Barn at night?

[heartofwisdom]

Last night I wasn't able to get my horses in the barn and they stayed out all night.

I was thinking maybe I put them up too early. I bring the to the paddock at 5 each night and in the barn by 6 ( its dark by 6) but they are still so playful. Its like fighting with my 4 & 6 year old to go to bed. I take them outby 7am

When I fist got the horses I thought I'd let them get used to my place and morn loosing their family before I started training but now I'm regreting not starting right away.

I'm in the process of moving my barn now as soon as its complete (over $1000! had to move the fence too) I'll start training.

Anyway I was wondering, how many of you put your horses in the barn at night?

 

[Miniv]

Robin,

It's always nice to be able to stall all your horses every night, but if you don't have the facilities for them all but have outdoor shelters, that works too. One or two nights out isn't going to hurt them either, especially if there isn't any adverse weather.

If you are talking about the short term until your barn is set, just feed them extra hay for now.....it's not like it's going to last more than a couple of nights, right?

MA

 

[Critter]

Last night I wasn't able to get my horses in the barn and they stayed out all night.

I was thinking maybe I put them up too early. I bring the to the paddock at 5 each night and in the barn by 6 ( its dark by 6) but they are still so playful. Its like fighting with my 4 & 6 year old to go to bed. I take them outby 7am

When I fist got the horses I thought I'd let them get used to my place and morn loosing their family before I started training but now I'm regreting not starting right away.

I'm in the process of moving my barn now as soon as its complete (over $1000! had to move the fence too) I'll start training.

Anyway I was wondering, how many of you put your horses in the barn at night?

I have had full size horses for twenty years and ALWAYS allowed them out at night. Only time anyone now, even with the mini's are locked in is when there is too much ice or they are clipped in cold weather. But then they usually would decide to stay in on there own. I prefer to keep them in as natural enviroment as possible. IMO

 

[Margaret]

Mine all hunker at the back corner of the pasture at night, and seem to do well that way.. We are well fenced in so there is no threat of preditors here. If it rains they can all get under a covered awning, in the pasture if they want. The only time I put them in the barn is if it gets flooded here, or keeps raining-which doesent happen often.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

My horses all go into there own stalls every nite. They know the routine and in the summer when it is to hot they go in the barn as well, also in the rain they love to go into there stalls and I think the lower on the totem pole horses really enjoy there time without watching over there shoulder. They eat dinner in the barn and have buckets for water. I know every morning who has drank there normal amount, who has passed or not their normal amount of manure. It works for me and for them.

:

 

[justaboutgeese]

Mine have always been out 24/7 . They have access to the barn and except for the very worst winter storms choose to be outside.

 

[Jean_B]

Nope - I stall my horses only when they are ready to "pop" (foal), when one needs treatment, or when getting ready for a show. Even my show horses stay out 24/7 on long, narrow dry lot paddocks with shelters. When I lived in northern Wisconsin, they rarely used the shelters, only if there was a freezing rain. After a snowstorm they were walking snow drifts. They could have gone in, but they chose not to.

 

[Marty]

I always kept my horses stalled at night. This is just my personal preference and what works well for me and my horses.

I guess that just became my habit over 30 years ago because back home in Florida, we used to get some horrifying storms without much warning in the middle of the night and would have to get out of bed and go running out to get them inside. I've seen horses get struck by lightening, so that is what started me putting my horses up at night all the time, mostly. The other reason was the bugs. By morning, I would find the horse's just eat up by bug bites too, frantic to get in with big ditches dug by the gates. Some would be sweating and foaming like crazy and all upset that they couldn't get in. They'd be an absolute wreck. I feel much better with them all where I can see them easily and know exactly where they are.

I also agree like Lisa that this way I can be sure that I know who is passing manure and drinking sufficient water. If someone isn't, I will be able to put that horse on colic watch where otherwise I wouldn't be aware that something is wrong early on.

Also I feel that keeping them in at night lessens any risk of predators that could be lurking about.

I'm watching them all on the cameras now and they are so nice and cozy in there.

Horses get used to routine and then they look foreward to it.

 

[minih]

The only ones that are stalled at night are the weaners, they go in together two to a stall. The rest of them are free to go in and out of the barn. I have one that is put in a show horse run at night all the time because she is low on the totem pole. Poor thing I don't think she even knows there is a totem pole to climb. :no: We do seperate ours out to feed, so they all know to come in and go to a stall, then after they are finished they are ready to get out. I like to know how much each horse is getting, it is alot easier to tell which horse is off it's feed this way and alot sooner.

My show horses are kept in stalls with runs that usually have the doors open, unless it is right before a show. All our horses must be the exception, almost all of them on a rainy day are standing in the different barn door ways looking out. Dry as they can be.

:

Forgot to add, we also stall our soon to be mom's so they can go under the camera.

 

[Joyce]

My 13 miniatures are stalled at night. Too many wild animals go thru here at night to leave them outside.

