Are your horses turned out separately or together?

[Tangaroo]

I just wondered how many of you keep your horses in the field, separated from the others. I have two horses one of whom is VERY dominant. The other likes to play but does get bullied by the big boy. He has now been kicked for the second time in a couple of months and i have put him in a paddock on his own. They seem happy so long as they can see each other. I feel guilty at separating them but i also feel guilty that the one is getting hurt quite often. What do you all do? Do you think its cruel to keep them apart for safetys sake?

 

[CSYMolly]

No not cruel at all, some horses will be bullies. My mare was on her own for about 2 years but surrounded by other horses in adjacent fields. Found her a perfect field partner this year but unfortunately the mare is now on box rest so poor Molly is on her own again but doesn't seem too bothered.

 

[_OC_]

When I first got my cob last year he was kept separated for 6 months then he started to jump electric fencing to get to the others-we tend to pair bond -his being a TB cross they get on very well.I can understand from the kicking side-But still feel they should have interaction with each other and that not being over a fence-if the other horse is not pacing around and visa versa then don't beat yourself up about it!!

 

[not_with_it]

My mare is turned out on her own and is not bothered by it at all. Sime horses dont mind, I suppose its like humans, some prefer their own company and some prefer to be with people.

 

[riotgirl]

Due to my very bolshy Welshie I keep her and my old girl (34) seperate from each other. They can see and touch each other but are seperated by the eclectric fence so my old girl has the option of keeping away if she wishes!

 

[Tangaroo]

Thanks for the answers. The injured boy has to be in a very small paddock at the mo to stop him galloping around, but i think after that i may just divide the field with electric tape and see how that works. I cant have him being bashed around so much.

 

[Tia]

No it's not cruel. I had this last year with one of my horses. He was just a nuisance and was very bossy to the others.......so he was moved out! I had a paddock right next to the big field where the others were and he lived in there for a long time. He was perfectly happy dominating his paddock with only him in it!

Anyway some a year on and I moved him back in with the others again and yes he is still a wee bitty bossy but nothing like he was previously. Sometimes I do feel he would like to be back in his little paddock again LOL!! He felt it was special as it was the closest to the house so he always received extra attention from us.

 

[Malibu]

i have one on box rest but when able, they will be turned out in seprate fenced parts of the field; as well as they get on, mistakes happen, horses get spooked, piss about, and i can not promise that one wont get kicked, or slipped mucking about!

 

[Madam_max]

I'm afraid my poor girl is on her own, although surrounded by others. She is a bit of a bully and now she doesn't have anyone to go out with as people won't risk it. On the plus side she gets a nice field to herself and doesn't get injured.

 

[Tempi]

Bloss has to go on her own as shes a very dominant mare and other livery owners complained as she was biting their mares!!!!

Shes very happy on her own as shes really not too keen on other horses anyways!! she can chat to th geldings of her field fence if she wants to, and she has a gelding in the field next to her aswell,so shes not stuck out on her own. Archie (new horse) shares her field and they go out on alternate days - i was going to put him in the all the other geldings eventaully, but im not sure i want the risk of him getting kicked.

 

[H's mum]

H gets individual turnout in a bald paddock - it's ideal for her - she's been out with others and been out alone - she doesn't tend to worry/bother or change with either set up!

Kate x

 

[Tierra]

After having my horse bitten / kicked frequently and kicked twice to the extent that required veterinary attention (once which penetrated his tendon sheath) in a quite short period, the YO took the decision to put him out alone and he's quite happy with it (although he can see horses in the surrounding fields anyway). It was getting a tad silly from my point of view that he came in with some new injury on a weekly basis

We're debating about trying him out with the yard's mare (yes, there is just one) soon since she's also sat in 3 acre field by herself (mine is currently in a 4 acre field!) and we tend to prefer turning out in twos.. but we'll see how that debate progresses

 

[AmyMay]

Amymay is turned out in company - and would hate it if she were on her own.

 

[kick_On]

no, i've just had to put my young one into the naughty corner!!! as he was bullying my other one sooo... much.
To point of flipping shoes off, 3 off in 10days. Farrier not a happy bunny but we have now threathen 'hound meat' but been in the naughty corner for 10 days and it seems to be working

 

[Str0ppyMare]

My irish draught mare is the boss of the yard, the stables are within a large shed and if she was left in overnight, she would definitely do some damage.

