Boggy field

I think saying that keeping a horse on its own is cruel is being a bit harsh. That is not what the op was asking advise for. Why are so many people so ready to jump down people's throats about how they keep their horse? Op has said she is well looked after. So what's the problem and dunno who said it but putting the horses needs before my own desire of owning a horse?! Or summin. What a pile of crap. The horse is by itself. It's not starving to death for goodness sake. If the horse was worrying to death, Losing weight clearly unhappy etc about being on its own then fair enough. But some people seriously need to mid their own business. Not all of us have the luxury to be on a yard with loads of different horses here there and everywhere you look. You have to make the best of your situation. Sounds to me like op is doing well. I mean taking your horse out 3 times a day at the weekend. How many people would do that? Sounds to me like she's got the horses best intrest at heart.

Rant over. Sorry just makes me mad when people sart poking ther noses in when its a totally different topic of conversation.
 
I think saying that keeping a horse on its own is cruel is being a bit harsh. That is not what the op was asking advise for. Why are so many people so ready to jump down people's throats about how they keep their horse? Op has said she is well looked after. So what's the problem and dunno who said it but putting the horses needs before my own desire of owning a horse?! Or summin. What a pile of crap. The horse is by itself. It's not starving to death for goodness sake. If the horse was worrying to death, Losing weight clearly unhappy etc about being on its own then fair enough. But some people seriously need to mid their own business. Not all of us have the luxury to be on a yard with loads of different horses here there and everywhere you look. You have to make the best of your situation. Sounds to me like op is doing well. I mean taking your horse out 3 times a day at the weekend. How many people would do that? Sounds to me like she's got the horses best intrest at heart.

Rant over. Sorry just makes me mad when people sart poking ther noses in when its a totally different topic of conversation.


Thank you so much !!! Good dooers who do not know my horse, she become very frightend round other hoprses and cowers in the corner. She is in a perfect situation where she doesnt have to compete for food and every morning i am up at 6 to feed her clean her out and on weekends take her out ! I do ride her 3 times on saturday and sunday she is rugged up and treated ike a show horse never mind a little chuncky cob. She isnt lonely she sees other animals. In this situation i believe not all horses need friends !!!
 
Your welcome tessybear. :) My old boy used to be unmanageable when with others. He always wanted be around them and was quite frankly dangerous to be around him when he was like this. An opportunity came up to put him in a field and I did. It was 3 acres. But he would go in there by himself. I was like oh no he doesn't have anyone to play with. What's he gunna do lol. Put him in there. Checked on him like 4 times a day fpr te first week. and he freaked out. Major. Within a few days he was fine. He was in they for about 3 months totally on his own. Then When I walked him back to my usual yard for the first time. He was a totally changed horse. Really independent cuz he had to get used to being by himself. :) best thing I ever did for myself and him.

Anyway I might say that people who only have 1 dog is cruel. They're supposed to be pack animals aren't they? Lol
 
I never mentioned neglected. I said cruel imo. Feel free to say I'm talking crap, or tell yourselves that pampering makes up for having no company. Or riding 3x at wkend. Unfortunately, when you post on an open forum, you'll get opinions you don't like. That doesn't make me a do gooder, or interfering. But hey, keep telling yourself that keeping horses isolated is fine & I'm just being horrid. Much easier than exploring the fact I might actually be right.
 
Being honest you may just have to fence off a bit of it and let her poach it so have the rest for spring.

I don't really know very many places who aren't in the same boat up here, my boy is up to his knees in soggy wet grazing, he's on 4acres on his todd with ponies over the fence but the field is sodden and not much I can do, he gets hacked out twice a week and is happy as larry, he's an antisocial sod anyways :D xx
 
Little legs I never said you were wrong and I never said that you said she's neglecting her horse. I'm just saying that the op was asking about her field. Not asking for advise bout her horse bein on its own. I too wouldn't like to see a horse on its own, but that can't be done in this case. And the op has already said her horse is well suited to this life style. Cruel would be keeping the horse in pain etc. not keeping it in a field by itself. There are plenty of horses out there on their own that are absolutely fine. I didn't mean to have a go I just don't like it when people start to query people's way of keeping their horses. Unless it was necessary, dangerous etc. you get my drift
 
Well I wasn't trying to be harsh personally, I was just concerned the horse was literally on its own, I think sheep and goats can make good companions for some horses who find it hard to live in groups of other horses, if you say your horse is fine with that then great! My horse is in her own paddock next to other horses so its not like we are all pro livery yards (quite the opposite!).
 
Put it this way Past owner had at one point Put her in with a herd she refused to eat as she was frightened by the others. She lost alot of weight and the owner hot kicked off the yard due to condition of Tess. I didn't say your opinion isn't valid but in this case it's not applicable you come and see my horse an say if she is lonely !!!
 
No moody mare, it was op who used the word neglect, not you I know. And I agree its not on the scale of starvation, imo company is enough of a basic need that I think permanent isolation is a form of cruelty. So just like if op had mentioned something else unrelated that imo is cruel, then asked for or not I will put that opinion across. I also think you can only tell how happy a horse is being isolated when you witness the massive change when they at last get companionship.
 
I agree with those who are saying fence off a patch and let her waste it.

All our horses go onto a 10 acre paddock halfed (halfed for mare and geldings) every winter and it gets trashed. The hay ring had a bed of hardcore around each and every year it comes back up fine with just a roll and harrow in may when they come off it :)
 
Stick to your own horses or ring the RSPCA all they will do is laugh at you ! Or better still you buy us a horse or pay for livery ! You seem so fixated by it ;£
 
We all know the rspca are as much use as a chocolate teapot. And no, I won't be paying for company funnily enough, as its not my responsibility. Same way as if I couldn't afford a basic requirement for one of mine, I wouldn't demand anyone who pointed my shortcomings out pay on my behalf. I have yet to meet any horse that prefers isolation to companionship, even if that's over a fence, or at least in sight.
 
It's an open forum, provided I follow t&cs I reserve the right to comment on whatever I choose. I did make productive comments earlier on.
 
Firstly bark makes it deeper and becomes a real bog. What worked for me was to move the field shelter to the highest piece of ground, then I bought rubber matting with holes in it and covered the area outside the field shelter roughly the same area size as the field shelter, then I put solid matting over the top. This has provided a solid footing and has not slipped or become boggy. I cable tied the top layer to the holed matting to stop it slipping, then I put thick electric tape around the matted area so that they can use the filed shelter and stand outside too, its a double shelter. I don't electrify the fence because they respect it as they are used to it being live around the field. This was done during last spring so it has had time to settle. I would not try it now with the mud as it could be futile. Yes its expensive but it works. Good luck
 
Thanks for the first bit regarding the second it also says all cases are different I know many people with ponies that keep them alone . I do not wish to argue with yet another person over this :-/
 
def. not going to argue over it, you are quite right it is your horse to do with as you please, but it is recognised even by the RSPCA as a basic welfare need - your horse cant tell you if its unhappy or lonely - you could get a shetland or similar for a pittance or can loan one from a charity (I have done this and its great).

Not having a go, pointing out a known fact.
 
Right okay I'm not changing what we do. Your talking to a wall currently as stated earlier not bothered about what people are saying about my lonely horse :p
 
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