[Centaur]

Couldn't agree more. All our horses are outside 24/7 and are healthy as, well, horses. We believe it's their natural state and we can affirm that we've only needed a vet three times in the last 15 years, and one was for a pregnant mare. Every time I have sent a horse to a show barn where they are stalled all the time or only out for a brief period, someone gets sick or injured...thankfully, we have the room to put all 11 outside.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, ours are stalled at night especially in winter, but even now because I think it's the only time my old Bay will lay down at night. So from observing him, I think he sleeps better and is more alert in the daytime when he's been in. We're in Western WA, and I don't think long periods out in wet are good for them. They come in just to dry off at night.

BUT, they go out to pasture every day, rain or shine. This is more important because we don't ride as often as we should, and they move and run quite a bit playing with each other.