As temperatures soar during the summer—especially in hot, humid regions—many horse owners make a strategic change to their horses’ daily routines: They switch to night turnout. This means horses are kept in stalls or shaded areas during the day and are turned out into pastures or paddocks overnight.
Why Opt for Night Turnout for Horses in the Summer
“Flipping” schedules and turning horses out at night, when temperatures are cooler, benefits horses in several ways:
- Protection from extreme heat. The most obvious reason is to avoid the hottest part of the day and reduce the risk of heat-related health issues.
- Reduced exposure to flies and sunburn. Flies and biting insects are most active during daylight. Night turnout minimizes a horse’s exposure to these pests, which can cause discomfort, skin irritation, and the spread of disease. Additionally, horses with light-colored coats or pink skin on their noses or around their eyes can be prone to sunburn. Keeping them indoors during the day helps prevent painful burns.
- Preserving pasture quality. Grass can become scorched and dry under the intense sun, especially in arid climates. Allowing horses to graze overnight helps preserve pasture quality, since the grass is less stressed and better able to recover without the added pressure of both heat and grazing during the day.
- Improved behavior and comfort. Cooler temperatures can encourage more natural behaviors such as grazing, playing, and socializing—activities horses might avoid under the hot sun.
Switching Turnout Schedules Safely
One potential downside of having night turnout for horses is that any injuries or other problems that occur most likely won’t be discovered until morning—many hours later. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a few precautions to help the transition to night turnouts go smoothly.
Consider Herd Dynamics
If every horse in your herd has been turned out at night before and they are all friends, they will probably adapt easily to the new schedule. If, however, you have a new horse, you’ll want to be sure he’s settled into the herd, with a buddy or two, before his first night out. You want any squabbles to reestablish the herd hierarchy to happen during daylight hours, when you can monitor the situation.
Ensure Your Fences Are Visible
Horses have excellent night vision, much better than ours. Still, you don’t want your fences to blend too much into their backgrounds. You don’t need to replace or repaint darker fences in shadowy areas, however. The solution can be as simple as applying reflective tape or tying a bit of surveyor’s tape every few feet.
Establish a Buffer From Roads
If your pasture borders a road, traffic accidents that damage the fence or injure horses are ever-present possibilities. Consider using a different paddock for overnight turnout, or invest in a double fence line around the farm’s perimeter.
Watch Your Horse’s Weight
When switching to nighttime turnout, horses might end up on pasture for many more hours each day. This extra grazing time can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of laminitis. If your horse has a history of either, consider using a grazing muzzle or turning him out in a dry lot. Keep tabs on all your horses to catch any weight gain early.
Final Thoughts
Night turnout isn’t the right solution for every situation—some facilities might lack the fencing or supervision necessary for safe overnight turnout. But for many horse owners in hot climates, it’s a practical and horse-friendly way to beat the summer heat.
Related Reading:
- How Much Turnout Should a Horse Have?
- Watch for These 8 Summer Horse Health Risks
- What Does a Daily Horse Care Routine Look Like?
Parts of this article originally ran on Equus.
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