Can a horse & pony share a stable?

[shmoo]

I have a 15.1 TB type ex-polo pony who is a panic attack on legs. We are soon to be getting a 12 - 12.2 pony for my youngest daughter and to keep said neurotic horse happy when my friend takes her big one out alone. Could or would the pony go in with my mare to keep her company?

Our stables are big brick built ones with 7 foot high internal walls either side, solid back walls so the only opening is the door. The ceiling is a very high pitch so you can hear the other horse but she can't see him. She's a nightmare in on some days when her friend goes to the back of his stable or goes in to eat. She barges the door, shouts every 2 mins and is generally a nervous wreck. The second you lead her out so she can see him she calms, its instant. She's 20, I don't expect her to change I just don't like causing her any stress.

The stables are 5.2m x 3.7m or 17 x 12 foot in old money.

My question is does anyone else ever put a pony with a horse in one box or is it an insane idea I need to drop now?

Thanks.

 

[fiwen30]

I wouldn't, it seems far too dangerous, even if both were couch-potato types. There wouldn't be enough room if one threw a wobbly, or something external panicked them. Even basic things like feeding in such close proximity, hogging water buckets, or even having enough space to strech out and sleep - sounds nightmarish.

Plus, I wouldn't like to be mucking out double the mess each morning!

 

[Lintel]

I've seen it done before with ponies that have best best buddies for ages and it has worked well but in this situation I don't think I would out of fear that one would try to dominate the other I think I'd rather put up a partition in the stable to leave a 7x12 and 12x10. So they could see and groom but still have there own space

 

[PonyclubmumZ]

We used to have 2 shetlands who shared a stable, they would crowd the door so we put a partition across the middle of the stable and it worked very well. It was literally a scaffold board that was about 2 foot 6 off the ground. It was held in either end by wooden brackets that my OH made, that meant they could not lift it up but putting their head underneath it. Our stables are long and thin 10 f by 20 f so they both ended up with a space 10x10.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

my two exmoors share a stable on occasion-although it is 20 ft by 12 ft. They've shared a smaller one in an emergancy (place flooded badly). I wouldn't probably do it unless I knew the pair of them very well (had one since weaning).

 

[Orangehorse]

Too small a space I think. It would be OK in a large barn where there was plenty of room for them to move around. Can you pen the pony next to the stable securely? That might work.

 

[shmoo]

There is a third stable of the same size between the two, but it has no door/frame at the moment and it would cost a fair bit for them to be done? If I could find a reasonable way to make a door I could do that instead? Do you think having two horses, well 1 and a half, in next to her would help her calm down? Sorry but just haven't had anxiety issues of his nature to deal with before

 

[suestowford]

I knew someone who kept a Shetland in with her big horse. The two did get on very well, and did so before they shared a stable.

 

[DGIN]

I have a 16.2hh Tb and my welsh yearling that share a stable, its massive though, at least twice the size of a normal stable and they have been together since the yearling was born. Only problem is its made them inseparable and i'm trying to turn them out in separate fields during the day so that they don't need to be stuck to each other. It works for me, they share nets, feed buckets and water and get on great but at the end of the day each horse is an individual and may not like sharing.

 

[LadyRascasse]

I have done in the past in an emergency with a TB and a pony who got on very well. But not something I would do as a regular thing. Would she not live out if she is so stressed in a stable or is she the same in the field?

 

[Gloi]

Not unless they are already very good friends. Like others Have said I would put a partition in the box so they both have their own space but can see and touch each other over the partition.

 

[bakewell]

Just put a chat window in the partition wall surely?

 

[shmoo]

We have no field shelter, apart from the natural coverage of high hedges and the field borders a wood on one side - no access into the woods unfortunately. Previously at a different yard they were in stables with metal bars between so she could keep one eye on my other one all night to make sure she didn't escape I suppose. Since mine was very sadly PTS in May she's been ultra clingy with my friends as they are the only two left. My friend wants to keep hers in occasionally, and ride alone as her work allows her to ride during the day, I'm a 9-5, and well she's my daughters horse really, who is at school and out from 7.30-4, hence getting her a pony so she isn't alone.

