15/01/2025
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ-๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ โ even in Winter! โ๏ธ
At this time of year, many horse owners face the dilemma each day of whether to keep their horses in or turn out. ๐ค Itโs natural to worry about injuries, mud, or cold and wet weather, but the truth is, turnout is one of the best things you can do for your horseโs overall health and wellbeingโwhatever the season! โ๏ธ ๐ง๏ธ
Why Turnout Matters All Year Round?
๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ต๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต
โข Regular turnout encourages natural movement, which is essential for joint health, muscle tone, and overall fitness. Horses are designed to move throughout the day, and turnout helps to maintain this natural behaviour.
โข Movement also promotes healthy digestion by keeping the gut active and reducing the risk of colic, as well as giving them the option to move around to warm up if they do feel cold!
โข Itโs better for respiratory health too! Fresh air helps reduce exposure to stable dust and ammonia, which can irritate the lungs.
๐ง ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
โข Horses are herd animals with an instinctive need for social interaction and the freedom to exhibit natural behaviours like grazing, rolling, and playing.
โข Turnout helps reduce stress, anxiety, and boredom that can come from long hours spent in a stable. This can also reduce stable vices such as cribbing or weaving.
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐
โข Winter turnout provides horses with natural opportunities to burn calories and regulate their weight. This can be especially important for good doers or horses prone to weight gain.
But What About Injuries? ๐ค
Stabling horses for extended periods can actually ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ the risk of injury! Not only can they be just as prone to accidents in the stable the field, but once finally turned out or exercised, theyโre more likely to exhibit excitable behaviour, heightening the risk of injury.
๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง, ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐ โitโs for your horseโs happiness too and the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
A muddy horse is a happy horse!
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐? Let us know in the comments below! ๐
๐
๐ด
