Does anyone bring their young horses (i.e. two year olds) into the barn at night? Just curious how many people are partially stabling their young horses vs. outside 24/7.
All of our horses and ponies regardless of age are in stalls at night in the winter and during the day in the summer. We prefer this set up. They all get used to being stalled as part of their life. It also works because we don’t like to blanket young horses and deal with fly masks etc. It also allows us to handle all them daily and they get used to barn activities.
When my older guy was 2, he was boarded and stalled at night because it was a small barn and that’s just what was done.
When he developed some UFP issues later in his 2yo year, he was put on free access in and out of his stall, and the issue disappeared (for the time being).
He lived out 24x7 most of his yearling year, and had the in/out situation at night (all turned out during the day) for his 3yo year as well.
My current 11 month old has been out 23x7 for most of his life, coming in at night for really bad weather, and that’s how he will live as long as he’s with me, which will hopefully be the rest of his life.
Our young horses are out 24/7 in a pasture with automatic water bowl, free choice hay, free choice minerals and grained twice a day. They are brought into stalls twice a week for an hour for their morning meal than back out. This way they stay grounded with hands on contact, grooming and petting. It also makes them enjoy being stabled for injury or future confinement.
I am not a breeder, but I raised my weanling, and have working with a number of young horses.
I prefer to keep them out 24/7 if possible. They freely exercise more, and are calmer to work around having been able to self exercise at will.
That said, I think a young horse should learn how to stay in a stall without being a basket case.
Also… my personal youngster used to come in at night to be fed separately. I was keeping her with some “Stock Type” youngsters who were being fed a straight alfalfa diet… mine came in at night to eat grass hay instead. She didn’t seem any worse for wear from spending 8 hours a night in.
All of our broodmares and youngsters (yearlings and up until they are in regular training at 3 or 4) are out 24/7 during the late spring, summer and fall. The mares with foals come in at night and are out all day once the foals can handle it. In the winter they come in at night even though we have good sheds it is cold and I like them to be used to coming in and being handled twice a day. In the spring (oh lovely mud season!) They have to stay in at night and sometimes we have to rotate the fields to make sure they don’t destroy all the grass in the smaller paddocks, as soon as it is dry enough out they go!
Those that are out generally get fed in separate paddocks and moved around each day so they still get handled every day, and we are able to make sure we get a good look at everyone at least each morning. And the ones in training and stalled are out as much as possible during the day.
Out 24/7 except for extreme weather. Blanketed if needed…or stalls with fans and baths in extreme heat. The closer to what nature intended the better!
My almost-yearling has been out in some pretty cold rain. His dam was absolutely blanketed - she gets cold easily.
Even hours in a drenching rain, his coat, errrrr, I mean, his pelt 
wasn’t even wet all the way through.
Now, I HAVE brought them in when it was to be a cold, drenching rain for all day or all night, but that’s mostly because I knew the adults would be miserable even with their blankets.
Only brought in if it is too wet/cold for them to lie down outside. Live out all summer, spring and fall
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;6161153]
All of our horses and ponies regardless of age are in stalls at night in the winter and during the day in the summer. We prefer this set up. They all get used to being stalled as part of their life. It also works because we don’t like to blanket young horses and deal with fly masks etc. It also allows us to handle all them daily and they get used to barn activities.[/QUOTE]
this except in the summer they are out 24/7 but come in morning and night into a stall to eat their dinner/breakfast.
Our youngsters wear fly masks and blankets though - so they are used to them too.
There was a study in the past year or so that found that youngsters that lived out 24/7 had greater bone density that those stalled even 1/2 a day. I’ll try to find that. Mine stay out all the time & have run in sheds.
Mine come in because I like them handled a lot. Have been breeding now for 13 years with no issues of them being stabled part of the day. My oldest is 12 this year, just sold her to the girl who was leasing her.
My guys have access to shelter 24/7 but I only lock them in at night when temp drops below 32. Although, that is most of our winter but we do get some very nice evening here too. Of course my stalls are extra large so I don’t feel too bad bring them in. In fact, I sleep better knowing that they are nice and warm in their fluffy beds, at least when the weather is bad.
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;6161153]
All of our horses and ponies regardless of age are in stalls at night in the winter and during the day in the summer. We prefer this set up. They all get used to being stalled as part of their life. It also works because we don’t like to blanket young horses and deal with fly masks etc. It also allows us to handle all them daily and they get used to barn activities.[/QUOTE]
This /
Another benefit is that you do not risk colic when you take them to a show, or they have to suddenly be stalled. You are also more likely to notice any tiny change in their behaviour or health.
My coming 2 year olds come in every night with everyone else. They go out every day around 6am and come in at 9pm, barring horrible weather. They’ve been on this schedule since they were born and do well in their stalls, I think they sleep better too because they feel safe. When there are nice warm nights in the spring or summer I will leave all of them out 24/7. I think whatever works for you and as long as they have a good diet and are healthy that’s what matters.
We have all horses except breeding stallions and show horses out 24/7 all year. Unless there is a problem they will come in but each field has a big sturdy run-in shed and auto waterer. We will blanket only in extreme weather for older retirees if need be. Horses are always healthier when they are outside, grow their coats in winter and have a herd around them. Keep it as natural as possible and let mother nature do it’s thing.
My two are out all the time, but are still handled (groomed, walking onto trailer, manes/faces done as needed) on a very regular basis. I think this makes for much healthier and saner babies. That being said, I think it’s very important for all horses to at least learn to be stalled (alone or with company) without acting like a nut. Land it often a deciding factor as well- is there enough pasture to support them being out all the time? Luckily for us, we have enough land to allow them to be out full time.
Ours are out 24/7 except that we bring them in (one at a time) to spend the night in a stall away from their friends about once a week. This gets them used to a stall and keeps them from being too herd bound.
All my horses are out 24/7 unless there is a lot of wind and rain/snow or mud. The young ones (2 and under) are not blanketed either. They are brought in twice daily for gain, grooming and check overs and leading practice. The nights they come in they are just as happy to be inside as being out they could take it or leave it, personally I am happier when they are out free to do as they wish.
THIS!! I completely agree! And for me, since I usually trailer back and forth to shows, even my stallion and show horses live out unless we are leaving very early in the morning, someone is sick or injured, etc. Horses are happier and healthier this way.
And I have 2 coming 5yo geldings I raised here in this manner, with somewhat benign neglect until they were 3yo, and they are lovely citizens. They stand on the trailer at the shows, live fine in stalls at away shows, etc. To suggest that they need to come in every day or night to “get used to being stalled” is really not giving them much credit. Horses adapt quickly. It is better for them to be moving, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the herd dynamics. They can learn to live like show horses when the time comes. There is no benefit for the horses to be in, only for the people.
