. Warmblood + winter = wild, no matter how much exercise and turnout, so bad footing in turnout means vet bills. Period. Consider yourself lucky to have a set-up and weather that doesn’t have you facing this problem![/QUOTE]
I agree with this. We had more ice than normal last year. Our issue is usually from snow-melt-snow-melt and outdoor footing that gets slick when wet (which is also a factor with enough rain, not just snow). If the paddocks had been engineered to not be slick except for unusual ice conditions, then we would have no need to turnout/free longe in the indoor arena, and I would prefer it that way as a boarder. I don’t want my horse to think the arena is play and roll space. It is work space. But I have had to free longe for my safety occasionally after prolonged no-turnout conditions because he loses all manners even on the longe line.
It sounds like you have put in the work to the outside spaces that is the exception, and for that reason there isn’t much need for a boarder to let a horse loose in your indoor.
