Anyone keep multiple horses in one stable

[3BayGeldings]

Not a standard sized stable I hasten to add, more of a barn. I'm thinking of keeping my 3 horses in the equivalent of about 5 standard sized stables during the night in winter, to save time having to do individual hays and waters and to-ing and fro-ing from one stable to the other.

Anyone else do this, or is it just asking for kicking and biting?

 

[FfionWinnie]

My friend does it. They have quite a clever system where there are 'hay bars' a bit like cow cubicals so they can eat in peace.

You will know what they are like together. If there is a bully it probably won't work.

 

[Eriskayowner]

I keep 2 ponies in the same stable. It's a large stable with access to an outside corral but they've been field companions for years and scream the place down if they are separated.

The only injury one of them has had in a year is one was kicked whilst out in the field. Nothing to do with the stabling arrangements.

I'd say there's nothing wrong with it, as long as they all get on ok.

 

[3BayGeldings]

They eat their hard feed side by side in the field with no issues, and I put round bales of hay out in the winter which again they will eat without issue. One of them is definitely the boss, but we don't usually have fights or problems, so hopefully it could work!

 

[kiteman0]

I'm going to do it this winter in my barn to cut down the work. I might leave the gate open do they can come in and out day and night but only put hay in the barn

 

[Irishbabygirl]

I used to keep one of mine in with a friends old mare when I used to keep them on a farm, so it wasn't a stable but part of a barn. They were happier together! Wouldn't do it now with my two boys as they need their own space. If yours get on amazingly well and you have enough space to do it safely then give it a go!

 

[RubyFrench]

how spooky, i was going to post a thread of this question! i am moving to a yard that has 2 stables with the partition taken out, my boy doesn't like being stabled but i was planning to get him used to it slowly and wandered if he had a companion in there it would make him feel better!

 

[Eriskayowner]

Mine both have their hard feed in the stable together. They stick both heads in the same bucket then move over to the other bucket and eat it together.

Yes. They're freaks!!

 

[Ahrena]

Yup.

At work we keep a 14.2hh and a 11hh(ish) in the same box. Mind you the 11hh rarely comes in and if she does its only for a couple of hours.

We also have barns which are about the size mentioned, one of which we have 2 adult horses and in another 2 broodmares and their foals. Never had any problems but we only do it with horses that are close friends

 

[Equinus]

Our lad used to share a barn in the depths of winter with his field mate. Did this for nine years before being moved on. Result is you can turn him out with anything, he is the most amiable of animals.

 

[Trinity Fox]

I have stables for some but keep some in a big barn together as long as there is enough room it is ok, I get mine to have their feed in the same places each time and they soon get the idea.

Even one of ours who was an aggressive horror when we got will happily barn with others now he is confident with it, If there was a real terror or a very weak one in the pecking order I would introduce it gradually to let them get used to it.

It is surprising how quickly they settle to it, getting them to eat even hay in their own little areas really does seem to help and stops squabbling.

 

[BackRidingAgain]

I kept a half brother and sister in a single stable with open access to a concrete yard about twice its size. The stable was about 13' square. Horses about 14.2 and 15.2 respectively. They had separate mangers and a tether in each corner at feed times - sometimes the tether was used and other times not. Hay was given on the floor one heap inside the stable and the other just outside the door on their yard. The two horses were inseparable and could not be ridden apart, let alone stabled apart. They lived like that for over 27 years. Unfortunately there is now only one living there from about 4 weeks ago :-(

So IME yes it is quite possible to keep two horses in one stable, but of course they do generate twice as much waste material to clear out each day!