Group turn out to individual

[Chloea3]

Hi everyone!

I just need some advice

I’m moving my 4 year old this weekend to a yard that is on individual turn out. She has been on individual before but for a short time about 2/3 years ago. Since then she’s been in single sex and mixed herds.

The yard we’re on at the moment, we hav awful grazing and our hay is dreadful, so they’re not eating when there in or when they’re out
Where we’re moving to has plenty of grass and good hay, I think this’ll keep her happy initially.

She will still be able to see other horses and talk over the fence.
What can I do to help her settle as quickly as possible? And are there bonus’ to her moving to individual? If anyone can share their experiences or advice would appreciate it!

Thank you

 

[Red-1]

I don't mind individual turnout per-se, but think that 4 is a year or two too young. My reasoning is that, if I have one out alone, they have plenty of work and interaction time. It wouldn't be good for an early 4yo to have this work.

I think a young horse should be able to play.

Once they have grown up a bit, are in regular work and secure with their manners and confidence intact, ten I feel it is OK.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I actually don't like to encourage horses to 'talk' to each other over the fence, it's a recipe for disaster imo. We see lots of posts on here from owners asking for help in stopping their horses trying to join their neighbours. And I agree with Red-1 about young horses needing to play.

 

[Goldenstar]

Personally I think four is too young be constantly out alone but clearly risking ruining her future by feeding bad hay is not good either .
Will she be being worked ?

 

[ihatework]

Well there are lots of positives in terms of reduced injury, less rug damage, ability to regulate food intake better etc.

Many livery yards have now gone this route - partly in response to loss of grazing/overstocking and partly because it’s what a lot of clients seem to want (which I struggle to understand!).

The vast majority of competition yards are individual, where I suppose it’s more understandable given the increased importance of the ‘business’ side of equine.

What I have found over the years is that the vast majority of horses are content enough on individual provided they are adequately worked. A small handful actively prefer it. A small handful are utterly miserable.

I despise individual for non-working horses with a passion.

I’ve got a 4/5yo at the moment and a big factor in selecting yards to break and produce was him having company. He is on a pro yard now and goes out as a pair, as do pretty much all the horses (including the advanced ones). That said he had a short stint over last summer when he was on individual and was seemingly content, so it’s nice to know he can do both.

 

[Chloea3]

Personally I think four is too young be constantly out alone but clearly risking ruining her future by feeding bad hay is not good either .
Will she be being worked ?

She will be brought in to work in Summer when I start to back and occasional lunging/free schooling until then

 

[Goldenstar]

Then I would try to look for an alternative.

 

[Elno]

Horses are herd animals. It's not enough for them to be able to see each other over the fence and "interact". It breaks my heart seeing horses without atleast one buddy to hang with, especially young ones. In my opinion they become frustrated, sad and full of pent up energy from lack of play, and can begin to take out their frustration of lack of interaction with their species on humans, with for instance trying to groom you back while you pet them. It bloody hurts being groomed by a horse.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I think it’s ok if not ideal for a mature horse in full work and preferable to some livery options with not enough grass and thuggish behaviour which as a livery you don’t have any control over. I’d be a little more sceptical for a young horse not in work as it’s a bit of a dull life.

I moved my 15yr old gelding from a herd situation to individual turn out 10 years ago and I was very worried about it but he settled very well. He used to groom over the fence with his neighbour buddy and we allowed them to groom each other on the yard. However just over two years ago I got a second horse and he’s ecstatic to have a field buddy and they’ve become very close. I vowed that as he got older and eventually retired he wouldn’t be kept alone. Now I just have separation anxiety issues instead but overall they’re happy.

 

[doodle]

While Robin seemed perfectly happy on individual turnout with buddies all around he is much happier out with his buddy. It scares me the chatting over the fence aspect as this is how I lost Soli. It’s very odd as he has gone from being unable to be left out alone to happy to be left for short times. I presume he is more secure with having a buddy and knows his buddy will come back/he will join buddy in the stable.

