How many let their foals live out 24/7?

[alliekat]

I am just curious how many allow their foals to live out 24/7? I foal mine out in a small paddock next to the barn and barring any medical issues or weather I leave mine out as much as possible. I am interested to hear everyone else's practice.

[EventingChase]

Mine is out 24/7. She has a run under shelter and is quite a princess about going under it at the first raindrop... but otherwise she is out and about and running around.

[foxhavenfarm]

Ours are also out 24/7 and they have a run-in shed but most of the time they don't even use it if it's raining unless it's cold or extremely heavy rain.

[pintopiaffe]

Not for the first 4-6 weeks, but after that, all of mine are.

[Sugarbrook]

We stall them at night until I see the foal is driving his mom crazy and racing around all night long. Then they go out 24/7. But our weather is nice in Fl. (LOL, most of the time).

[okggo]

First month I tend to "force" shelter use. We have huge run-in sheds, and they seem to only be in there at feeding time. All other kinds of weather they huddle under the trees and end up soaked and shivering (young and older horses).

That saying about leading a horse to water is true for many things, lol. Anyway...until I actually have one that uses the shelters on their own free will, if they are young they get locked in during terrible weather.

[hrfponies]

I have just built a run in shed and am going to be turning my young ones out 24/7. I am nervous though about something happening in the middle of the night. We do have coyotes and the fences is electric so I don't think they will get out, but I am still nervous! Has anyone ever had any experiences with Coyotes? I have been told they won't bother the horses... but a neighbor down the road had an old mare attacked by them several years ago!!:eek: Any suggestions about 24/7 turnout would be appreciated!

[Summit Springs Farm]

My filly can have 24/7 access to her stall as do the other horses to their stalls, but when one goes in it seems they all go, my mare likes to stand at her door to the pasture and just look out, very cute.

They all have a separate pastures/stalls, but get turned out in pairs during the day, during that time we close all stall doors, so 2 horses are not allowed access to 2 stalls. they would go in the others stall or 2 would go in one.:(

[alliekat]

We got our first rain yesterday and when I tried to bring them in they didn't want to come. It wasn't really bad so I let them stay out. Our filly loved the rain. Infact last night when I filled up the water trough she came over interested in the water. I sprayed the hose up in the air about 6 feet from her. She ran over to the misting water and started to paw and play in it. I thought it was so cute.
That was until this am when I found she had put her feet in the water trough. It was full of mud and dirt. At first I though it might have been mom until I look at little Tori's legs. Wet up to her elbow. I dumped the trough to refill it and there she was playing in the mud. I think I created a monster!!!!

[Daydream Believer]

I get mine out 24/7 as early as possible depending on weather and other concerns. Right now my earliest babies are still coming in at night but I hope to leave them out later this week. I think it is way healthier for them if you can manage it.

[horsetales]

I have just built a run in shed and am going to be turning my young ones out 24/7. I am nervous though about something happening in the middle of the night. We do have coyotes and the fences is electric so I don't think they will get out, but I am still nervous! Has anyone ever had any experiences with Coyotes? I have been told they won't bother the horses... but a neighbor down the road had an old mare attacked by them several years ago!!:eek: Any suggestions about 24/7 turnout would be appreciated!

Not coyotes, but I do know of someone who almost lost their arab mare and foal to pet farm dogs that turned into a pack at night and got in her 4 board fence. Luckily, both survived. I only have run-in shelters in my "kids" field, not the broodmare field - but hopefully coming soon, so I can turnout in all but the worst weather.

[Signature]

<raises hand> Ours stay in a paddock attached to the barn with stall access for about the first 2 weeks, and then they go out with the other broodmares in a large field with a huge run-in. If the weather is terribly inclement of course they come in but in general they are out. We find we have far less trouble handling them, leading them, farrier, etc plus no vices (like wood chewing) when they are out. If kept in, they are WILD when you turn out and are likely to be silly/naughty when handling because they are FRESH! :)

[alliekat]

I am so glad to hear that for the most part the babies are out side. I remember being at a farm tht the babies were pretty much inside a stall 24/7. I found it odd and didn't think it was good for the foal both mentally and physically. When I said to the owner that I pretty much keep mine out as much as possible she thought I was crazy!! I even foal mine out in a small broodie paddock that they will both live in until they are ready to be turned out in the broodmare field with others. Now I haven't raised or foaled a bagillion babies but I have worked with my fair share and mine always seemed happy and healthy with this arrangement.