My friends horse couldn't be in alone either so I need to mend the middle stable, or put them (daughters horse and new pony) together, or buy a field shelter for them all to share which would be the best part of £2500 for a really big one.

An old friends TB used to live with a goat as he was anxious alone though, and it got me thinking...I will have to sit down with my friend and talk it through again I think?

I would never have done this without asking advice from anyone who would sit still long enough to be asked BTW, I'm not a complete noodle. x

 

[shmoo]

Just put a chat window in the partition wall surely?

Hi Stone built stables, even the internal walls are around a foot thick.

 

[Gloi]

You should be able to partition the pony off somehow inside the stable. A piece of 4*2 fixed across that you can lift out to get the pony out of its half would serve the purpose. If you leave them loose together one is likely to get beaten up and injured.

 

[twiggy2]

just put a bar across the empty stable doorway, although I would be inclined to try mirrors first if you have not already

 

[squeakyknees]

My 14.1 cob and 12 h section a share a stable and my friends cob and mini Shetland share the next door stable.They are slightly larger than average stables but it works out fine and all ponies are happy.I've done it in the past with a Clydesdale x and a 13hh pony in a small barn with no problems.All my ponies are barefoot though!Good luck if you do try it

 

[Notimetoride]

Hi. Im going to come at this from a totally different angle. I used to have (sadly pts recently) a very stressy Warmblood. In my 'previous life', I had my stable yard build entirely to suit him i.e U shaped yard, front doors, rear windows, talk grills between etc etc. - totally pandered to his every need. Anyway, that was then. Move forward a few years and on livery at a friend's yard. It was a nice indoor yard and he was the only one on the yard. I was really worried thinking he would blow a gasket as he box walked, kicked the door and whinnied for England. Very very unhappy bunny indeed, to the point where I got him some ACP. One day when i wasnt there, friend's (who's yard it was) husband hid, in the dark. She wondered what on earth he was going. He was doing a horsey stake-out, waiting to see how long my horse took to settle down. Answer was 10 mins. After 10 mins of having a strop, he settled and that was that for the night. He got better and better and eventually accepted he was by himself. Now I know horses are herd animals and this is not natural, but I had no choice, and he could see horses during the day. He actually toughened up a bit and stood on his own two feet. I understand your horse is 20 so unlikely to change, but just wanted to share my story. All the best x

 

[TheMule]

My mares happily share a stable (15.2 and 16hh) but they do get on exceptionally well and neither would kick, ever. I do it because 1 will not settle on her own, even when next to another over a low partition. They don't come in often but did 2 weeks box rest together last year and it was fine

 

[paddy555]

Hi Stone built stables, even the internal walls are around a foot thick.

I have had horses sharing and horses and ponies sharing but I think you will be very lucky to find a pony that accepts your horse as a friend and who your horse also accepts. If it had been an old pony lying around the place and they knew each other it would be different but for 2 strangers I think it will be nigh on impossible.

I am not sure why you cannot put at least a window in. My first thought was to lower the dividing wall completely so they could communicate over the wall. It the internal wall is a supporting wall then you could put a length of steel in but if it is just a dividing wall I am not sure why you cannot remove part of it. My walls are also built of natural stone and around a foot thick. It would be quite an easy job to do with a little cement work around the edges.

The other thing that would stop your mare being stressy in the stable is to leave the door open. If you shut the door all they want to do is panic and get through it. Open the door, let her have freedom and she is most likely to stand happily in the stable. One way of doing this is to make an outside yard, possibly a couple of gates/rails in front of the door. It only has to be small, just enough to walk out into, turn around and walk back into the stable. Obviously I don't know your layout but another way would be to electric fence a large pen around the stable doorway so she can wander out.

I have found the only way to cure stressy horses in stables is to give them freedom. All ours have small yards in front of their doors, they all feel they can escape but they all stand quite happily chilled inside.

 

[paulineh]

Many years ago my pony 13.2hh (Passed away now) and my Arab 15.2hh shared a large foaling box for one winter. They had a nice thick straw bed and each had a hay net. There was two buckets of water , so they each had one if they wanted.

My pony had been my Arabs nurse maid when he was a youngster so had taught him manners. There was never any problems and they were big buddies.

