Change fields or not?

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CBFan

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In a bit of a quandry...

My boy is rising 3 and 16.2hh with plenty of growing to do.

He's currently in a field of 7 the largest of which is about 15.2hh smallest is 13.2hh.

He's quite happy in this field but they do play A LOT which results in him getting injured (usually just minor scrapes and suc h but he has had a few bad kicks) and the horse who is next up the pecking order to him, takes advantage of his position by backing up to my boy and giving him two barrels... for no reason. Now I know horses are horses and I'm fully prepared for scratches and scrapes but this does annoy me a little...

The other bad thing about this field is the lack of shelter - not even decent hedge they can tuck themselves under in the roughest of winter...

The field next door has 4 bigger horses (all around the 16.2 - 17.2hh mark) , whom my boy hangs around with over the fence and some of which stay out all winter (I like to keep mine out as long as poss and feed hay if nec) and the people are all easier to get on with (the ones in my current field tend to grass you up for the slightest thing rather than having an adult conversation about it!). There's also Hedgerows and trees on 3 sides and its much more sheltered...

So... do I swap fields or stay put?
 
Definitely move fields. More natural shelter, chance for him to stay out longer and away from the one which keeps double barrelling him. I'm like you and appreciate horses will be horses but that's excessive IMO.
 
Years ago I was on a yard where a gelding had to be shot from a kick injury and he was only turned out with two others. I know all the arguments about horses 'living naturally' in herds but IMO that's natural if they're in the New Forest and can get away from each other. Anywhere else needs a delicate balance or it must be like being stuck in a courtyard garden with your in-laws;) Hope he's in better company soon.
 
I would move now, my lad who I told you about had to have 4cm of bone removed from his radius as a 2 year old from being kicked by one of two hw cobs in the field with him. Luckily they never broke his leg but the damage on the scan was amazing.

He was operated on then box rest for 6 weeks, bloomin nightmare all round. From a foal he suffered kicks/scrapes etc but this was the icing on the cake so I swiftly removed him from that field.
 
Fellewell said:
Years ago I was on a yard where a gelding had to be shot from a kick injury and he was only turned out with two others. I know all the arguments about horses 'living naturally' in herds but IMO that's natural if they're in the New Forest and can get away from each other. Anywhere else needs a delicate balance or it must be like being stuck in a courtyard garden with your in-laws;) Hope he's in better company soon.
Click to expand...

I have made this point at my yard several times - good god can you imagine it!!!!

Agree - i'd move.
 
Beatrice5 said:
I'd move and chances are as he already knows then he'll settle just fine.
Click to expand...

You're right... He knows them pretty well and he 'camped out', all be it the other side of the leccy fence with two of them (and no company in his field) from February - May.

As for the one that kicks him... you're all also right. He's a right little (about 15hh) oik! Just marches straight up to him, when he's minding his own business and double barrels him! the sod!

I'll be on the phone to y/o this arvo! Thanks for the reasurance all! Thought I was being silly..
 
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