Consider four horses that keep very different schedules:
- Horse A heads out to pasture early in the morning and gets tucked into his stall each night.
- Horse B comes inside for a few hours each day to eat breakfast and dinner but spends the rest of her time in a field with her friends.
- Horse C only spends a few hours at pasture each day.
- Horse D hasn’t seen his stall in ages.
All four horses seem happy and healthy. But with such different daily agendas, you can’t help but wonder which strategy is best? How much turnout should a horse have?
Don’t worry … it’s a good question, and we’re here to help.
The More, The Better
The most common—and simplest—response you’ll get to the question of how much turnout should a horse have is, “as much as possible.”
Let’s pause here for a quick horse history review. As horses evolved, they adapted to maintaining almost constant, slow locomotion, particularly when feeding. In other words, they’re designed to move nearly continuously over large ranges while grazing and foraging for most of the day.
Like their ancient counterparts, modern horses’ bodies function best when they’re able to move freely (i.e., they’re turned out) and have consistent access to forage (grass or hay) throughout the day. The ability to move freely helps keep food traveling through their digestive tracts, joints and muscles moving and functioning well, and horses engaged in their natural foraging and exploratory behaviors.
All considered, it makes sense that our horses should have as much turnout as possible. Many horses thrive on 24/7 turnout all year (provided, of course, they have access to appropriate food, water, and shelter).
While full-time turnout most closely aligns with how horses evolved to live and behave, for many reasons it’s not for everyone … and that’s OK.
For example, hard keepers, slow eaters, or very submissive horses might need time in a stall to consume their feed at their own pace and without threat from pasturemates. Some horses prefer to lie down and get their REM sleep in their stalls versus in a pasture. Some barns might need to rotate horses through shared pastures throughout the day. And it’s just some owners’ preference for horses to split their days between a stall and a pasture.
Ideally, your horse should have eight to 12 hours a day to move freely, forage, and, well, act like a horse! This gives them plenty of time to reap the benefits of turnout while still allowing them access to their own space to eat, rest, and stay protected from inclement weather.
Special Cases
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, including turnout. Several scenarios—some temporary, others long-term—require special turnout-related considerations. For instance, injured or sick horses sometimes need stall rest as part of their recovery. Your veterinarian should help you manage this process. He or she will let you know when your horse is ready to gradually resume turnout.
Another example: Too much turnout on pasture can be dangerous for easy keepers, overweight horses, and those with metabolic conditions. While the ability to move freely is, indeed, a good thing, consuming too much sugary grass puts these horses at risk of developing a number of serious health conditions, such as laminitis.
Owners can maximize turnout time while managing pasture intake in several ways. For instance, you might outfit your horse with a grazing muzzle when turning him out on grass. Or, you might turn your horse out in a drylot and provide an appropriate amount of hay to replace pasture. If no such options are available or feasible, you might need to reduce turnout time altogether. Work with your veterinarian to find the best balance of turnout and confinement and develop the best management plan (i.e., feeding frequency, exercise, enrichment to prevent boredom, etc.) to keep your horse as healthy as possible.
How Much Turnout Should a Horse Have: The Bottom Line
Horses evolved to wander and forage, so it stands to reason that they benefit from getting as much turnout time as possible. If your horse doesn’t live out 24/7, aim for him to get at least eight to 12 hours of turnout per day. And don’t forget: Whenever your horse is turned out, ensure he or she has safe and functional fencing that’s checked regularly for damage; constant access to fresh, clean water; and appropriate shelter and/or shade.
Related Reading:
- On the Move: The Importance of Regular Exercise for Horses
- Caring for Horses: What Every Horse Needs
- Does Your Horse Need a Barn?
Erica Larson is a lifelong equestrian with extensive experience in many disciplines (from three-day eventing to driving mini horses) and in managing a wide range of horses (from seniors to fresh off-the-track Thoroughbreds to high-performance athletes). She resides near Lexington, Kentucky, with her two OTTBs, Eldorado’s Tune and Sniper Shot.
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