I used to board at a “show barn” (not my discipline – think saddleseat). My horse got some turnout, but not nearly as much as I requested or thought necessary, and always by herself. They just didn’t seem to think it was a priority, despite a number of nice, large paddocks on the property. Moved the horse to my usual training barn (in my discipline), where the trainer and I think alike - as much turnout as possible. Horses rotate in and out with buddies. Those out all day come in at night, and vice versa. Now I’m at a boarding barn where the owner also places a priority on good turnout. Horses go out in assorted little ‘herdlets’ unless the weather is truly foul. Grass pastures in summer, large round bales in winter. My horse is thriving.
24/7 in northern Michigan with run-in for bad weather. One old sway-back pony, one old Arab, one 13 year old pony/horse cross, and one 18 year old American Warmblood training second level dressage. When I watch them buck and race and rear around when they feel the urge, I’m SO glad they’re out 24/7! And they’re getting woolly!
Currently my guy is in a large box stall with attached run during the day, and turned out in a paddock at night, probably 10-12 hours or a bit longer. He’s alone inside the paddock but there are horses on either side. In light work for low (very low) level eventing.
If I had my 'druthers, he’d be out 24/7 barring really bad inclement weather, on a genuine pasture, with both natural shelter and a robust run-in shed, with other horses, but those options don’t seem to exist in boarding around here, at least not in situations that also have things like arenas.
6 hours a day. 25 year old TB, working 3 - 4 days a week, and in medium, he has cushings, but not IR, and he’s out with two medium ponies with access to a round bale, shelter, and an autowaterer.
I’m at a Hunter show barn and my horse gets 4-6 hours in a grass paddock every day because that’s all he will tolerate. He loves him stall 😆 He’s ridden 30-45 mins every day except Monday. He might last longer outside if he had a run-in type thing but that just isn’t common in my area at all.
