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| If you had the chance would you move your horses a mile and a half down the road into a 70 acres full of grass or keep them behind your house with your arena and barn with NO GRASS what so ever.
i have 3 horses i bust my butt to feed and take care of the right way, they are by no means skinny or unhealthy sometimes i go without so they can have what they need. but my good friend of mine has told me i could turn them out in his pasture (70 acres) cause he doesnt use that pasture anymore. what im asking is, would if be better for their health and my wallet?
only bad thing is, they have no shelter besides tress, if it rains. and i dont have anywhere to ride. but i know all that grass would make feeding alot easier and not so hard on my wallet. i live literally a mile and a half down the road so it would be no thing for me feed them twice a day on the 4 wheeler (i cant drive due to suspension of ID) but i dont know if i want to bring them out of the comfort of my home, where i have shelter, a barn, a full sized arena and walker. but like i said, i BUST my butt to feed them and people dont realize horses are very expensive. (always had my parents take care of them, now im moved out and paying bills and things of my own) i have one very hard keeper that i know would love it out there but im just not sure. what do yall think??
please no rude comments. i came here asking what would be best i dont like to be bashed. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
  
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | What do you do with your horses now- pets, perform, trail ride?
How much hay do you feed and how much grain? |
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 Mouhahaha
Posts: 1786
Location: British Columbia | I think it is always better for horses to have natural forage and to be off dirt, but I like to be able to see them from the window as well. Why don't you try rotating? Keep them out during the day and bring them home at night or 1 day there 1 day back? |
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| Can you ride your horses back and forth? If i had the option i would take advantage of the 70 acres. I'd drive the four wheeler to the pasture. Ride the horse home and work in arena and ride back as a cool down. Also could u pony a horse? This could help you also! Or even pony the horse your wanting to work behind the four wheeler?
I would find a way to take advantage of that pasture! my horses are so much happier on their 5 acres! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | I have horses that could be in a barn and choose to stay out under trees or just hang out in all kinds of weather.... their choice. If it would help you financially it would probably even be better for your horses to be turned out. I'm a firm believer in keeping horses in where ever they would be happiest. You obviously aren't that far away and can get to them easily. Just make sure their water will be plentiful and easy for them. Keep an eye on their weight as being on lush pasture can cause some issues with weight and that can lead to other issues. It wouldn't hurt to try it and see how it works for you. |
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| they have free choice hay, 60$ round bale that last 2 weeks, they get 2 scoops of triple crown complete morning and night. and performance.
i was think about maybe just keeping my open horses out there that dont need to be riden besides long trotting and my colts at the house. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 683
Location: Ohio | I would use the 70 acre pasture and give your pasture a break. You could also save on your hay (and probably cut back a large amount of feed) and use the extra money saved for stocking up closer to winter. It will def. save on your wallet and your horses would appreciate it. My horses choose to stay out 24/7 and only use their run ins/stalls late in the summer when its really hot out (I don't have a lot of shade in my pasture). Plus 1 1/2 miles away isn't far and would be a good warm up/cool down if you could ride back and forth to your arena. I agree with the 4-wheeler comment. Not on only convenient but 70 acres is a lot to cover when your trying to track down your horses and are short on time to ride. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 684
Location: Oklahoma |
I'm in your shoes. I had my horses on ten acres and was feeding them grain twice a day and they were going through one round bale just under two weeks, plus alfalfa...and they still didn't look real great. About a month and a half ago, I got the opportunity to move them to 180 acres. They now get no hay, no grain (the one i ride the most does get renew gold once a day). Just free choice mineral and grass. They finally look great! My mare is even a little on the fat side. They have shelter, but would rather go in the woods when it rains. Horses have survived in the wild forever without barns, and while it is nice to have the option, they usually don't even go in the darn things. If nothing else, if you know there is going to be a spout of really bad weather, you can always bring them home for a few days.
It has saved me a lot of money, and has seemed to make my horses a lot happier. Honestly though, if he's willing to let you use it, what have you got to lose? Take them out there, and if you decide you don't like having them there, or its not working out, just bring them home. Good luck!
Edited by osu_barrelracer 2014-05-27 2:04 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| I would move them to the pasture.
My horses are out without a man-made shelter and they survive just fine. In fact, they choose NOT to stand under the trees during bad weather.
