Advise/thoughts regarding single horse turnout?

K

KINDMARE

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 September 2016
Messages
171
Visit site
I have a number of horses/ponies at my farm, some are mine and some are liveries.
We have a couple of bigger fields and a number of single size paddocks.
I have a section D who is very prone to putting on weight and can be lami prone - he is currently in with 2 other horses and is very happy. BUT the bigger fields have very good grass. There is a single paddock next to it with not a lot of grass in which would be ideal. But I worry about him being on his own even though he can touch the others and is stabled next to them at night. Another option is to just put him in with the others a couple of times a week? But would that be unsettling for him and be worse than just separating him all of the time?
Any bright ideas?
 
I never thought I'd do individual turnout but mine was on his own last summer as he needs restricted grazing and the others on the yard are tb types so need the opposite. He seemed happy enough and could touch noses/groom over a fence. Like you I considered putting him out in the main field on the odd occasion, but he settled on his own so I didn't.
I'd give it a go and see how he is as he'll let you know if he hates it!
 
Or could you stick a muzzle on him and have him out with the others (assuming they won't help him out of it which is a problem I have!)
 
it actually works very well. For many various convoluted reasons I have had horses who have needed to do this from time to time and they are actually fine about it and cope well.
 
I hate individual turn out but did just that with my horse to manage his weight. He couldn't care less and when he first goes back out with the others he isn't interested. Its worth a try to see how he is.
 
My Hoover x Connemara had ulcers from being alone. I put him at livery where there is always turnout either day or night. Most of the other horse are mares which are separate or geldings which are huge TB or TB crosses.
My pony grazes a patch which has a big hedge on one side and electric fence on the other 3 .
Off one side 2 16.2hh TB's graze. The other 2 sides adjoin a huge hill field which has minimum of 3, occasionally 6, TB's or TB crosses. All are over 16hh.
If my pony was with them he'd get marmalised but when they have their hi jinks he joins in inside his patch. They groom over the fence and if he is turned out late all come over to say Hi.
This has worked well for 3 years.
Not for everyone maybe but it has worked for him.
 
My Appy used to be on the bare field on her own during the day whilst her long term companion ate down the one with grass (I had 2 horses so was given 2 fields next to each other). I'd put them both back in together overnight with soaked hay. They used to snooze by the fence line together and seemed fine.

Even with my current 3 out in a field they will take themselves off to separate areas at times. My youngest cob was well and truly on the naughty step this morning and wasn't allowed within sniffing distance of the other two - no idea what he said to upset them but he might as well have been in a separate field.
 
I wouldn’t worry. Nothing we do with them is natural anyway. Lami isn’t worth the risk. If he’s not a naturally hysterical type he’s unlikely to become one.
 
Catbird said:
Or could you stick a muzzle on him and have him out with the others (assuming they won't help him out of it which is a problem I have!)
Click to expand...
Not sure I see the advantage of turning a horse out with other horses when they are wearing a muzzle. They can't interact normally in terms of grooming each other, facial expressions and body language are changed. They might as well be in a separate field. At least that way they may be able to have some sort of contact. Also, there is the problem of them getting the muzzle off and facing unrestricted grazing until this is noticed.
 
I wouldn't worry, I do this quite a lot as have horses coming and going for schooling/selling and don't want to risk putting them in together, i've never had one thats minded being on its own with others next door. My fields are small though so other horses are never out of sight. Might be different if they go miles away and he can't see them.
 
paddy555 said:
I put a muzzle on my Haflinger and turned out with my Arab. He ran up to the Arab who said no problem. Allow me to help you.
Click to expand...
A number of years ago, we had a herd of 6, three wearing thinline muzzles and the other horses didn’t seem to take them off. They did all get them off about once a month, so not foolproof.



My horse lives out solo, adjacent to his neighbors as he eats a lot more Hayiage & his neighbours are fat on a lot smaller rations. They groom over fence. Sometimes all hang out together and sometimes don’t. Friends in the field would be better but the fact he eats nearly twice as much makes it tricky.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top