Joyce

 

[MiniMoment]

I have a large horse with asthmatic problems. My vet advised keeping her out 24/7 to reduce the amount of air borne allergens, dust etc that she would be exposed to inside the barn. She improved 100%. I have adequate shelters in all fields (Large horses and Minis are in separate fields). I leave ALL my horses out 24/7; vet approved also. They decide when they want out of the elements; most of the time, they chose to stay out in all types of weather including snow and rain! (Exception: Mares due to foal, new babes until they are older, and of course the obvious: show horses the day before a show). I am proud to say I've never had a sick horse yet! <fingers crossed>

 

[MBennettp]

The horses that I have at my sister's house are stalled at night and let out during the day because of the dogs and coyotes. The horses that are here are in dry lots with their stall doors open at night. When we finish the barn, it will be the same. They each have their own stalls and know which stall is theirs. I noticed that the horses that are at my sister's will spend a lot of time in the barn when the bugs are bad. It is darker and cooler in the barn in the summer and the bugs aren't so bad.

Mary

 

[tuffsmom]

My mini is out 24/7, he has a run in shed, but I don't think even a tornado could get him in it!

: When it rains (which is rare around here) he stands out in the rain looking pathetic & mistreated, but I guess it's his choice...*sigh...

 

[nootka]

All of mine go in each night, though the times they are out varies by weather as well as the individual horse. At certain times of the year, I leave most of them out all night, but again, there are individual needs (I don't leave foals out at night, and Gramma has to come in to get her "crunchies", some of the show horses don't get to spend the whole night out as they are clipped and I don't want it to turn cold on them).

This time of year, my horses spend as many as two or three days at a time in their stalls, though I try to make sure they get a couple of hours outside in between rainstorms. I hate this time of year! I think horses should be about 50/50 out/in at most, with more time out than in (my farrier and I were discussing this and he says he sees the best feet on horses in this territory (very wet) that are 50% in and 50% out.

This is another reason I have to keep my numbers at a certain level is that I have to be able to put everyone in every night and they each need their own stall.

Liz M.

 

[Sonya]

I put mine in at night. They don't get locked in until 9pm or later and are let out between 4-8am depending on my work schedule. They are always ready to go in the barn at night. Maybe try putting them in a little later if possible, let them kick up their hoofs in the evening some.

 

[Minimor]

Ours are out 24/7--they have run-in shelters they can use when/if they want, & they do use the sheds a lot, but they seem perfectly happy outside, & they certainly aren't suffering any for not being in the barn. There have been a few winters where we've kept horses in the barn, mostly because we didn't have enough shelters for them outside; we will not leave horses out if they don't have access to some sort of shelter--fortunately, we've got more sheds built now; everyone has a shed and so no one has to be in the barn. We have the horses divided up into groups of 3-6 per paddock, & everyone is able to get inside when they want to.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Mine are out all the time. Having said that, and having been shown pictures of your "barn"- it is what we would call a Stable- I think the problem may be that the door is so high they can see nothing once they are in there. I would have a FIT if someone tried to charge me what you are paying to move the darn thing four foot, but that is your business- whilst you have them there get them to saw the door in half and make you another level. Horses like to be able to see what is going on and once they can hang their heads over and look out I think you will have less trouble getting them in. The other people on here- well, go to Marty's page and look at what she calls a barn- once her horse are inside the herd ethos is still there. They can see whats going on and talk to one another, look out into the barn aisle and generally mooch around. Once your two are in they can see four walls and one another. That's it.

Also, are they getting free choice hay at night, this might also be a factor.

Personally, although I leave all mine out all the time, in the situation you are in I think I would want them in the stable at night, so I knew where they were. At the very least I would be haltering, tying up and grooming them each night, just to keep them realising who is Boss, now, and who feeds them!!!

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Mine have always come in each nite. After what happened to NancyGs mare years ago I changed my ways. Each horse has a stall. Around 5pm this time of year they trot on down and wait for Mom to come out and get their rooms ready. We have the occasional bear, coydogs, coyotes and such so with as few as I have I must protect each one. Having limited stalls also keeps my numbers down.

:

 

[Cathy_H]

We keep most of our horses in big dry lots most of the time including at night time. We partner the horses up based on feeding amount, personalities sex etc........... Each dry lot has a nice covered run in which really is like a big stall with a wide open doorway to enable more than one horse to come & go....... If we get one of our annual ice storms the horses can be shut into these run ins until the ice melts................ If we get single digit temperatures we have enough stalls to bring them all in..... As the broodmares get closer to foaling they are also stalled at night......... Our show horses are stalled at night & dry lotted during the day. Our foals are stalled at night during their first winter......... These dry lots are directly behind our barn & our german shepherd can see them all & alerts us to anything unusual............................. I really do not think it is necessary to have a stall for every horse if you have several dry lots with nice dry comfortable run ins & you make sure the partnered horses eat & get along together

 

[Kathy2m]

Mine come in at night like Marty said here in florida the lightening is wicked. We have foxes too I dont know if they would mess with the horses or not. We have had alot of horses stolen around here too. My barn is close to my house so they would have to go through several fences to get to them, instead of just cutting one fence.