Day or night turnout?

[grandprix84]

I'd like to hear different thoughts about day vs night turnout in the summertime in Florida... Summer days are unbearably hot, even in the shade, with sun gear. But summer nights bring electrifying storms that seem to brew without warning. (steel shoes=lightening rod)
I don't have the luxury of bringing in the horses in mid day, and despite adequate turnout shelters, I worry about my equines in either situation. 

[equisician]

You are right about lightning, yuck. I think if you check www.wunderground.com and there is less than 20% chance of storms for the evening then night turn out is best with days spent inside. Its a great question though because night is also when a wild animal would attack so maybe days are better outside and nights inside? We are right in the middle of making the same decision. Another thing to think about it sunburn on white/pink skin or black horses getting over-heated in the sun.

[Classic2011]

I have my horses out 24/7 but their stalls are in their pastures.  It is so much easier this way because their stalls stay cleaner and they can make the choice of when to go out.   But, they usually stay in during the day and mainly go out during the night.

Storms happen during the day and night and as far as any wild animals....a raccoon or two, and maybe some possums, but as far as Acreage, I don't think there is anything much bigger than that.

[I love Arabians]

I found my horse running around tonight trying to get away from the mosquitos. I ran out and was attack also. I grabbed a fogger and sprayed around his stall.
I was freaking out also. Have they sprayed out here. Man I feel so bad for animal that live outdoors. I put some hay in front of his fan and spray some fly spray on him....
Poor baby

[LEOArabs]

My horses also have the option to go in or out at will and generally stay in during the day and out at night.  During mosquito season I will spray them down with Off to keep the mosquitos away.  I have also found another product from Farnam called Centaura that is absolutely amazing.  At $18 a can it is a little pricy, but very very effective. 

[smhill]

I found my horse running around tonight trying to get away from the mosquitos. I ran out and was attack also. I grabbed a fogger and sprayed around his stall.
I was freaking out also. Have they sprayed out here. Man I feel so bad for animal that live outdoors. I put some hay in front of his fan and spray some fly spray on him....
Poor baby

I thought the county was supposed to do aerial spraying last Monday?  Wellington sprays with trucks pretty regularly when needed, but not if the county sprays.  The mosquitoes seem to be worse than ever, the county spraying didn't seem to help much.

[equisician]

I am fairly East (off of Military) and it is so bad in my patio and back yard that I can barely venture outside!

[smhill]

Here's another thing to keep in mind when determining best turn out time - if your horse has poor quality hooves, thrush, or white line, usually "keep dry" is one of your instructions for care (or prevention).  In the mornings the grass is usually wet with dew.  I usually do my morning feed with flip flops, otherwise my work shoes are wet all day.  If your horse is out all night, the feet will be subject to the morning dew for hours.

It's difficult keeping horses in Florida! 

[8Belles]

I prefer my mare to be on night turnout.  I like the benefit of her being out all night, moving around and eating for 10-12 hours VS the four hours in the morning (afternoons are just too hot!).

If she comes in bitten up in the morning, she will go out with her fly sheet (a really light weight, "duramesh" from SSTack) for a few nights until the bugs clear up some.
No shoes on my mare so don't have to worry about the lightening.

If we know there will be storms, or have a high chance of storms, over night the horses will stay in.

[SaddlebredShowMom]

Another consideration, especially if you have an IR horse or one with founder or potential founder problems, is the sugar cycle of the grass. The sugar levels are highest at night and lowest in early morning.

[Delia]

Don't mean to burst any bubbles.  However ..... My friend in Ocala raises cattle.  Quite a few of her cows have been struck by lightning over the past 7 years.  Don't recall if they were standing under trees or out in the open. 

[miss m]

and no shoes either... on them cows  LOL.....

I do night turnouts in the summer...once Oct comes its back to whatever the horse enjoys....I like the barn during the daylight hours with a fan on them...I dont use the paddocks with the tallest trees during the rainy season...the lightning always seems to take out the tallest trees....I lost a 40ft washingtonian this summer...great lightning rods...awful trees to have on any farm...biggest mistake I ever made planting those thorny monsters...

[mysterypickles]

I lost a 40ft washingtonian this summer...great lightning rods...awful trees to have on any farm...biggest mistake I ever made planting those thorny monsters...

You are SOOOOO right about those! We had two huge ones that we finally had removed 2 weeks ago, totally worth the money to get rid of them! They are just the worst trees! Plus my trailer was parked near one, and has permanant gouges down the side from when the huge thorny fronds fell against it. 

As for the topic at hand...it is such a toss up. My horses are currently out 24/7 with a run in shelter, I do not yet have the luxury of a barn, though we are working on changing that. But if I had a choice, I would prefer them to have in/out access during the day, and locked in at night with the fan on for the bugs. I have a grey and a leopard appy, so I dont have to worry about the sun fading like black horse owners do. And during the day they could choose to come in and stand in the fan, or be out playing, grazing, and looking at things. I would think that a horse in a stall all day would be terribly bored (at least my trouble maker would be!).