Any time they can be on natural forage you are doing their tummys a favor! [unless obviously they have metabolic issues where starches in the grass are bad, or another special needs requirement] |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | move them to pasture, I don't have the best pasture for my horses, but I supplement with quality hay and quality grain |
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| Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-05-27 1:03 PM
If you had the chance would you move your horses a mile and a half down the road into a 70 acres full of grass or keep them behind your house with your arena and barn with NO GRASS what so ever.
i have 3 horses i bust my butt to feed and take care of the right way, they are by no means skinny or unhealthy sometimes i go without so they can have what they need. but my good friend of mine has told me i could turn them out in his pasture (70 acres) cause he doesnt use that pasture anymore. what im asking is, would if be better for their health and my wallet?
only bad thing is, they have no shelter besides tress, if it rains. and i dont have anywhere to ride. but i know all that grass would make feeding alot easier and not so hard on my wallet. i live literally a mile and a half down the road so it would be no thing for me feed them twice a day on the 4 wheeler (i cant drive due to suspension of ID) but i dont know if i want to bring them out of the comfort of my home, where i have shelter, a barn, a full sized arena and walker. but like i said, i BUST my butt to feed them and people dont realize horses are very expensive. (always had my parents take care of them, now im moved out and paying bills and things of my own) i have one very hard keeper that i know would love it out there but im just not sure. what do yall think??
please no rude comments. i came here asking what would be best i dont like to be bashed.
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USE THE 70 ACRE PASTURE ......................
Ok.. you have 3 horses ... which will be very easy to rotate and work which one you want to on a daily basis .. and also keep them from buddying up in the big pasture. Will give you time to bucket train them to come eat out a bucket while you slip a neck rope and then the halter on them ... also give a cow call to train your horses to come to you down in the pasture .. no chasing or hard to catch when they are bucket trained .. lol
You can keep one of the riders at the barn ... ride it down with saddle etc and catch one of the others to take back to barn to train on .... nice little ride to and from the pasture and only one is at the barn at any given time..
You did not say how old the colt was and if he loads etc but he can be taught to lead, pony from another horse or atv .... the only caution I would take is leaving the younger horse by himself down in the big pasture ... he will be more buddy attached and may hurt himself getting upset while both of the others are gone ...
You could go to once a day feeding on horses in pasture and no hay expense and probably do the same with the barn horse if changed out on a 24 hour basis with one feeding and some hay during the one barn day ...
Your expenses should go down 50-60%+ by using the pasture and keeping your horses in shape at the same time ... don't worry on the cover for your horses ... when tails are turned to a driving rain or wind they only expose 1/3 of their bodies and will look for a wind break more than anything else ... very few will stand directly under trees when it is raining when out in a big pasture .... it is healthy for them to be in a more natural less worm infested area ... don't forget to throw out one of the 50 lb trace mineral blocks down in the pasture for the salt content ... $5 kind .. lol ..
GOOD LUCK ... GO SAVE YOURSELF SOME $$$'s ...
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I'm in the same boat... not enough grass at home, property a few miles away.
Short answer is that I rotate.
In general, I keep them all home during the worst of winter so I don't have to haul water (they have a pond). I turn out my open horse when possible, usually not more than a week at a time b/c he has a hard time with bugs. My old horse (32) doesn't get turned out anymore b/c I have to feed her. Colt was out always, but I'm riding him now.
If I didn't have to bring the kids with me, I would prefer to keep them all out and supplement feed as needed. I like the extra space to ride and can just keep my saddle in the vehicle, throw it on and hop on. However, with young kidlets and only a few minutes of time here and there, it's easier for me to have the ones I ride at home.
Hope this helps some...
Also, in my experience, trees are adequate shelter for most weather.
eta: to help with feed expenses, maybe you could work out a deal with your friend to split the hay if you maintain the field and pay to have it baled???
Edited by just4fun 2014-05-27 3:06 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| My horses have a great shelter in their pasture... and choose to be idiots and stand outside when it storms.
So if shelter is the only thing holding you back then I say go for it.
If you could pony them off your 4 wheeler (safely) back and forth from the pasture to your arena, then that is great exercise in itself. I WISH I had the opportunity to do that.
Give your pasture some rest and let those ponies chow down on some good grass this summer. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Great suggestions from others to use your 4 wheeler to get back and forth, a great opportunity. Mine are out on 80 acres but mine love their shelter, sprinkles - they come a running- gets hot, they are banging on the barn to get up under fans.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-05-27 5:23 PM
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Location: South Dakota | I would just add to the others advice and suggestions...to make sure they are not hungry when you first turn them out...if possible introduce them to the grass, for short periods at a time....they can founder if they overeat on lush grass..
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| My pasture horses have never had any shelter and stay fat all year round. Oftentimes they gain weight in the winter as I put out a round bale for them. My barrel horse has a run in shed, but will not get in it. Have gone out in the wintertime and she had icicles on her. Sometimes she will use it for a wind break, but not that often. What is the water situation at the 70 acres? A reliable water source is very important. |
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