All our horses come in to stalls everyday, even though we have the facilities to leave them out.

I think the main pro for this arrangement for us is that it ensures every horse is *seen* everyday.  We catch injuries, can adjust diets if needed, and our young stock get handled everyday going in and out.

It works for us.

Pasture for sure in my book!! Horses are such social creatures the worst thing for them is to be stalled up. After the pecking order is established, it's great to see all the interaction. Just need to keep a close eye when you introduce a new member. I knew of one guy who had a huge barn with no stalls. At night, he would bring them in to the corral that lead to the barn, which was like a huge straw covered corral. They had the option of staying outside or inside. Plus the dogs slept with the horses for protection. That man had the most gentle and even tempered horses I ever came across. IMO, sometimes the simplest ways are the best.

My children's riding instructor leaves her horses out winter and summer (with blankets in winter, of course).  They are happy and healthy.  Nobody ever has thrush; nobody cribs, weaves, or acts weird.  They graze at will and interact socially.  They are calm, relaxed, and happy guys (they're all geldings).  At 1st I was shocked, being used to stall-kept horses; but I can definitely vouch for it.  I have never met a happier gang of equines. :)

I agree with the pasture.  At least most of the time.  Horses prefer being outside, and I've seen the looks on their faces when they're cooped up in a stall all the time.  They seriously look depressed.  And when they do go outside, they're hard to catch cause they don't want to go in.  I also think coddling them so much can lead to problems.  Let them be horses!

I agree on letting them be horses.  I like the look of a horse in a pasture, grazing freely.  They look happy, healthy, relaxed.  I know my husband's grandparents had 2 Standardbred horses and they never got put in the barn.  They had water, got hay, some oats every now and then and they were happy and friendly.

Our horses are pasture horses.  The only time they are stalled is if they are injured or ill.  When I sent one of my horses for training a few years ago she was stalled all the time and let out into a paddock for just a couple hours a day.  She was MISERABLE and depressed...she didn't want to eat, she laid in her stall most of the day...It was totally foriegn to her and she hated it.  She became belligerent and harder to handle while being stalled-but her temper evened right back out as soon as she was back home and "Free"....

My horses have always had run-in sheds...no foot problems, no "heaves", no weaving, cribbing (in fact a stallion I bought stopped weaving) no biting, crowding or kicking me...they have lived to be 32, 28, 26 and I have 2 now that are 25 and 23...

In the winter they'll stand outside in a snow storm...the only time they use their sheds is for bugs.

I check them everyday when I feed and brush them...

I have 2 horses.  One has stifle problems and due to that he is a lot happier and healthier when left out on the pasture.  Otherwise he gets really stiff.  He does fine outside (Summer or Winter) and has lived in AZ for 5 years and wasn't bothered by the heat.  He loves his grass now though and I prefer pasture to stall board.  I agree, let horses be horses......they aren't people and shouldn't be treated like they are!

Pasture board absolutely!!!!!! If you ever watch a herd that has the option of inside or outside, they will remain outside 99% of the time, even in rainy weather! My horses will go in their shelters for a while in the afternoon to get some shade, but they do not want to be in for long! They are much happier and more relaxed and therefore easier to get along with than "indoor" horses!

For most climates, keeping most horses out nearly 24/7, year round, in my experience seems to be the most preferable, if accomplished PROPERLY. The real key, however, is to do this properly. Too often this practice is abused; not enough acreage per horse, inability for some to receive adequate nutrition and fluids, lack of proper shelter, fencing and safety issues, anti-social behaviors, lack of sufficient observation, etc., etc. We should also discuss the issue of blanketing-it's my sense that they are better off without...Another similar topic is the manner in which training/racing horses are kept. What should be the ideal (logistics aside)?  

I have eight horses and all of them are outside 24/7. I see them constantly from the house, the house is positioned so that all the pastures are visible from the family room and kitchen areas. If one of them takes more than one bad step, I notice. I also check them daily when I feed them. They are all happy and healthy, shine like they get rubbed on all the time and all they get is bathed with rain and groomed when they roll in the sand patch. They have live oaks for shade and a barn for illness, bad lameness and hurricanes. They come into the ten stall barn for bad storms, more to keep them from getting skin sore from the rain than to avoid flying debris. They don't mind since I give them alfalfa and they love it. Then out they go as soon as the weather clears. They get round bales in the winter when the pasture goes dormant, and flakes of alfalfa on very cold nights. A water tub filled daily and dumped and scrubbed weekly tops off their amenities. They come to the gate for the shoer (all but two are OTTBs) and must be bribed for the vet. They are divided into three pastures, a gelding and "his" mare in one eight acre pasture, one gelding and three mares in a 12 acre pasture, and two recently cut geldings in a four acre pasture. I have one eight acre pasture that I use for haying and pasture rotation after the hay is cut. The horses are happy, healthy and sane. And I don't have to go broke spending megabucks on bedding and hay for stalled horses.

I think it really depends on what the horse is used for.  In my experience show horses are better in a stall as they have more energy and have better coats, I'm sure the same is true for a race horse. If my horses aren't showing they are outside.

