Feeding horses in the field, with others

[McNally]

I have been informed by two other livery owners that the owner of the horse who shares mines field feeds him in the field and my horse and so presumably my half blind pony when he is out there gets kept back by the owners wife with a lunge whip or by chucking stuff at them or swinging a headcollar at them.
What would you feel/do about this? Mine gets brought in everyday and is fed on the yard so i cant see why its a problem, apart from the fact that in the week they work til dark and its a trek to the yard but even so if i am late i catch and feed outside the gate.

The other thing is they complain (not nastily they are nice people) but do keep mentioning that my horse tries to bite theirs at the gate....mmmm, now i'm wondering why!!??

 

[legaldancer]

How do you know they don't put a headcollar on yours & hold him back? I would casually ask if yours is being a 'pain' when they feed theirs. If they are doing what you presume they are then I'd ask them to stop & get the owners wife to hold yours back. I must say it doesn't seem very fair on yours.

 

[Toffee44]

I dont see how it is fair to feed one horse and not another. Its not much effort to take their horse the other side of the gate is it. Or you could ask them to feed yours at the same time. I feed my three loose in the field but they have their own place (one in each shelter and the third behind it).

This is only asking for arguements and a fight.
Can you speak to your livery as this is potentially dangerous, all it will take is them to do this with a more aggressive horse than yours and they could end up hurt as well as the horses. If that was my girl she would have really hurt horse that was feeding and proberly the owner stood there.

 

[LeneHorse]

This is only asking for arguements and a fight.
Can you speak to your livery as this is potentially dangerous, all it will take is them to do this with a more aggressive horse than yours and they could end up hurt as well as the horses. If that was my girl she would have really hurt horse that was feeding and proberly the owner stood there.

Ditto! If there's one thing that makes my blood boil its ass****s that feed in the field when there's a herd involved. I've had to have words on occasions with new people on our yard that think they can do this. Its down to pure laziness - drive down to field with feed rather than bring horse out to feed it. Fine if its your own horses in your own field but not when other people's horses are involved. Sorry rant over!

 

[NicoleS_007]

At our yard you have to remove the horse that you want to feed from the field, even to the other side of the gate works. A couple of years back one of the liveries said my horse attacked her in the field for no reason, i later discovered she was actually feeding her horse hard feed!! As soon as my horse seen a bucket he was right in your face and very aggresive to other horses. Personally i think its dangerous and get very annoyed when someone does it.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

you need a system so that they are all fed together. i gather there is 3 in the field. if feeds are left ready it really is no hardship to put 3 buckets out (well apart obviously). in fact much easier than feeding 1 and keeping the other 2 away! (by whatever means) does your yard have a policy regarding feeding? feeding the 3 outside together is the quickest and easiest option.

 

[lhotse]

I think it's bad practice to feed one horse in the field, when there are others loose. Someone on our yard used to do that, ended up with her horse kicking another one and a broken leg and dead pony. Not worth the risk, better to bring the horse out of the field.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Sorry have word with YO and owner of said horse, it isn't fair on your animals and if she's to lazy to remove her horse out field for his feed, I should imagin he's getting stressed out as well worry about the other 2 wanting his food.

 

[CBFan]

This sort of thing makes me really cross... not only is it lazy it's just stupid! Its so dangerous too! I would have words with owner and ask that they feed their horse the other side of the field gate. will save all sorts of bother.

 

[Mrs B]

I would never feed a horse in the field in front of the others, nor even give them all a bucket at the same time.

Putting just one feed in is asking for trouble and is unfair, but even feeding all at once causes problems; like us, horses don't all eat at the same rate and as there is always a pecking order in the field, those lower down the scale will feel rushed and bothered, therefore trying to eat faster to prevent theirs being nicked and themselves being thumped. Doesn't really make it an enjoyable experience: at best, for many horses, their feed is the highlight of their day which could be spoilt and at worst, a bolted feed through fear can cause stress and colic.

 

[Trinity Fox]

I can feed and do at times all of mine in the field up to 10 and they soon get used to it you need to stand there and be firm if they move from their bucket however i would never feed one or two and not the others it is asking for trouble, it is also not fair on the horses watching on.

Any of mine that are on special feed come out they should be taking the horse out to feed it if they can expend the energy of two people one holding the horse the other chasing yours away it will be just as easy to take the horse out of the field they are being unreasonable.

 

[babymare]

Like others it is so so damn dangerous to feed one horse in field of otheres and yes hello they will try to get to the food. Not to remove the horse to be fed from field is just pure laziness and if I found out some one had used a lunge whip and thrown stuff at my two in that situation I would be bl**dy fuming trust me - what the hell do they expect!!!!!!!!!

 

[almrc]

I made a pen (biggish pen) in my field out of plastic posts and elec tape as she is a slow eater and stops the others stealing her food and she can eat in peace