Have I been cruel/what would you have done??

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Natassia

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This is only a small thing but I'm just wanting honest opinions on what I did and maybe some possible suggestions...
I've been bringing my horse in at night for the past month because the grass is just too good where we are and he was putting on too much weight, despite being in a regular work routine. He was fine with this, eager to get out in the morning but also happy to come in, I was relieved because he had been really content with living out and I didn't want him to become miserable with coming in at night, of course he couldn't understand that it was for his own good! There would always be at least one other horse in at night as well so he wasn't on his own, and this is still the case.
However on Monday a new horse came to the yard, and he really hit it off with my horse, and they're now 'best friends'. They play together, groom each other and its really lovely to see, but tonight it was the new horse's first night out and mine came in as usual. He was ok when I was grooming him and fussing over him but when I went to leave the yard about an hour after he came in the new horse was calling to him and he was calling back, he's never done this with the other geldings on the yard. I felt really bad leaving him because he was calling out to his friend, be he did have another horse next door to him so he wasn't alone. I was tempted to turn him out again and let him stay out but then I thought that he needs to spend some time away from the other gelding so that they don't overbond and can't do anything without each other.
Sorry for going on, but I feel bad and don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. Nx
 
What you have done is fine probably best you split the two guys up at night because otherwise like you say they may become v attached then it will be a nightmare. Some of our are out at night and in in the day some the other way round and some out 24 hours I think it does them good to come in at different times etc.
 
Since you have to bring your horse in because you don't want him getting too fat I would just continue doing that. He will get used to being without his new friend overnight I'm sure. Don't worry and sleep well. He'll see his new friend in the morning and all will be well.
 
I think it sounds like your boy is in luurrvee!!! Bless him! I think you probably have done the right thing. If he was just calling and not getting himself upset or anything I would have left him too. If he has another horse in at the yard with him, and the other gelding has another horse out in the field, I am sure they will get over their little "fling" in no time!
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Sounds like you have done the right thing by maintaining his routine. Better if he doesn't get too dependent on the new horse, that can cause a whole load of other problems.

Don't feel bad - he is a big boy - he will probably call for a while and then forget about his new friend completely until tomorrow.
 
ditto what everyone else has been saying

keeping to routines is good and his playmate will still be there in the morning!

hope you get some sleep!
 
sounds like you have done the right thing
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they will soon settle,new horse is probably feeling very insecure and will settle once he learns your lad may be going away for the night but he is coming back in the morning....as long as your horse is not distressed by this ie...pacing his stable etc,whinnying to each other is normal!Pony did this at our place for a couple of days then settled,routine and they will both settle again
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if they that pally best they learn now they will be split up from time to time
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Dont worry you have done right thing
 
Thank you for all your replies, I think I've done the right thing as well, I'm at the yard early in the morning, he's not in for more than 12 hours so he should be ok. I'm thinking of moving yards as well and am viewing potential yards so he'll probably have to leave him sometime in the future - the new horse's owner also has a reputation for changing her horses frequently so he might not even be here that long. I love it that my horse has a good friend, but at the same time I don't think its at all right for him to become reliant on another horse, as you have pointed out this phase shouldn't last long, probably until the new horse becomes more established.
 
Not been cruel. At least he ddint do what my Candi ddi when i took her BF away.
Chestnuts Candi, Bays fredric. Fredric had had a bad Abcess and had become run down, losing a bit of weight. So, took him up to the 25 acre paddock, uo the road, leaving Candi with just 1 other.
That night, Candi Got cast and ended up skicking her way through the wood on the stable
 
not cruel at all, he may not be too impressed at having to leave his friend but tuff luck lol, i'm assuming new friend wouldn't be going riding with you so they'll be separated then too
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nothing worse than having 2 horses or ponies who get daft over being separated, i deliberately separate 2 of mine who get too attatched just to remind them that they can live without eachother!!
 
I, too, think you have done the right thing. It may also prove to be useful when they need to be seperated during the day for riding etc, as they will quickly learn they will be reunited again.
 
what you're doing is fine, it's not like you're shoving them seperate for days and telling them to get on with it and deal, you're teaching them that seperation for a few hours while one or the other is worked is fine and they will be back together once they've done their work, kind of like seperating schoolchildren I suppose while homework's done, think of it that way
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