[eggbutt]

I have just built a run in shed and am going to be turning my young ones out 24/7. I am nervous though about something happening in the middle of the night. We do have coyotes and the fences is electric so I don't think they will get out, but I am still nervous! Has anyone ever had any experiences with Coyotes? I have been told they won't bother the horses... but a neighbor down the road had an old mare attacked by them several years ago!!:eek: Any suggestions about 24/7 turnout would be appreciated!


Coyotes and dogs can and do go after young stock of all kinds. Best bet if you really do have them in your area is to add miniature donkeys to your herd. They will fend off dogs and coyotes almost all the time.:yes::yes:

[FriesianX]

Mine spend the first day or two in a stall with paddock, then go out in a smaller pasture during the day and back in the stall/paddock at night for the first week. After that, they are out 24/7. All have access to shelters, but seldom use them. Of course, I am in California, the weather isn't exactly harsh;)

Usually after about 3 or 4 weeks, I start integrating them into a social group of mares and foals, until then, mare and foal are in their own pasture next to, and across from, other mares and foals (I have a set up with four 1/2 to 1 acre pastures that run into a central group of mare motels, so they are all in view of each other but physically separated). When in a group setting, they are on bigger pastures (5 to 10 acres) with large run in shelter.

I think, if I was in a harsher climate, I'd be more inclined to bring them in at night for the first 30 days. Maybe.

ETA - we have a lot of coyotes, and have never had them come near a horse. As long as the mares are healthy, no coyote who values his life would come near! Domestic dogs who run in packs are a bigger threat, and if you have mountain lions nearby, those are also a threat (they can easily take down a mare). Coyotes would only take on a very sick or injured adult horse, and most mares keep a close watch on their kids for the first few weeks, and after that, the kids are pretty big and fast, and if they squawk at all, the mares are right there. If you've never seen a mare who feels her foal is being threatened, it is a sight to behold! Hell hath no fury like a protective broodmare!

[Waterwitch]

After the first couple of weeks, mine are out 24-7 with a run-in shed (but most of my babies are May and June births when most of the cold and wet weather is over though).

We have a coyote den nearby (and hear them most nights) but have never had a problem with the horses. We do have a mini-donk. I'm not sure she would run them off - she is fairly casual with our dogs anyway. I think the smell and presence of our Irish Wolfhound Murphy probably does more to dissuade would-be marauders than she does :winkgrin: Oh, and let's not forget to mention the mama mares!! A coyote would be taking its life in its paws for sure.

[monami]

Ours are in a stall with an attached paddock for the about 2 weeks and then they go out in a large field w/ a large shed with other mares and foals. We used to do 1/2 day turn out but them living out is much better for everyone (humans, mares and foals)

We also have coyotes and feral dogs and never have had a problem, I think because we have a few mares that do not take to kindly to 4 legged strangers in their pasture!!

[LisaO]

Hail and lightning are the two things that I'll bring my horses (of any age) in for. Other than that, they are out with a herd. They self sort for feeding and always come up for attention, so I don't worry. I like their brains when reared with a group and I like their coordination and awareness (not to mention healthy limbs) when out on some terrain.

[sfstable]

I try to leave mine out as much as possible. They come in for bad weather and I bring them in to eat so that they get used to being haltered and led. Then we turn them back out after being fed.

I think that it is better on their legs and joints if they are allowed to be out. I have observed that foals that are "stalled" quite a bit as youngsters seem to have more issues.

[Go Fish]

Depends on the time of year. Sometimes if I have early foals, I'll bring them in if it's cold and rainy and they are under 2-weeks old. After that, they're out 24/7 in any kind of weather. I have run-in sheds if they want to get out of the weather.