 

[criso]

The ones I've had will tolerate it when I've had to do it through injury or when moving yards however they do hang by the fence all the time so don't really use the field. This is more of an issue in winter when I've ended up with deep mud where a track's been worn down alongside the fence and not really spending time on the drier bits and grazing on the rest of the field.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi everyone!

I just need some advice

I’m moving my 4 year old this weekend to a yard that is on individual turn out. She has been on individual before but for a short time about 2/3 years ago. Since then she’s been in single sex and mixed herds.

The yard we’re on at the moment, we hav awful grazing and our hay is dreadful, so they’re not eating when there in or when they’re out
Where we’re moving to has plenty of grass and good hay, I think this’ll keep her happy initially.

She will still be able to see other horses and talk over the fence.
What can I do to help her settle as quickly as possible? And are there bonus’ to her moving to individual? If anyone can share their experiences or advice would appreciate it!

Thank you

After losing a horse that got kicked and after nearly losing another horse who was in a group turnout that got kicked with a hairline fracture, I personally feel that individual turnout is better than group. It's simply not worth the risk.
They can always 'play' over the fence and although that's not always ideal either, at least it mitigates the danger somewhat.

 

[doodle]

After losing a horse that got kicked and after nearly losing another horse who was in a group turnout that got kicked with a hairline fracture, I personally feel that individual turnout is better than group. It's simply not worth the risk.
They can always 'play' over the fence and although that's not always ideal either, at least it mitigates the danger somewhat.

Playing over the fence killed my horse! He ripped his hoof off in the fence.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I think it’s ok if not ideal for a mature horse in full work and preferable to some livery options with not enough grass and thuggish behaviour which as a livery you don’t have any control over. I’d be a little more sceptical for a young horse not in work as it’s a bit of a dull life.

I moved my 15yr old gelding from a herd situation to individual turn out 10 years ago and I was very worried about it but he settled very well. He used to groom over the fence with his neighbour buddy and we allowed them to groom each other on the yard. However just over two years ago I got a second horse and he’s ecstatic to have a field buddy and they’ve become very close. I vowed that as he got older and eventually retired he wouldn’t be kept alone. Now I just have separation anxiety issues instead but overall they’re happy.

OP, there is one excellent argument against individual turnout, very often when they do get a companion they develop separation anxiety.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

OP, there is one excellent argument against individual turnout, very often when they do get a companion they develop separation anxiety.

The one that has separation anxiety is the 11yr old that’s never been on individual turn-out. He has a right tantrum and although it’s partly separation anxiety he also likes to be involved with everything. He’s absolutely fine to leave the other horse just doesn’t like to be the one left behind. My friend jokes he has FOMO - fear of missing out . My older horse (the one that was on individual turn-out for about 8 years) us usually absolutely fine if I leave him the the stable whilst I ride the other one.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

A four year old is still such a playful creature. I would not be able to put such a young horse into solitary.

 

[Birker2020]

Playing over the fence killed my horse! He ripped his hoof off in the fence.

Sadly there are always exceptions to the rules I think a lot depends on how long they have been apart for too. I know my horse has a nice attitude towards others as this had been demonstrated many times when she has got loose on the yard, she pops her head over some random stable door with her ears forwards and a kind eye. In fact this seems to be her sole purpose to break loose on occasion, so she can greet other horses, it's rarely to steal food or run off elsewhere! I'm talking about 1/2 a dozen times in 15 years or so, she doesn't break loose that often lol.

Sometimes when I walk her to the horse walker to put her on she will stick her nose up to the horse walker whilst its going around, alert, bright eyes and ears forward, as if to say 'hello'. She is always met with nasty ears back type of scenarios and I feel a bit sorry for her really. There aren't many horse that will greet other horses with her type of attitude. So she might be alright in a herd environment, but at the age of 23 she won't get the chance, she is far too precious. She plays with the one side of the paddock, the horse in there when the fence is switched off, which is most of the time these days. The other side she can't reach that horse, on that side due to electric fence within her paddock.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Sadly there are always exceptions to the rules I think a lot depends on how long they have been apart for too. I know my horse has a nice attitude towards others as this had been demonstrated many times when she has got loose on the yard, she pops her head over some random stable door with her ears forwards and a kind eye. In fact this seems to be her sole purpose to break loose on occasion, so she can greet other horses, it's rarely to steal food or run off elsewhere!.

