Do you think horses can be happy living out with just one other?

How long is a piece of string?

No 2 horses are the same, my lad is happy alone or with Fany, but he does not do well in larger herds, becomes either detached or aggressive. Whereas Fany loves big herds, loves being out with her brother but absolutely hates being alone, and will scream her head off if left for more than the time it takes to take Cappy in.

I believe that you tailor what turnout you give to the horse in front and monitor the horse carefully to get used to what they need for their happiness.

FDC
 
my 2 seem happy enough. At least there is less jostling for position in the herd order. when I had 4 they tended to pair up anyway. the meeker 2 going along together and the more forceful pair together, it was fine until a stronger one went to one of the more subservient mares who didn't like that pony. Then there was alot of face pulling and sometimes kicking. So all in all its easier and more peaceful with 2 so long as they get along and one isn't a bully.
 
The problem with just 1 other horse is that the 2 horses get very dependent on each other and if one of the horses is taken away eg for riding the other one can get very distressed. Some horses would pace up and down shrieking but some may be distressed enough to try to jump out of the field, possibly injuring themselves or others in the process. Three is much better than two.
 
There is the issue of when you need to take one away, although my two seem to realise that the other will return soon!

When my mare was away at grass as I went travelling she was out in a herd of 15, interestingly most of the 15 paired up and whilst they would stay near the group it was usually in twos....
 
My friend and I keep our two geldings together. At first they would stress without each other but they are happy and settled now and don't bother. Even at shows, where mine would whinny and pace and stress, they are much calmer now. So it just took a bit of time! Both are hacked out alone regularly.
For a month or 2 in summer we opened the fence and let next door's herd in with our. They just bullied the hell out of my gelding! He was a total outcast but one gelding was particularly nasty to him, so went back to just our 2 and happiness resumed!
 
My 2 are fine. I've also never had any separation issues with any of mine. Actually, I have 3 but one is on loan, and I have never had any issues with anything from any of them - no bullying, worrying, stressing etc etc. But its just me and them and they know my routines, and are accepting of any changes I may make to those routines immediately, if one going away etc. The only times I've known them to worry has been when they were at a livery yard....
 
At various points in time Leo has been out with 6 others (all geldings), with 2 others (mare and gelding) and now he is out with just my daughters horse, Berti. Leo is not a very dominant horse, in fact he is always at the bottom of the herd. When he was kept with the 6 others he was bullied and became a bit of a loner. Out with just 2 others was better but being out with just my daughters horse is clearly the happiest he has been. Daughters horse is very easy going and they really get on well. Leo is fine if Berti is taken from field but Berti can get a bit stressy if Leo is taken away from him. We are working on this and he is a lot better and as long as he can see the other horses on the yard he is not too bad.
 
Yes, perfectly fine. I do think people tend to get what they expect with horses - the number of times a horse will call at the gate to start with, then once you're out of sight go off and graze, only to reappear when you do is unreal...and people who look for trouble/problems do seem to have an unerring ability to find it with horses!
 
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