So she is out with a good rug and another heavy cob. There is always 2+ in the field at one time

 

[SSM]

Stonkey Donkey is out with 2 mares and a gelding - yesterday when bringing her in the other big mare decided to kick her - SD lunges forward, breaks the (stupid) gate and now has a nice gash from the kick in her hock

So today would be happier if she was on her own, but she does love to neck so think it would upset her!!!

PS Gash seems fine this morning, no swelling and only slightly warm (she is lucky!!)

 

[ginnyspinner]

My boy gets bullied (he's 16.3!!) by everything so he is out on his own and quite happy - has horses in fields all around him. I'm paranoid about turning him out with others anyway, since my last mare got kicked and had a fractured splint bone. After 2 major ops (plating) followed by removal of plate as screws came loose, 8 months box rest, pain and sheer out of her mind boredom, she was put down earlier this year. It was absolutely heartbreaking and still haunts me.
I will never forgive the owner of the horse that kicked her for her attitude, the yard owner who was so arrogant she was dissapearing up her own a*** or the vet that insisted she have the second op, despite knowing the outcome was poor - you all know who you are.........

 

[Salcey]

In my last yard each horse had 1.5ac paddock to themselves. It work fine as they often socialised over the fences to have a scratch etc. and never had any bites/kicks.
At my current place they are in pairs which also works pretty well

 

[siennamum]

I've 3 groups of 2 and it works really well. Of course this means we will never be able to sell or move anything as they are all so attached to each other but hey ho!

 

[Tangaroo]

Thanks everyone. Its good to hear how many are in individual paddocks. Im lucky to have my own land and just the two of them so i can do as i please really.

 

[tabithakat64]

Mares and geldings share a large field at our yard, it's a natural approach but it works well for us, any horses that need to be separated go in a small field with one other.

 

[Happytohack]

Definitely not cruel. Some horses just don't get on in really close contact. As you say, he is happy so long as he is next to the others. On the other hand, I think it would be cruel to split my lot up as they are always trying to eat the same blade of grass and there really isn't a dominant one - here they are!

 

[Skhosu]

Always turn out together, at least 2. Our mare goes crazy if out on her one( rears, paws the fence etc.) and they all get along well despite being 4 geldings and a mare.

 

[katiejaye]

The horses at my yard are all turned out separately as they have had problems in the past. They are all next to each other though and can "talk" over the fence. My boy goes out next to his best friend and they have the occasional scratch and "chat" over the fence. Mine has been out with other horses and on his own and seems perfectly happy either way as long as he can see other horses. I always worried when he went out with a group of horses though as he is a bit of a nosey parker and kept coming in with hoof marks on his face!

 

[helenandshadow]

no not at all, my mare has always been turned out with others but recently she got too attached to the mare she was turned out with so now she goes out on her own with other horses in adjacent fields and she's fine.

 

[Theresa_F]

All horses are different, some like company, others don't.

Cairo despite being a 16.3 clydie is often bullied and a real wimp. He is happiest out with a smaller horse or pony that he can trust.

I have him and Chancer together, despite the age difference they do play and Cairo is so happy with Chancer that he will back into him and squash him if he won't leave off being a pest, something he has never done with another horse.

 

[Faithkat]

Mine's out on her own and quite happy. Having lost a horse last year as a result of a kick in the field, I am now totally paranoid about her going out with others.

 

[Finns]

Mine is at same yard as Katiejaye's and seems quite happy turned out on his own. He has a pony friend he can talk to over the fence. Apparently he was also turned out on his own at his last home as he played with the other horses so much that they all came in having lost shoes (but not him!)

 

[Bossanova]

Moon was turned out with a gelding today, instantly came into season and then spent the rest of the day chasing him into a far corner because she was very uspet he was in her territory *rolls eyes*

 

[MagicMelon]

I prefer to have mine all out together and they always are in the winter. But in the summer, I have to split them up - have the 2 big boys in the big field (they need the grass) whereas my old lami pony obviously needs restricted grazing so he goes into a paddock right next door to them. At night I make the effort to bring the other 2 into my little ones paddock so they can be together all night (and go their seperate ways during the day) as I think all horses should be able to have 'play time' with others. But saying that if I have a horse passing through (ie. dont plan to keep him for very long!) then Ill only keep it in with the old pony as he is very unaggresive. Its not worth introducing any newbies to the 2 big horses as they can be pretty mean! But overall they are usually together, I dont like keeping horses on their own for long.