Good Morning! I was wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on field vs stall board. I am in a self care barn with 2 horses. Right now they are field boarded together in their own field. Should I move to stall board, my mare would be alone and my gelding would be with 3 other horses (one of which is very dominant, mine is not, having been hurt before by other horses in the field). They have both been stalled for varying amounts of time, but never for more than a few days and seemed to fair okay. I do work and have a family so I my mornings are pretty hectic, but they are both ridden in the evenings (indoor arena). I am not sure about shaving storage either should I stall board.
Are you moving them to stall board because that is full board versus self care or is there another reason you are considering stall board? If it is just to have someone else feed them, is that not an option with field board at your current barn? Will your mare be ok in a pasture alone? Not all horses handle being in pasture by themselves very well, what will you do if she does not? What happens if your gelding does not get along with his new pasture mates?
You need to figure out what the shavings, feed, cleaning, turn out, well check and overall changes in management of stall board.
If they are doing OK in field board, keep them in field board. 24/7 turnout is the healthiest as long as they have ample forage and shelter.
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Stall board is still self care. The thinking was two-fold: for the winter (us and them, they don’t always come in when called and so we trek into a very expansive field and they are also very bound to each other, mostly the gelding to the mare, but he cannot settle when she is inside to eat.
The mare will be in the field right next to the geldings and can play at the fence line. They can always be put back together if this doesn’t work until or if more boarders come.
I certainly understand not wanting to trek through a field in the early morning hours over winter, but as fordtraktor stated 24/7 turnout is the healthiest for them. If they are as bonded as it sounds you are opening a can of worms by separating them IMHO. I would keep them as is personally. I am a firm believer in pasture board with a good shelter and a rain sheet (for the worried owner). We have pretty mild winters and my previous horse could grow an awesome coat so he rarely ever used his stall. If his pasture had a 3 sided versus a carport he never would have used a stall as he hated being cooped up!
The new barn (I will be moving) has a 3 sided with no stall option so the new horse (when purchased) will be 24/7, 365 turnout.
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Stall board on self care when you cannot be there most of the day is just not a great idea, Know it’s a bummer to play fetch the horse in winter but it won’t kill you in Virginia. Just ask yourself if you are choosing based on what’s convenient for you and what’s healthiest and best for them?
Not anti stall at all, not even close, but if they are fine outside, healthy and your climate moderate? Choose what’s best for them. My first choice has always been a combination 12-12 weather permitting in a full service situation. But Self care with nobody there, outside.
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If both options are self care then I would stick with field board. Perhaps you can invest some time in teaching the horses to come when called. IME recall is easier to teach to horses than dogs.
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Is this a property with just a barn and fields or does someone live on-site - someone that does a night check and/or is responsible overnight for the horses? Because if it is the former, I’d not choose stall board in a barn that has absolutely no one watching it. Too many things might go sideways in the evening or overnight that wouldn’t be noticed until the next day.
And I agree, that for the typical, healthy, horse, living out 24/7 with pasture/plentiful hay, shelter and water is much better for them physically and mentally. Even when it can be a PITA in the winter on us humans.
This is so true! Find their favorite treat(s) and give them treats for coming a short distance and gradually over time (days-weeks) increase this until they come from the far end of the field. I found for my horse after several times of treats, brushing/lovins then back out he had great recall. The treats were key in this for us though. Baby carrots are dirt cheap at the grocery store and are perfect bite sized treats, if your horses like them.
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Indeed, bribes are useful and if used properly, meaning they must earn them by allowing themselves to be caught, a well proven solution to make horse want to be caught.
Word of warning, do NOT offer the treat until you have the hater on, lead snapped and the horse is standing facing you, Offer it before and they might try the old grab and go, possibly knocking you over or, worse, you get kicked in the head as they spin and bolt.
Keep the treat in your pocket until ready to offer it. This is one place I do not like anything wrapped like a peppermint, they hear that wrapper before you have their complete focus and it takes two hands to unwrap. Use a carrot or cookie you can quietly one hand.
Not a big fan of the grain bucket, one more thing to hold and you get every horse in the field wanting some. Grain bucket is great for catching a single, loose horse that’s too excited to go for a hidden treat but you still have the bucket to carry in one hand and the over excited horse in the other. Be careful with the bribes.
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My horses almost always get a treat when caught in the field. They come when called because they know they will be rewarded. It is so easy to teach and they will be so much happier staying on field board and you won’t have stalls to clean.
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Will it really save time for you if you have to clean two stalls every day? And won’t you still have to go out and bring them in anyway? 
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That was my first thought as well. And I agree - what if you can’t get there? Does the horse stay in all day? If so, then I would say outside is better. At least they have what they need in case of an emergency/storm, etc.
I’d keep them on field board. You should get some nosebags ($20 each on amazon) to feed if they get separate amounts, no need to take the mare in to eat.
I have stall boarded and field boarded horses, and it takes much longer to care for stalled horses!
Horses were designed to live outside. They deal with cold way better than heat. They can move around and usually are a lot happier. My 25 y.o. gelding has been on pasture board since he arrived in Maine at age 7. He will stay out until the vet says he needs a stall. I blanket according to the weather. As long as they have plenty of hay, a run in shed, and maintain their weight and body temperature they should be fine. They have a heated Nelson waterer so hydration is not a concern.
I switched to Horze Avalnche blankets which are high neck and fit him better. They have a gusset over the withers so they don’t rub. Spring and fall at around 50 degrees he gets a rain sheet so he isn’t getting soaked to the skin. Most of the winter he is in a medium weight . I have a heavy weight for prolonged below zero weather. I found a great bargain on a medium weight with neck cover for big snow storms.
