Does this count as a companion?

P

Popos

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 January 2014
Messages
141
Visit site
Sorry if this is a daft question, but replies to a post got me wondering!

We have one horse and 3 mini Shetlands. The horse has a separate field and shelter, but right next to the shetties.

They spend time rubbing noses over the fence.

I don't have the shetties in with the horse as they as so naughty and one has a history of pitting herself against a horse of coming off very badly! He is 17hh, they are miniatures.

Do they count as companions for him being in a separate field? I hate the idea that he could be lonely and unhappy (he seems happy enough I should add, I just like to worry about him, a lot!)
 
There are posters on here who have Shetlands as companion s, so I would say if they can touch and see each other, he will feel part of the herd.

Have you any pictures of your Mimi's, I like looking at them they are such little characters.
 
Better by far than nothing but if they cant groom, interact, run as a herd etc then not ideal ... can you not take down the fence and take shoes off big guy while they get used to each other ? Would also mean your field would not get churned up as much as more area and the fence line would not get poached !
 
Could you fence an area with strands high enough to let your minis go under, but low enough to keep your biggy out and have a 'mini-reserve,' where they can get away from your horse?
 
oooohhh I like the idea of a mini reserve !! sounds like there will be tigers and lions !! sorry !!

Have also heard of people putting mini escape doors in field shelters so shitlands can get out of way of biggies and not get boxed in !!
 
Yes definitely, before I had my own place I rented a field and kept my boy on his own, he was absolutely fine as he had horses either side of him which he could see and sniff, I have a problem now as there are no other horses nearby :-(
 
undergroundoli said:
Lions and tigers and *****lands, Oh My.
Click to expand...

:):) LIKE!!

I had a escape fence for my minis when they first arrived as the big lads wanted to murder them.

They could get under the fence into a smaller paddock which the bigger horses couldnt access but spent their time teasing the bigger horses and puffing them out.

They are all fine now and are in the same field but it took about a month for me to be comfortable leaving them alone unsupervised.
 
meesha said:
oooohhh I like the idea of a mini reserve !! sounds like there will be tigers and lions !! sorry !!

Have also heard of people putting mini escape doors in field shelters so shitlands can get out of way of biggies and not get boxed in !!
Click to expand...
Had to create a biggie reserve for my 18hh Cleveland bay....they were very mean to him.....he never went back at them just ran to the gate screaming like a girl until someone saved him....They all loved each other really.
 
Oh bless him, I can imagine the great big chap running away from the scary horse eating pixie ponies. My 16h was beaten up by a 11.3 section a, double barrelled and just ran away, had to seperate them until they settled down.
 
Popos said:
Sorry if this is a daft question, but replies to a post got me wondering!

We have one horse and 3 mini Shetlands. The horse has a separate field and shelter, but right next to the shetties.

They spend time rubbing noses over the fence.


I don't have the shetties in with the horse as they as so naughty and one has a history of pitting herself against a horse of coming off very badly! He is 17hh, they are miniatures.

Do they count as companions for him being in a separate field? I hate the idea that he could be lonely and unhappy (he seems happy enough I should add, I just like to worry about him, a lot!)
Click to expand...

You could always foster a small pony from WHW or get a donkey.
 
When I first moved my mare to our current yard she was turned out in her own field with other horses both sides, they could chat and touch over the fence and she seemed fine. Eighteen months later I got a second horse and turned them out together - the difference it made to my first mare was amazing, she immediately became so much calmer and amenable to handle. Two years on they still always graze next to each other. It may not be the same for all horses but for these two being in together clearly seems different to having a friend over the fence.
 
I'm tempted to try it. The problem is the one with the history of this is the odd one out. The other two have always been together from tiny and cannot be separated!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top