We currently have 5 on a relatively small piece of property.  They go out every day, rain or shine , by about 7:30 AM.  In the winter they come in around dark to an hour later, in the summer they are usually out until 9:00.  Since pasture is extremely limited they get hay 3 times daily.  In the morning they are eager to go out, at night they are eagerly waiting to come in.  Two have open stalls where they can come and go as they please, the gelding wanders in and out, the mare seldom leaves her stall at night.  I had a mare and her son in the past that only went out in the paddock at night to potty, then they both came back in.  It was great for cleaning.  Bottom line, yes horses need to get out regularly and experience the herd.  They will adapt, but are happier when out!

I'm reminded of dear old Gato del Sol, who I visited during Breeders Cup at Churchill a few years ago.  As old and fairly infirm as he was, he had little interest in utilizing the shed that was built for him.  Lexington's winter can be pretty bitter, yet the old man seemed to prefer the pasture to the shed.  Give them the option.  Let them make the call.

To me, a healthy happy horse will always have plenty of energy...another pasture "plus", my "pasture" is New England rocks, so my horses are very handy on their feet.

I think it's much harder to maintain a Thoroughbred in training in a pasture setting...can it even be done?

I think shedrow stabling is the best if you are going, horses can at least hang their heads out and see stuff going on, plus get actual fresh air...

I managed a small private breeding farm for several years, everything lived out in the pasture.  I would go out to the foals to work with them, never had any problems. I have a mare and foal of my own and they are out in the pasture am working with baby out in the pasture.  Healthier, sounder, happier horses are raised this way.

da3hoss, don't know about today, but it used to be done. In the '70's at the farm I was at horse men from the surrounding So Cal tracks would send horses to us between meets for "relaxation". Even if it was for 2or 3 days, a quick pit stop so to speak, the horses really benefitted. It was a farm that handled broodmares plus had training facilities. The training tracks were amazing,even had a turf one. It's a housing development and shopping center now. Today, I don't think so. To even consider such a thing, with all the time and logistics involved, it would be impossible. Because of development, where would one send their charges for a quick getaway?

My four stay out 24/7 unless we have  a cold or freezing rain since I don't have run-ins. Three are in their 20's and are in great condition for their age. I do keep a pony in the barn for a period of time every day because he has foundered and cannot be out on grass without a muzzle. By stalling him I can control what he eats.

I am a partner in a (May 15), late foal, two year old Colt that is in training @ Keeneland and my trainer, Joan Scott, recently turned the colt out in a nearby large paddock for 30 days or so, to mature physically,(knees not closed yet), get a belly full of the wonderful Kentucky grass, and have fun, visiting horses in next door paddocks, Looks like he may be a very nice runner as he appeared to have a fabulously smooth ground covering stride during his first two months of jogging/light galloping on the Keeneland training track. We believe, that when the Colt comes back to the track, he will have a lighter coat & be ready for additional training, working up to his first race, later this year. I was concerned about the Heat Index, 105 to 115 this week, but the owner of the farm & Joan will take good care of the big young Colt. Wish him well....

Clearwater Charlie

Vita,actually it is still possible to turn horses out 24/7 between meets.working for aHall of Fame trainer that still does.He calls this their well deserved vacation,that refreshes them,and gives them time to be just a horse.Theycome back anxious to work and train.

I live and race in Florida.  I keep 3 or 4 horses at Calder most all the time. All of my horses get a couple of months off a year, whether they "need" it or not.  I have a small farm in Ocala with several 1/2 acre turn out paddocks surrounded by huge oaks.  My horses come home from the track and go (as long as theres no injury involved) straight into the paddock, and never see a stall until they go back to the races.  It does wonders for them; their attitude, their aches and pains, their breathing, their feet!  And when they go back to the races, they are half fit already from running and playing outside 24/7. I couldnt ask for a better set-up.

Pasture, pasture, pasture, with company and run out sheds

I had a QH that lived to the age of 34 and was almost always out on pasture, the only time he was stalled was when he was sick and even then you could tell he wanted to be outside.

During the summer, my horses are turned out at night and stalled during the day. I feel it is best for them to be inside for at least part of the time for several reasons. First of all, having them in a stall at feeding times means we can be sure each horse is getting the right food/supplements/medicine, as well as monitoring how much he or she eats. Second of all, keeping them in for part of the day helps prevent problems such as founder or obesity that can result from eating too much grass. Keeping them in stalls also means every horse gets checked over daily for any cuts, bumps, or rashes that could have occurred during turnout. Lastly, my climate is very hot, with a heat index usually well above 100 degrees. The barn is at least 10 degrees cooler and the horses really do enjoy escaping the heat. In their stalls they can still visit with other horses stalled next to them, or look out their windows to see the whole farm. That being said, turnout is still a necessity for any horse's happiness.

I have six....a 30 yr app mare (purchased as a yearling), 30 yr qtr pony mare (born here), 26 yr old mustang mare(purchased as a 12 yr od), 18 yr qtr mare (Purchased at age 8) and her two yr old gelding and yearling filly.  I did not think the old girls would last this long but they are out 24/7.  They have their squabbles but they seem to do well. No diseases but they have their scrapes.

Two months ago I moved my 21 year old quarter horse to a 24/7 pasture facility.  I saw a HUGE difference in him after just two weeks.  He was calmer and really enjoys his new friends.  I am happy to be able to let him be just a horse, especially in his later years.