I find this quite sad to read.

 

[Birker2020]

I find this quite sad to read.

Why is that? I can't tell you unless you have been in my situation of the horror of walking towards your six year old who is being held by the YO as his hind leg hangs helplessly down after suffering from an open fracture resulting from a hairline fracture that was caused by a kick. And the horror hearing the same horse shot (twice as it happens).

And my present horse who was kicked on the inside of the thigh, needed a number of staples. I was then told by the vet that I could turn out and start to ride. Luckily I questionned why the horse was crippled in walk and insisted on an xray only to find out that the level of lameness could not be attributed to a deep bruise, but was in fact a hairline fracture which would have, and I quote, "turned into a catastrophic fracture had your horse ran around"

So maybe you would understand my need to protect my oldie from potential harm by not letting her loose in a paddock with other horses.

 

[Elno]

Why is that? I can't tell you unless you have been in my situation of the horror of walking towards your six year old who is being held by the YO as his hind leg hangs helplessly down after suffering from an open fracture resulting from a hairline fracture that was caused by a kick. And the horror hearing the same horse shot (twice as it happens).

And my present horse who was kicked on the inside of the thigh, needed a number of staples. I was then told by the vet that I could turn out and start to ride. Luckily I questionned why the horse was crippled in walk and insisted on an xray only to find out that the level of lameness could not be attributed to a deep bruise, but was in fact a hairline fracture which would have, and I quote, "turned into a catastrophic fracture had your horse ran around"

So maybe you would understand my need to protect my oldie from potential harm by not letting her loose in a paddock with other horses.

Its sad to read how you defend the fact you wont let your horse be a horse and deny her one of the horse's main needs, i.e belonging to a herd just because you are afraid she'll hurt herself.

I would take a risk of my very much loved and pampered horse hurting herself being a horse any day over trying to deny her something that is so deeply intergrated in her nature.

You cannot bubble wrap horses and you cannot protect them from freak accidents.

 

[shortstuff99]

I can see her point, the other livery wasn't going to pay my multiple 10's of thousands vet fees when they were 'just being horses'. I will keep mine with just mine or on their own (next to a horse).

 

[paddi22]

horses out in a herd have a chance of freak accidents and bad kicks but then horses anywhere, doing anything, have a risk of freak accidents!
they are a social, playful species that have developed to live in herds. when I look out at mine they spend the day grooming each other, playing, sleeping side by side or just standing close together. I think horses on individual turnout are missing a huge chuck of their quality of life. I'd rather risk 100 kicks that deprive a horse of their friendships and connections with their friends.

(edited to say that I have had one break a leg in the field but it still wouldn't change my mind on herd turnout)

 

[cblover]

I’m moving my horse from my own place back to livery soon. Ideally I want one horse to look after and have spoken to several owners on the yard if they’d like to share but it’s a no. Various reasons have been given but in my case they are all to benefit the owner, not the horse. I’m not criticising, but I do feel for the horses.

So I had a decision to make, one horse alone (she’s 4) because it would be easier for me or 2 horses because they shouldn’t be alone and need company as one of their basic needs. So it’s the latter for me....it’s not about what’s easier for me, it’s about what we both need. I respect the fact she deserves nothing less and her mental well-being is very important. We have a responsibility!

 

[AutumnDays]

I've just had to put mine into individual turnout, simply because she cannot cope with the grass the others are on, it's too much. Muzzles etc don't work (none stay on/don't rub) and I do not want to limit her turnout, this way I can manage her grazing to suit her. So she's in a paddock on her own, but she can see and interact with the others. I feel cruel, but surely laminitis is even more cruel? It's a circular argument in my head!