24 hour turnout = sleepy horse?

[horsemad]

My livery yard has a 2 week holiday during the summer, during which time all the horses are turned out. So my girl has been out in the field for the last 4 days, rather than her usual routine of being stabled at night and just out during the day.

I think she's enjoying being out with her horsey pals, but what I have noticed is that when I've brought her in, she seems really sleepy and a bit 'spaced out'!! I don't know whether this is because she's full of grass or because shes been raking about the fields and not getting as much rest as she would do in her stable (she has been spotted leading her 'herd' in a flat out gallop back and forwards between the 2 fields they are in!). I haven't had the heart to make her do any real 'work' because she's been so lacking in energy. We've managed a couple of gentle hacks, thats about it!!

Anyone else notice a change in their horse's behaviour if they go from being stabled for part of the day to 24 hour turnout?

[katieB]

Yep, I thought it was the sun more than being turned out 24/7 but even when its been a bit milder recently Ellie still comes in and has a snooze. I know what you mean, I always feel mean getting the tack out when she's like that although she's always much chirpier when we get back. I think if theyre stabled they havent got much to do apart from eat a bit of hay and then maybe doze but when theyre out they'd much rather be constantly wandering round eating or playing

[virtuallyhorses]

You can also find that it relates to the time of day that you ride. Our lot have little daily routines, lying down and having a flat out sleep in the morning, grazing till the early afternoon, playtime, snooze late afternoon, etc etc So if you come along in what is their scheduled snooze time .... they're going to be sleepy.

Lots of grazing goes on at night time if they're out 24hrs and quite a bit of snoozing during the day. I guess if they're in a stable at night they almost have to reverse the 'natural' routine.

[Lancashire Lass]

My little man plays out from 7pm in the evening and comes in at 10am in the morning,... he'll come into his stable and spend a couple of minutes at his haynet, before he realises that he really ISN'T that hungry as he's been on Dr Green all night,...he goes straight into sleep mode,...lies down, flat out, using the bankings as his pillows!!! He'll sleep for an hour or two, get back up, nibble on his haynet again and have another kip in the afternoon. By the time I get up to the farm in the early evening, he's bright as a button, ready to do some work and then, after a small feed (only to get the essential vits and mins into him while he's growing up)...he goes out to play again. This is his Summertime routine.

Come the fresher weather, he reverts back to out in the day and in at night through the late Autumn and Winter.

When he first goes onto his Summertime routine, for the first couple of weeks he's not as energetic in the evening at first, but only because of the fact he's on the Dr Green more...;)

[horsemad]

Yet again, Ellie and Cindy have much in common! When I've brought her in from the field, she looks like she is about to keel over - she can hardly put one foot in front of the other :D

But after an hour of grooming and chilling out and an hour of walking on our hack, Cindy is much more perky and energetic.

Virtuallyhorses - thats a good point about time of day. Maybe I'm interrupting Cindy's early evening nap, poor love!

Lancashire lass - 'Dr Green' - I like that! My girl certainly loves her grub, so her lethargy could also be down to overdosing on Dr Green.:D :D

[Emarmite]

Hi,

Glad someone posted this thread as I part loan a horse three days a week. They are out 24/7 in the summer and some nights when I bring him in he looks like he wants to sleep, I feel guilty riding him then, but promised owner I would ride him three times a week.

unfortunately when he is like this it is quite hard work out hacking as he is very lazy and reluctant to walk or trot, there has been occasions when he just stands there.

If this now happens I just take him for a short hack and bring him back.

Beverley

[Lancashire Lass]

Beverley.... is it possible you could bring your horse in an hour or so before you intend to ride perhaps? This would give him some time for the 'grass belly' to subside a little and you can use this time to give him a really good brushing,...time it so that when you've tacked him up,..the hour is up and I think you'll find he will have a little more about him for your hacks out together.;)