HELP - pigs in next field..horse terrified..

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Doris68

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How long will it take for my old horse (25) to feel comfortable with the new arrivals (3 piglets) penned in the field next to her?? She's been here for 17 years and hasn't really been near pigs. She is currently trotting up & down the manege and refusing to come in to her stable; she's trumpeting and is generally very upset.

Rather concerned as she's old - please, any helpful advice....!!
 
Hmmm - firstly, we had a pig farm up the road from us and my mare used to do as you say when going past on the lane (luckily very quite country lane). She eventuallly stopeed this after a couple of months. Each time the reaction was less. Every now and again if the wind was in the right direction and the smell was strong she would get her tail up.
Secondly, my Dad then bought my mum a pig for her birthday!! (It was what she had asked for). He lived in the stable next to my mare so she kind of had no choice really. It was quite funny. She used too look over his stable door and kind of stare in disgust.
BUT she actualy got used to him really quickly.
We kind of just got on with having a pig and a horse and that was it.
I would suggest letting her get a good look at them, if possible.
It shouldn;t take too long - its just all new to her. Not saying that if the pigs squeal and start running round and round she won't join in though....... ;-)
 
My horse was at livery where pigs were kept - in the adjacent field to her. She tolerated them eventually, but even after a year or so, when the rest of the herd ventured near the boundary to the pigs, she stayed firmly at the opposite end of the field. Don't worry, she will get used to them - perhaps not to the extent of being buddies with them or, but the stressing will eventually cease.
 
Must admit I use to breed Oxford Sandy & Blacks and my horses loved them, specially my old TB(piglets use to hang from his tail) When I got my first sow, my youngster at the time stood at the back of her stable and wouldn't eat or drink so moved her to a stable where she could see said pig and never any problem from there on
 
my mare was like this with donkeys and when 2 came to our yard the little man who delivered them said don't worry she won't keep up this high level of adrenelin(sp?) for long - he was right took about 4 hrs couple of days later they were sharing a field
 
Thank you - sorry, but am worried 'cos she's an old gal and normally going in to her stable to eat is her main priority and she's STILL outside and won't come in, nor come near me..she continues to pace up and down and snort. Aaaargh.............
 
Doris68 said:
Thank you - sorry, but am worried 'cos she's an old gal and normally going in to her stable to eat is her main priority and she's STILL outside and won't come in, nor come near me..she continues to pace up and down and snort. Aaaargh.............
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Leave her to it, she'll be fine. She's just sussing out the situation. Put her feed in the field - she'll eat when she's ready:) I prescribe you a very large glass of wine!:D
 
Sorry to be the voice of doom and gloom, but I had a seriously pig phobic horse, moved him to a livery cum pig yard and only made it two months before we had to move again. Not only did he become impossible to ride and difficult to handle but he lost nearly all his hair from his mane and tail. Hope your girl adjusts better.
 
OMG Booboos - I hope you're wrong! She's still very upset and it's hours after their arrival. Have fed her in the yard with access to her stable, but she continues to stress! Hopefully, she'll settle soon....
 
I put pigs in a paddock at the bottom of one of the winter grazing fields at the back end of last year. ISH gelding would not let anyone down the field near them, also would not let anyone come down for their dinner, I had to cart the buckets and hay up to them. He snorted, pranced and bullied the others up to the top of the fields and kept them there - total meltdown time. This behaviour had calmed the next day although he still stuck his tail up and charged off everytime a pig squealed. Two days later said ISH gelding had decided the strange squealing things were not going to eat him and 'his herd'. The pony had fallen in love with the piggies and would not leave their fence, I had to cart her bucket down the field beside the pig paddock! After the 3rd day ISH pig hating gelding was spotted with his head over the fence inspecting piggies. None of the 'big' horses take them under their notice anymore. The pony calls them and they come galloping out of the pig arc over to her at the fence.
I came close to moving our boy the first night as he was so upset about the whole thing, hopefully your mare will come to the same conclusion our boy did, he danders down to check they are still there now and again but they don't concern him at all. Keep sipping the vino.
 
