Advice - horse doesn't like being in stable on own

[josephinebutter2]

Just wondered what you would do.

My horse has always been happy, relaxed and content in her stable and with her routine of coming in every night and being turned out during the day. She has an indoor stable with other horses and has always had company when stabled.

Our yard is now on 24 hour turnout for the summer and I wanted my horse to stay in overnight, but all others on my yard are out 24/7.

She absolutely hates being on her own and is stressing and box walking whenever she is in there on her own and not eating or drinking properly.

She has now started being stressy in there even when the other horses are in - I presume she is worried she is going to be left again.

Would you make her just get used to it (at risk of injury - I thought she was going to try and jump out last night), or move yards to somewhere where there was a more suibable stable/routine for her?

Incidently, she is happy to be tied up on the yard outside on her own where she can look out over the fields, just not in the stable where she cannot see out. There are no other stables available on our yard where she would be able to always have company or be able to see other horses.

In the interim I have been turning her out 24/7 which she is happy with, but as she is only young, I think she needs the routine of coming in every night so she stays used to being stabled.

Any ideas welcome!

 

[dianchi]

Stable mirror?
No way you can have a stable that she can see the others from?
Though where is the harm in 24/7 turnout over the summer?

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

I'm probably being a touch thick but I'd turn her out 24/7. How old is she?
I assume you bring her into the stable to groom, tack up, pick her feet out etc? I therefore assume she's not being diffuclt to catch?
We have to bring all ours in a night - its the yard rules but if we ever have to bring them in in the day nearly all stress if they're in on their own. I had to bring 5 in last week for the farrier and two of them were stressed out of their brains.
To me (and i'm pretty new to all this) you are teaching her that the stable is somewhere that she's left on her own and therefore are more likley to cause a problem with her not wanting to come in?

 

[Zobaby]

My boy used to get very very stressed when he was on his own. Kicking the door, pawing at the floor (sometimes even made sparks with his shoes!) and shouting like mad. He was in an outdoor stable, so that was a bit weird. Moved him to an indoor stable at the other end of the yard with only 3 other horses there and he's like a different horse. Quite happy to be left alone. There's less distractions and it's much more peaceful. Obviously, he's like the opposite of yours, but a change of stable could help. If there are outdoor stables on your yard, see if you can move to them. I tried toys and things with mine, but he was so stressed he didn't even notice they were there. 24 hour turnout would probably be best for her.

x

 

[scotsmare]

Why do you need her to stay in all night? If she's used to a routine of being with the others / her friends then you're possibly making it worse for yourself. Surely if she comes in to be fed / groomed etc for a while when there are other horses around this would be eaiser on both of you? The grass is usually great at this time of year so that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think it's worth moving yards over unless you really have to have her in at night.

 

[bex1984]

[ QUOTE ]


In the interim I have been turning her out 24/7 which she is happy with, but as she is only young, I think she needs the routine of coming in every night so she stays used to being stabled.



[/ QUOTE ]

but possibly she is just now learning that being in her stable is stressful?

 

[jumpthemoon]

If she's happy out 24/7 and the only reason for her coming in is routine, would you not be better off bringing her in every night for a brush/exercise/feed then turning her back out again? I'd do that if there's no other reason for bringing her in. Otherwise she will end up being a nightmare in the stable all the time, imo.

 

[dieseldog]

I would leave her out 24/7, why create extra work for yourself and stress for her? She sounds a lot happier being out. Horses don't forget what it is like to be in a stable so that seems a strange reason for wanting to keep her in.

 

[Shilasdair]

I'd turn her out 24/7 rather than creating stress for her by leaving her in alone when she clearly isn't happy, and stress for yourself worrying about her.
If you feel she needs handling, bring her in, groom her, tack her up and untack her, then feed her in the stable, but turn her out again afterwards.
Or buy some company for her?
S

 

[AmyMay]

Leave her out 24/7. If it's only to establish a routine - you can do that over the winter when the others are in.

 

[josephinebutter2]

Thanks for your opinions.

What you all seem to be saying is what I have been doing i.e. just bringing her in to be groomed, ridden, fed then turned out again.

Impossible to do this only when there are others in though as the others don't really bring their horses in.

Incidently she is not stabled with the same horses she is turned out with, so there may be occasions where she has to stay either in or out on her own.

Guess I will just carry on as I am and hope she dosn't have to be box rested! I will put my name down for a more sociable stable in the meantime, but I can't see one coming up any time soon!

 

[Theresa_F]

I would t/o and then I would try to slowly get her used to being in, bring her in, feed her, groom etc but in the stable and try a little longer each time.

My chaps are very happy to stay in with no others around, Cairo goes straight to sleep and Chancer does give a few neighs but soon settles down to his hay - but he is still young, 4 this year. The fact that I can leave one in alone is very useful for the odd occasion being in alone is required.

However, I have found that my TBs whilst they would stay it, never truely relaxed or settled, even after a lot of time spent getting them used to it so avoided keeping them in alone unless it was essential.

Sometimes having a radio on and access to ad lib hay can help.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Impossible to do this only when there are others in though as the others don't really bring their horses in.

[/ QUOTE ]
Not sure what you mean here - you are contradicting yourself....

 

[josephinebutter2]

Sorry - not contradicting myself - horses she is stabled with are not the same horses she is turned out with!

x

 

[AmyMay]

Ah, I get it. Sorry.

 

[ladyt25]

Turn the horse out, it seems you are just causing yourself stress and upsetting her by making her stay in? Mine are out 24/7 in the summer and in at night in the winter, they do not seem bothered by the change of routine at either end of the season. I would rather my horse be happy than stressing them out in this way.

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

Agree with everyone, I always find mine doesnt want to come in all summer (I make him though) but as soon as the grass starts to die off and he is hungry his stable is his best friend and he loves it Clever really!!!

 

[badgerdog]

It seems a bit unfair to expect a young horse to be kept in overnight when all the other horses are out. As long as you are handling her regularly I wouldn't worry too much about getting her into a routine, especially when the routine of all the other horses is different. If you just bring her in for a short time for a groom and a feed and then turn her back out again she'll realise that being in the stable isn't going to be stressful situation. Being in a stable with no company for 8 - 10 hours a night would be stressful for most horses. I have a 2 year old, a 5 year old and a real oldster and although they are very little problem, if they were left alone for that length of time they'd all go nuts!

 

[HollyP]

I would defo move yards! haha

 

[SarahK]

My loan horse is a bit funny like that too. If he is in the field on his own and can see no other horses - he's fine. if he's in his stable and can see no other horses he goes totally mad!

he lives on a DIY yard so all the other liveries come and go at various times so its rather difficult. i'm worried he'll injure himself one of these days!