My vet and I believe that being out in a herd environment is critical to physical and mental development.

[blackstallion2]

No stalls here. I keep up in large run in 1-2 days, depending upon the weather and then up at night a week or so. Small paddock with run in another week or so. Then the full pasture with just mom, and if all is going well, out full time with the herd by 1 month. I like to let them learn the fencing well without the herd before full turn out, because I have electric.

[county]

All our foals are born in a 25 acre pasture and live outside 24/7 in it with their dam until a week or so old. They then get moved to the mare/foal pasture thats 80 acres and are outside 24/7 till weaned. All pastures have run in sheds.

[county]

BTW we have 6000 acres of Wildlife Management land on 3 sides of us, coyotes, bear, fox, skunk, badger pretty much anything from central Mn. They live in our pastures also never had a problem with coyote or bear bothering our horses or cattle yet. They will come into the birthing pasture and steal placentas and we don't let the sheep out when lambing but never any problems with mares/foals or cow/calfs.

[kdavies]

What about during the winter? When there is snow/ice on the ground?

I know that most of the large warmblood breeding operations in Europe bring their broodmares, yearlings, and weanlings inside during the whole winter . . . either in larger stalls together (such as one whole row of a barn with the partitions taken out) or in a small indoor arena. The horses stay confined (and are pretty well "packed in" in terms of how many there are in such a small area) for the entire winter!

In spring - once the ground is ok again and the fields won't get too messed up, they will go back outside and live out 24/7.

What do breeders think about that?


I bring all my horses in at night and then out in the morning by 5:30/6am, until the late spring and then they will be out 24/7 for the most part until late fall.

[county]

I live in central Mn. our winters get to -35 F and all our horses stay outside 24/7 no blankets. By far the best way I've found to keep them warm and healthy is high quality grass hay 24/7. All our horses have access to 3 sided shelters but rarely use them in winter they use them mostly during bug season. Also we never foal before mid April and the majority in May

[Equilibrium]

Early babies are in at night for at least 4-6 weeks then they live out 24/7. And occasionally during the summer we could get 3 days of rain solid with temps in the 50's so we might bring them in for a dry night's sleep. When everyone's in their summer coats they do start shivering quite a bit.

Later babies are out 24/7 as soon as the weather is agreeable. After weaning and through the winter, out 24/7 too. Again, they never complain about the odd dry night in! If they do come in, it's too a big cattle shed divided for colts and fillies.

Refering to the comment about what people do on mainland Europe such as bringing in horses during the winter. Many do not have the land masses and so to save their land, they come into big barns for the winter. Not a big fan of this, but they do what they have to do I guess.

Terri

[amdfarm]

Similar to County. Foal out and stay out w/ the herd 24/7. If there would a problem I'd have to haul them to my friend's barn, as I don't have one.... yet! :) Yucky weather is mostly gone this time of year, but there is mud and bugs to deal w/ later in the spring. First foals should be coming the end of this month and then in May for the remainder.

[flyinghorse]

Mine are out 24/7 now for the last 6 years, and I have found them to be much healthier and robust than when I used to stall them. I have posted new pictures of this year's babies on the home page of my web site:

www.emeraldspringequestrian.com

[NoDQhere]

We also do not stall Mommas/Babies. We have shed/run setups for foaling but once baby is strong, out to the pasture they go. We have had a few born in the pasture as well and no problems. We do have a cougar or two that travel up and down the river so prefer to foal the mares close to the house but haven't had issues when they have surprised us.

[dbts]

Outside 24/7. Large pasture areas. No threat from coyotes, but mountain lions would be a problem. I think a herd situation offers much in the way of protection. Run in sheds available, but seldom frequented. Most used in summer to stir up dust against the flies.

In Germany farmers must protect their pastures over winter and that is why they keep the horses confined. Different circumstances here in the States.

[YankeeLawyer]

Mine are outside during the day in winter and in at night; we switch the schedule during summer. At any given time they are outside at least 12 hours, and usually closer to 16 hours, per day. I prefer to make sure all the babies are handled daily and keep a close eye on all my horses.