Ok, this is going to sound ridiculous and I won't blame you for not trying it, but I've had good results and when my unhorsey mum was having cooperation issues with PF in my absence it worked for her as well. Talk to her, reassure her and tell her you understand she's scared and that you know they look and smell strange but they won't hurt her.
I'm off to hug a tree now.
 
PapaFrita said:
Ok, this is going to sound ridiculous and I won't blame you for not trying it, but I've had good results and when my unhorsey mum was having cooperation issues with PF in my absence it worked for her as well. Talk to her, reassure her and tell her you understand she's scared and that you know they look and smell strange but they won't hurt her.
I'm off to hug a tree now.
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pmsl.... PF where have you been??? :D
 
There is something about pigs that horses just cannot compute - they are piggy aliens! First horse bolted with me when one oinked at him, current horse nearly wet himself last week when he saw one - I got off sharpish. However, second horse, a loony histerical Hanno came face to face with one on the yard where I kept him, it was grazing where I was leading past. I will never forget Obi's face - his eyes popped out on stalks and he was rooted to the spot in shock. He leaped about a bit but eventually he decided the grass next to pig was too yummy to ignore and munched next to pig after ten mins of hysteria. He kept eyeballing it but eventually settled. He would always look at it in shock but was fine after initial knicker wetting. I am sure your mare will settle but is not often aliens from another planet land in next field! x
 
pigs are horses natural predators.. and i dont think they ever feel 100% comfortable with them... and to be fair.. having had one bite through my welly.. i have to admit i agree with them.. bloody horrible creatures.

Bring on the bacon butties!
 
Pigs were moved into a field next to my horses - they were very suspicious to start with but did quickly accept them, but I must admit my "spooky" one took many months to really switch off from them, but thats just him!

I hope that yours will settle soon, and although she might never fully trust them, she should accept them.

We have pigs put out on the Forest in the autumn, and even the wild ponies run a mile from them!
 
PapaFrita said:
Ok, this is going to sound ridiculous and I won't blame you for not trying it, but I've had good results and when my unhorsey mum was having cooperation issues with PF in my absence it worked for her as well. Talk to her, reassure her and tell her you understand she's scared and that you know they look and smell strange but they won't hurt her.
I'm off to hug a tree now.
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PF - you're a covert tree-hugger - who'd have thought it!!!
Anyway, it seems to have worked ;-))
 
OP, I hope your mare is feeling more settled today. We had 2 pigs to stay for a month (dont ask) at our yard, turned out in the paddock next to my TB. He accepted them fairly quickly whilst he was loose in his field but whenever I took him up to the yard or tried to do anything with him he became unpredictable and frankly dangerous. Im sure it was because whilst he could see them he was fairly sure he could escape if he needed too, but when he was trapped, by me, he simply didnt feel safe and I couldnt do a thing with him. He had the most horrendous upset gut and stressed weight off. The y/o who is lovely but not overly horsey did not believe me when I told her what the problem was, (she watched me one afternoon trying to control a lunatic on a lunge) but within two days of the pigs going back home, Che was back to Mr Horizontal. I dont want to worry you but I have also heard (on here I think) of a horse who colicked as a result of the stress brought on by pigs so please do keep a careful eye on her.
 
MyBoyChe said:
OP, I hope your mare is feeling more settled today. We had 2 pigs to stay for a month (dont ask) at our yard, turned out in the paddock next to my TB. He accepted them fairly quickly whilst he was loose in his field but whenever I took him up to the yard or tried to do anything with him he became unpredictable and frankly dangerous. Im sure it was because whilst he could see them he was fairly sure he could escape if he needed too, but when he was trapped, by me, he simply didnt feel safe and I couldnt do a thing with him. He had the most horrendous upset gut and stressed weight off. The y/o who is lovely but not overly horsey did not believe me when I told her what the problem was, (she watched me one afternoon trying to control a lunatic on a lunge) but within two days of the pigs going back home, Che was back to Mr Horizontal. I dont want to worry you but I have also heard (on here I think) of a horse who colicked as a result of the stress brought on by pigs so please do keep a careful eye on her.
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Thanks - am keeping a very careful eye on her - fortunately, she's at home and about 10 meters from the house. She is eating OK and seems to be a little more relaxed but won't go down to field where the "aliens" are. I won't force it and will leave it a couple more days before I attempt to take her down in hand.
 
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