[Classic2011]

I just was looking up white distilled vinegar and how it effects sweet itch, rain rot, etc.  and found out that it is very beneficial to changing the pH of their coat which stops the bugs from biting them.  I am going to try that tomorrow and see what happens after a night out covered in diluted vinegar.

[equisician]

Classic, vinegar is AMAZING stuff for just about everything and anything. I buy it by the gallon!

[Classic2011]

I, also, buy it by the gallon.  I know it kills fungus and has something to do with the pH balance even in us.  Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar is very healthy for us.  But, when I googled and saw the little clip about putting white distilled vinegar on the horse and what it does, I thought what a miracle....it is a healthy and a cheap way to fight off bugs.

I put some on the horse that gets sweet itch..bs his tail and mane and bumps all over his body...and this afternoon, there no more new bumps, plus the other bumps were going away.  I put a little more on him for tonight.

I heard they do this with polo ponies after being ridden so hard and it cools them down plus other benefits.  But I saw that this horse I put the vinegar on was comfortable and had cooled down from the morning heat.  I'm sold!

[Delia]

White distilled vinegar is an exceptional product for just about everything.  And it's probably the least expensive thing you can purchase for horses.  It rids flymask face scurf, is good for cleaning ears, a great body wash (we use it as a daily rinse to cut sweat, allow it to run onto any cuts/sores to help with healing, etc.)
I also use it in the laundry since it has some disinfectant qualities and is good for saddle pads and towels.
The apple cider is supposedly a better fly spray than the white.  I'm going to try this with citronella.

[SaddlebredShowMom]

Classic & Delia - This sounds like a great thing to do!

How are you applying the white vinegar - via a spray bottle?

It was also mentioned that the vinegar was being diluted before being used - what's the ratio (1/2 vinegar to 1/2 water?)?

My concern is that the vinegar will sting or burn any open cuts or wounds it gets into.  Have you noticed that at all?

[equisician]

Saddlebred, you read my mind. Wanting to know the solution recipe and how it is applied! THANKS!!! 

[Classic2011]

I googled inquiring about white vinegar and rain rot and found this guy explaining all the benefits of the vinegar.  He had a  hose connected to a bottle of white distilled vinegar spraying down a horse...but I don't do that.  I put the vinegar in a bucket and wash cloth and just wipe the horse down.  This horse, not mine, has issues with bugs...sweet itch..and rubs the heck out of his tail and mane.  But, I managed to stop the rubbing with the conditioner Pink...which is sold out now and I had to convert to another healthy solution. This horse also got rain rot and he eats the best grain and has shelter...he is groomed almost daily, but his immune system was compromised before his owner got him.  I put the vingear on his tail and mane...no rubbing.   Plus the swelling of the bug bites have gone down.  He is much more comfortable.  But, the main reason I put it on was for the rain rot and so far, it looks good.  From the clip I saw, the guy was saying the horses actually like the vinegar on their coats....this horse could care less what I do to his coat and even allows me to put a wet wash cloth in his ears.  I feel like I discovered gold!  I use to spray this poor horse daily with fly spray and he still would have bug bites.  I am going to put the vinegar in the old fly spray bottle...I don't dilute it.

[Delia]

Classic, interesting that you don't dilute your vinegar.  I have done so at a 1:4 ratio but now will try it without diluting.  As far as it stinging on wounds (diluted) it doesn't to.  One day I forgot I was using Vetrolin and boy! did that horse dance around with the sores were accidental splashedwith that solution.
The vinegar helps remove all shampoo residue as well. 
I also use it for bucket scribing, and the horses like to like the taste.  I've used a capful of vinegar when we horse showed in other states to camouflage the difference in water taste.When one of the horses was sick & I sprayed the walls to disinfect, the horse started licking the walls. 
Without a doubt --- the best product ever!  Tomorrow we use it "straight!"

[GS]

You guys are great! I googled apple cider vinegar and it sounds well worth a try for the horses and myself. Never realized it helped with so many things. Im surprised it helps with ulcers and stomach issues amongst many other things, started using it today ! :-)

[SaddlebredShowMom]

Thanks for the additional info everyone!  Sounds like I'll be adding distilled white vinegar to my shopping list now. 

[equisician]

Drinking the apple cider variety helps with digestion issues (animals and humans) and is wonderful to add to your water for backyard chickens. We learned about this at a "chicken seminar" years ago at Red Barn given by this chicken whisperer guy who writes poultry books. It also helps if you have celiac, thyroid, lupus or any other auto-immune disease where inflammation is an issue.

Thank you for all the excellent white distilled vinegar advice, we will try it on our horse tomorrow!
xoxo

[Classic2011]

Yes!  Remember to drink the vinegar (I use) Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar.  I get it from the Vitamin Shoppe.  Buy that by the gallon...the health benefits are amazing...google it for yourselves.  Helps in weight loss, etc.   And if you give it to the horse in their feed for problems with their coat, fungus, give them the Bragg's also.  But for the topical use, I use the white distilled vinegar.  I do not dilute it and so far so good.  If there is any advice someone finds that differs, I will gladly listen.

