Whether you are riding, feeding or turning out your horse it makes sense to think about your goals and work backwards from there. A good turnout experience can be incredibly healthful for your horse if done well. It can also be a disaster if unsafe fencing, poor shelter or inexperienced personnel put your horses well-being at risk. It is worth taking some time to think about the reason your horse needs turnout, and putting some money towards making the most of the time. Some common goals of turnout are:
1. physiological rest
2. mental rest from stresses of travel/competition/stabling
3. socialization eg "learning" from other horses and relaxation
4. physical rehabilitation, from clinical or subclinical injury,
5. weight gain, maintenance or loss, measured by BCS (body condition score)
So depending on which of the above factors are relevant to your horse will determine the type of turnout you need. Factors include size of field, terrain of field, quality/type of grass, length of time, which and how many other horses they will be with, and amount of contact with humans. Ideally, you can assess your horses individual needs and find a turnout situation that meets them. You will have a happy and healthy horse in a few months ready to get started back to work.
1. physiological rest
2. mental rest from stresses of travel/competition/stabling
3. socialization eg "learning" from other horses and relaxation
4. physical rehabilitation, from clinical or subclinical injury,
5. weight gain, maintenance or loss, measured by BCS (body condition score)
So depending on which of the above factors are relevant to your horse will determine the type of turnout you need. Factors include size of field, terrain of field, quality/type of grass, length of time, which and how many other horses they will be with, and amount of contact with humans. Ideally, you can assess your horses individual needs and find a turnout situation that meets them. You will have a happy and healthy horse in a few months ready to get started back to work.