I also have a friend that has 2 Shetlands and they share a stable ,they never have a problem. I have know people use a large field shelter and keep 2-3 horses together.

 

[Equi]

Not in a stable that size. No.

 

[Spotsrock]

My 14.3 and 16.3 will share a big stable while I muck out or pop to the shop. They adore each other, we call her his wife! Both are pretty mellow, the smaller 1 dislikes little ponies and was poorly socialised when I got her. The big lad had never really been out with mares and was bullied as a youngster, they just seem to complete each other.

I did put them together without food and supervise closely to start with after they got in together and spent a very happy night making a mess. I will hay together now but I don't risk hard feed, though empty buckets dont seem to cause fights.
They have a connecting door between their stables which is never closed, I keep them separate at night with a stall guard. He needs more food than her and it just stops them squabbling.

I think care, good sense and the right 2 horses it can work but if u have spare stable maybe splitting it in 2 with a lower partition so pony is safe but big horse can see it may be safer. Might mean space is too small to live in but be ok just while 3rd horse is ridden even.

 

[Boulty]

I'd say the size of stable you've got is too small really, esp if they don't know each other. If you had a way of knocking a wall through to make a larger stable or a small barn then if they got to know each other in a larger space for a few weeks first that could potentially work. Could you maybe install a window (could put bars / a grille in it if needed) between the two stables so that the mare can see the horse in the next stable?

 

[JFTDWS]

My two share a stable (I have a spare stable, but they prefer to share). But they're both best buddies and it's a big old stable. Works for us. I think shoving a new pony in with your current one with no friendship background and a fairly small stable is asking for trouble.

 

[shmoo]

Hi, many thanks to all for the replies. I think based on this I'm not going to risk it. I don't want anyone getting hurt. Bite the bullet time and get the other stable sorted. Maybe move Stressy so she's in the middle of the two?

Thanks again, :O)

 

[Moya_999]

I have a 15.1 TB type ex-polo pony who is a panic attack on legs. We are soon to be getting a 12 - 12.2 pony for my youngest daughter and to keep said neurotic horse happy when my friend takes her big one out alone. Could or would the pony go in with my mare to keep her company?

Our stables are big brick built ones with 7 foot high internal walls either side, solid back walls so the only opening is the door. The ceiling is a very high pitch so you can hear the other horse but she can't see him. She's a nightmare in on some days when her friend goes to the back of his stable or goes in to eat. She barges the door, shouts every 2 mins and is generally a nervous wreck. The second you lead her out so she can see him she calms, its instant. She's 20, I don't expect her to change I just don't like causing her any stress.

The stables are 5.2m x 3.7m or 17 x 12 foot in old money.

My question is does anyone else ever put a pony with a horse in one box or is it an insane idea I need to drop now?

Thanks.

The answer is questionable, I had a 20 by 14 stable and my 14.3 shared with my 10.2 it worked really well for many months (till a falling out with y/o unrelated issue)

I have known friends have a 16 2 and shared her stable with a mini pony and she used heras fencing in her 15 x 14 stable.

You could do that have a temp fencing within the stable, but it really depends on the individual temperament and relationship between them

 

[CBFan]

Ditto the advice already given. Wouldn't risk it. But would recommend you take down a section of the dividing wall (and install bars) to make the stable lighter and enable her to see her friend. A friend did this in a brick built stable and it was relatively easy to do. Do try a stable mirror too.

 

[Moya_999]

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[foraday]

My 16.3 eventer has his pairbond who is 10.3. They do have an extra large stable so there is plenty of room for rolling and they do take turns over this

It is actually the 10.3 who needs the pairbond as his former pairbond died and there was an umbilical cord between these two! In fact my TB exracer worshipped the ground he walked on! But they were very much in love and went and did everything together.

I did try to find him another friend even a weanling but he only wanted another big gelding to be his very very best friend. They are very tolerant together and very very happy and share their haylage out in their big tubtrugg.

My big eventer just needs a friend in the stable to stop him weaving and box walking so those vices are gone.

My 10.3 has got a book about him and his first pair bond

I do think they are unique as no falling out, but you cannot buy a gift for one and not the other, just like 2 squabbling siblings!