Could individual turnout be responsible for my horses' new positive attitude to work?

[rubysmum]

My loan mare, Appaloosa, just 6, but a quite green, babyish 6 has always been a bit of a No horse, never very keen on work and likely to throw in a baby buck if the spirit moves her, has always been turned out in company and is a sociable mare who seems to get on with any horse she fields with. On our current yard, horses are turned out in pairs, her current field companion has gone away for a few weeks, so she has been living alone, with companions she can see and touch over the fence. I thought she would really struggle, but she has seemed very unbothered, but what also seems to be happening is a really changed attitude to work, she is far more willing, tries harder and has achieved several very chilled solo hacks, something she was really very stubborn about previously, so is it just a co incidence or could her new turnout regime be contributing to this new Yes horse attitude ?
Your thoughts ?

 

[mollymum]

I was advised to separate two horses who were nappy if taken out individually., so I think this does work,

 

[Abbeygale]

I seperate my girls at home in the summer months - and I always find it beneficial.

 

[Goldenstar]

It was always an old horsemanship tip to put a naughty horse on a bare paddock alone to Concertrate it's mind on its work.

 

[FfionWinnie]

It definitely improves nappiness in my experience.

 

[Elsbells]

Yes it does.

They are less focused on being popular with their mates

 

[rubysmum]

Yes it does.

They are less focused on being popular with their mates

I love the idea of her trying to be a bad girl to impress her mates

 

[Kallibear]

Generally yes. It makes them a bit more insecure and lonely so they have a greater need to 'please' their human when they get the chance. My cob had to live on his own for isolation at a new yard and was desperate to please and do something constructive because he was lonely and bored

 

[Spring Feather]

Yes horses generally are more focused and willing to work with their riders when they are living on individual turnout, because it's a break away from the monotony of doing nothing all day long. Individual turnout works great for humans!

 

[StormyGale]

My youngster is in paddock alone but can still touch over fence and see his little friend and he's ten times calmer he went from chilled out to just silly things when they were put in together. Seperated but always next to each other he's happy as Larry and goes off on his own to other side of field to havea snooze so ddon't think he's lonely just lazy lol

 

[rubysmum]

Individual turn out as a long term plan would never be what I would want for my horse, but as her field companion is going to be away for aprox 20 days and there are no spare horses I can borrow, it is a necessary evil for a couple of weeks, I would certainly not consider it beyond that even though she is much nicer ( for me) turned out on her own, I understand that it is not the best for her, so she will be back with her little friend very soon.

 

[tonitot]

When I was at my old yard the horses are turned out in individual paddocks but could still see and touch each other, Ethel was really well behaved. I could bring her in at any time of the day for whatever reason and she would stand quiet as a lamb on the yard and her ridden work was coming along really well. I moved yards so she could be out with other horses and it all went downhill from there! I cant bring her in without having a fight with her, she wont even eat her dinner anymore and no matter how hard I tried to work through it she didn't get any better. We are moving back to the old yard this weekend for various reasons and I actually can't wait for her to be turned out on her own again! Sounds horrible but we dont really have any kind of relationship and I dont enjoy being with her at the moment as she's turned rather feral and ignores me when I go to check her. Im hoping her ridden work will get back on track and she turns back into the nice little horse I had before!