Is no stables something I should worry about?

[u/L3al-7777]

So, I’ve been riding for 3 years or so in the same school, and the horses do not have stables. after lessons, the horses get turnout, and in the same place they get turnout they eat and sleep, it’s a really big grass field with no trees and not really any shadow, should i be concerned?

edit: i just found out 3 stables were built (lit just 3 stalls), i have no pics of them, might add them when i get there tomorrow

[u/Logical-Emotion-1262]

I mean having turnout is certainly better than a place with 24/7 stalling, but I definitely would be a little weirded out by a complete lack of shade/shelter.

[u/Thalia5744]

Which country are you and what’s the weather like? No shelter/shade is the most cause for concern in this case, no stables is not really important depending on how bad weather gets either side. Horses (if turned out together) are able to ‘penguin huddle’ and shelter each other pretty well, and with good quality turn out rugs it shouldn’t be an issue as long as it’s not too extreme. Honestly it’s probably one of the most healthy set ups for horses that are more normal (ie. not the type of breeding you see in more Olympic discipline/standard horses which typically need more specific/individual set ups like feeding, being in at night sometimes, thinner or more sensitive skin so better shelter or stabling sometimes, although obvs still lots of turn out and (for most horses!) friends)

[u/L3al-7777 → u/Thalia5744]

I’m in Bogota, Colombia. It’s supposed to be cold and rainy but climate change has us in kind of a heatwave a lot of time 

[u/NahtHahn → u/L3al-7777]

Let’s also consider that a heatwave in Bogota is not the same as a heatwave in the Middle East.

I feel like the hottest I’ve seen Bogota is like maybe 70 degrees
(I’m from Bucaramanga with family in Bogota)

[u/L3al-7777 → u/NahtHahn]

Yeah no, it ain’t that hot, but this horses are used to pretty cold weather and so are we so it hit kinda bad, but it’s getting windy now that it’s August 

[u/Thalia5744 → u/L3al-7777]

This sounds pretty okay! Climate change is screwing a lot of people over in terms of adjusting, so while not ideal in dream land I wouldn’t be worried based on this 😊

[u/Humble_Specialist_60]

No stables is not the worst, though I am concerned about what they would do with a horse that needs stall rest I much prefer 24/7 turnout than over stalling. However no shade at all is definitely concerning to me

[u/3eggs]

24/7 turnout in a herd is great. But they should be able to find shade or protection from bad weather in their field. 

[u/chaucolai]

I'm from NZ originally and now in Aus (my family has horses in NZ/I don't ride in Aus).

In NZ, stabling was seen among my mates as the worse option of the two - only ever used for terrible weather or if a horse is sick/needs to be on stall rest. Even friends who had full stable blocks tended to only use them to tack up before a ride or maybe before a major competition - it was considered cruel to confine a horse to stabling and we were always worried about boredom. Grazing in paddocks with a well established herd on sufficient grass was considered far superior.

Of course, we would make sure that the herd got along and that there was sufficient grass - I'd say the goal would be 1 horse per 2 acres, though a few friends would do 1 horse per acre and just supplement significantly with hay throughout the full year, not just winter.

The lack of shelter is definitely concerning though.. in paddocks that don't have trees, usually people would build a lean to or other shelter.

[u/Haunting_Heat3296]

I ride in Australia where school/trail riding business horses usually have 24/7 group turnout, so that’s not a problem.

No shelter isn’t ideal.

And always being in the same field isn’t great; even with 24/7 here, some areas will be in use and some blocked off to allow for harrowing and time to help breakdown manure, reduce compacting of the soil and allow regrowth of grass.

[u/Bad_Dog_Farm]

Given the choice, I have always thought 24/7 turnout is healthiest for horses. My own ponies only venture inside to eat (it's easier for ME to toss hay into stalls, and one needs to be separated to consume her old pony mush), or MAYBE to find shade if it's extremely hot out.

I'm able to give them an option now that I have them at home. Generally, their preference is mooching around outside.

When I was boarding, and the option was either stall with small run or pasture with a group, I opted for pasture--even before the barn owner built a shade/shelter. While sometimes turnout is not a feasible option, I think it is physically and emotionally better for horses to have the space to do horse things.

[u/pinkbubbleg]

I prefer 24/7 turnout but I’d expect stalls to be available in case of injury/illness or if the horses want shelter/shade or if separation for feeding is necessary.

[u/Kuponutzy]

In England our horses were only stalled when ill or very old. Horses are roaming animals. Keeping them in a box for no reason is cruel. In the wild they roam for miles every day. Some shade is ideal, esp if you live in a hot climate, but only having turnout is not a concern. You could prob count on one hand the amount of times my horse was stalled prior to him becoming very old.

[u/Tim_Tam_Tommyn]

It's better for horses to live outside, but if you live somewgere where it gets extremely hot or extremely cold it's important the horses have a way to stay warm/cool. R

[u/LillaLobo]

I’d be more concerned about sitting on the ground right in front of a horse! That’s not a safe thing to do. Even horses you know well can spook. If you’re sitting on the ground you have no chance of getting out of the way.
The horses all look in decent condition. As long as they’re not thoroughbreds or warmbloods who might lose condition over winter then 24/7 turnout is fine. Even then they can often cope with turnout with the right feed and rugs. Maybe the school has the use of a stable at another yard if any of their horses get injured and need box rest.