Do you ever bring one horse or pony in on its own?

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Patchworkpony

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Do you ever bring one horse or pony in on its own at night while the others stay out in the field? Given that it would have company all day do you think that is cruel? I would like to leave 2 minis companions out with a proper shelter 24/7 but stable just one riding native pony at night so that it could be clipped, rugged and trained etc. on a one-to-one basis. I don't want the work and commitment of 3 in full time so to speak. Anyone else done this successfully or do they whinny all night?
 
My very stressy, "please don't leave me alone" boy HATES being in during the day on his own, but the weekend before last was completely on his own in the barn at night for four nights and was absolutely fine! However - he is used to being stabled at night - so might be a tad different to your situation.

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Will the native be able to see the mini's? If so, it could make it easier.

I like all horses to be ok with coming in alone. I don't think it's ideal, but sometimes it is necessary and it's better for the horse to be ok with it xx
 
Yes. Mine comes in sometimes before a competition, if I have a really early start or if it's muddy in the field as I don't want to have to be bathing at 5am!! He used to hate it but he's grown up a lot in the last year and doesn't mind now.
 
Yes on our yard there are 8 horses. One horse is prone to lami and his owner does endurance with him so sometimes stays in on his own over night to watch weight or if they have an early start. My horse was on box rest for 2 weeks then I started turning out during the day and in at night on his own (2 separate blocks so only 4 horses in each).
My horse gets very stressed if he is left in the field on his own but copes fine in his stable. Another owner has 2 horses so she sometimes brings them both in but they are in different blocks so are effectively on their own. All the horses on our yard cope fine with it but all horses are different. Try it and if pony doesn't cope you can't think of what to do next.
 
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Yes, but the boxed pony goes into a stable with a window looking over a paddock where I will put the companion. They can still touch.
 
Yes my tb, currently in daytime but can be stabled anytime. He doesn't mind, can't be left out alone though. He's managed for low grade laminitis but actually doesn't like being out 24/7 and loves to come in and sleep!
 
Thanks so much everyone - really helpful comments. I did forget to say that he would be able to see the others in the field from his stable.
 
Of our three, two are fine being in overnight by themselves. The other is hysterical if one of his friends isn't with him when he's stabled, regardless of having other horses around him or not - if it's not one of ours, he doesn't care who they are.

I'd try it and see!
 
I do all the time, and I don't consider it cruel, I do it to control their weight. But then I expect all of mine to stay in the field by themselves and obviously travel and compete by themselves, the calling - if it happens - will settle after a few days once they all get used to the new routine.
 
I do sometimes. My boy has sweetitch, and while this year he's been fab (neem oil) and hasn't worn his rug, I'll still bring him in.

He's not fazed- as long as he has hay to munch on!!

Ax
 
I do with mine when they first go out on the Spring grass, otherwise she would put on too much weight all at once. I find she is more settled if she can't see the other horses out in the field.
 
Samba was only horse in at night when she was on box rest. Had two others down the far end during the day.

She didn't seem to mind. Her issue is soon as feed buckets start appearing and more people she knows was when she kicked off. Luckily have great liveries who gave her dinner with the others if I was still at work.
 
Yes - I do it with our two all the time, and make sure if we buy a new one, that it is trained to cope with being on its own too right from the start.

My horses have to sometimes hack alone, travel alone or go to a competition alone, so I think it is very important that they can accept the situation.

There is nothing worse than a horse needing box rest, but can't tolerate being alone, and having to enforce box rest on a companion (double the work/costs too!!!).

I have only ever had one horse that couldn't tolerate being on his own - I did try to acclimatise him, but he never improved, so ended up selling him to a yard where he did everything in company.

I do not think it is cruel - in the wild it would be another issue, but our horses are domesticated.
 
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yes, all three of mine have to get used to it. I just got a new horse and he's learning to deal with it as well. My old two are also fine being in the field on their own-bit soon to try the new boy out like that yet.
 
There's only two horses on my yard (kept at the owners house) so they both need to be able to come in separately without causing a fuss.

Mine was on box rest for two weeks not long ago but we didn't want the hassle of having them both in. They were fine. We can take them out to ride separately without worry although if the other is left in the field they can see other horses a few fields away.
 
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