[grandprix84]

Somehow this became a discussion about vinegar, which is informational, but I would like to hear more about various opinions regarding day vs night turnout. I currently have my guys out during the day and in at night, but was considering a switch.

[callalillies83]

I have my guys in from 8 to 5 as it has just been way too hot. I have a grey and her pink little nose gets burnt. Keeps our dark horses from fading too. Even though the nights are still hot it's nothing compared to the sun beating down on them. They will still play, graze, and have a grand ol time even turned out at night. I hated seeing them all trying to hang out at the gates or at the barn being miserable from the heat. My little old pony would come in just soaked in sweat and I just felt it was too much stress for her as well.  During the winter they come in to eat and then get turned back out right away. During storms it varies. If it is just rain they stay out (they don't melt) If there is lightening they get to come back in.

[Classic2011]

Because my horses have chosen for themselves (I leave their stall doors open and they come in or out at free will), their choice is mostly out at night and staying in during the day time.  Sorry the vinegar got be the hot topic, but that was to help with the bugs at night.  Maybe you would have more peace of mind is a run in shelter could be provided....

[equisician]

Tonight is my baby's first night out since he's been with us (arrived Tuesday). We tried to put him out with a mini-donkey but he wanted NO part of that! Wish I had a video of the failed introduction. Like a bad match dot com date. Instead he's out with another gelding w/o back shoes and they seem to be doing great, playing and sharing hay. I'm driving out at midnight to do another check just because I'm a nervous new momma. Sorry about the vinegar talk - its just that turning out at night does pose buggy issues. Crossing my fingers that he's happy and relaxed in the morning.

[miss m]

Carbon Dioxide is what draws insects to  animals.....outside i think it is less concentrated.... fans  keep bugs annoyed by messing up flight patterns as do insect sprays...remember horses have hair and huge nostrils so being outside away from the sprays and odors of a barn is a more natural setting for a "normal" horse...Ive also noticed horses prefer to be out in the rain than in a stall where those huge ears have to listen to the rain on the roof and the dripping noises..if you can think like a horse, remember they have a very small brain...its easy to figure what makes them happy.   

There are always exceptions to the rule...my mini hates the rain...but minis really arent like real horses....they are tiny treasures to be pampered...LOL

[Jag2240]

Must say this board is the best, using the vinegar and switched to night turnout, my horse is very happy this morning!

[ck]

My horses are out 24/7.  They have shelters in the paddock but mostly prefer to hang in the shade of trees.  Sometimes they go to the shelters when it rains and sometimes they just stand in the downpour.  Today when it rained, they ran for their shelters.  Later saw them standing in the next wave of rain eating hay so go figure.  ANyway, they are quite content to be able to come and go as they please but spend the majority of their time out and about.  I give a capful of the organic (Braggs or another organic brand) apple cider vinegar in their grain a.m. & p.m. and it seems to help a lot with the bugs.  Will try the white vinegar as a body spray next in addition.

I don't think the county sprayed last week cause it was too windy.  At least I didn't hear them go over, which we usually do, and it was pretty windy out at our place that night.  You can call the Palm Beach County Mosquito Hotline and find out when they will spray next and you can complain about the mosquito population where you are and if they get enough complaints, they usually end up doing something.

[ck]

I just called the PBC Mosquito Air Spray Hotline 561-642-8775.  They said the entire western county was sprayed on 7/3 and no further spraying is scheduled at this time.

[smhill]

I don't think there's any one "right answer." 

If your horse has bad feet, or has severe skin issues, turn out in the daytime.

If your horse is sensitive to the heat, or you need a shiny coat for the horse show, turn out in the night time.

I've seen bumps all over my mare last week, probably from mosquito bites.  But I watch her at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most likely out and biting, and she's just a happy camper.  And, she didn't rub on those bumps when they were present, so even though the bugs were obviously biting her, she didn't seem to mind. 

Regarding the heat, she tends to avoid the trees and shade most of the time.  She loves the corners of the pastures, even if they have no shade.  Sometimes when the heat is at its worst, I have to pull her in under the shade and hold her, to stop her from huffing and puffing and to force a break from the heat.  She used to stand in a shady corner, but this year doesn't seem to want the shade and is tolerating the heat well.

And, while we consider July and August "summer," I've found that the horses that will turn out contently during the summer will run the fence to come in during the month of September.  For that reason, I've always considered September the worst month. 

At my house, I'll have a cool breeze when in other areas it's hot and still. 

I try to watch my horses, listen to what they tell me, and act accordingly. 

[grandprix84]

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm still "on the fence" about night turnout, mainly because of the steel shoes on my horse and large oaks I have in the paddocks. Even though storms can occur during the daytime, I think I'm usually home before they get too severe. But I will watch the radar and turn out according to each day's forecast.

[Shalom]

That is the answer...follow the weather....and no stress.  When in doubt....keep them in.