Any help gratefully recieved

[MrsElle]

Got new horse yesterday who had previously lived out 24/7 within a same sex herd.

At the yard I have him at he is in his own paddock, although only separated from the paddocks each side by electric fencing so he can have a degree of contact with his new girlfriend who is besotted with him J

The other five horses at the yard are stabled in an American Barn, however, because mine is 17’3 he has a huge traditional stable which is separate from the other horses.

My current concern is that everything has changed for him and he is actually quite isolated from other horses for much of the time. He is going out at 7am and back in at 4pm. The other horses may or may not be out at the same times as mine and he spends the hours he is stabled in solitary.

I know he has only been here a day but I worry that this is too big a change for him. Do you think he will settle and accept his new lifestyle? I am already considering a companion pony for him as I don’t want him to get stressed.

Any opinions/suggestions would be gratefully received!

 

[scotsmare]

I think the 'solitary' element of his life is a bit rough - what happens if you can't turn out - that means he won't see a horsey soul at all.

On the plus side, at least he's got a stable that's big enough for his needs.

I think you need to give yourselves the time to see how he's going to settle or not. Does he actually seem worried when he's on his own or is he not that fussed?

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My horse is kept at home in a stable on his own. There is a raceyard at home as well and he isn't stabled with the racehorses. He goes out on his own, is ridden on his own and sleeps on his own. He has adapted very well from being in a raceyard himself from the age of 3 for four years to now being on his own. He sees the other horses when they are out on exercise but that's it.

Personally I wouldn't worry a bit.

 

[kerilli]

i think when they're in a stable, most horses don't worry at all about their herd instinct... they feel safe and as long as they have food and water (and a nice bed!) they usually relax very quickly.
if he's shouting his head off for the other horses, box walking, weaving, or generally fretting, he's telling you something. If not, he's fine... and he's better in the big stable, definitely!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Blimey kerilli - you must have known some amazing horses lol! All the ones I have known/know certainly do worry about the herd thing when stabled and a few get mega stressed and box walk/weave/call for hours. Some will try to get over a door. Some do cope ok but I suspect that's more because they are stoic neds or have never known anything else.

 

[Nosey]

Ours are turned out separately allbeit in close proximity to each others as yours is. They are also stabled in traditional boxes but we let them have nose to nose contact when we pass by turning out etc. They are absolutley fine and very chilled. I think you should see how it goes. Any move takes a bit for them to adjust. Sounds like you have good facilities where you are and there aren't many places offering boxes big enough for a 17.3!!