Horse stabled with other animals at night

M

MrsMurs

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2016
Messages
238
Visit site
Hi there, just wondering what other people's thoughts/experiences are on stabling a horse at night with another species for company? New horse will be out during day with neighbours horse in field directly next door so they can talk over the fence, but I'm wondering about night time when I plan to bring my horse in. He might just be able to see neighbours horse through the trees who is turned out 24/7, if he squints, but I realise this is not ideal. So, I have two options. A, find a companion horse, or B, bring him in with a couple of our very friendly and tame sheepies at night (separate stables but with a talk grill) and see how it goes. I realise another horse is the better option, but then what about the companion pony when my friend and I go out for the day competing? Do I then need another companion to keep the companion company? In reality I don't have room on my land for more than 2, and I also only have 2 stables.
Eeek! Any experiences/suggestions would be welcome.
X
 
It depends on the horse, it is something to take into account when asking about any horse you are interested in, that is assuming you have not yet bought, some will be fine stabled alone and turned out alone, others will think the world has ended and have a complete meltdown, if the seller thinks their horse will be of the latter persuasion then it is probably best left, if the one you do end up with does not settle then look for a companion that will be happy to be left, that is possibly easier to find than a riding horse that is guaranteed to be happy alone.
 
As yours won't have proper company in the day either I'd be looking for a companion. Then both will have equine company at least some of the time (and white fluffy company the rest of the time!).

Edited to add: chickens are a bit squashable if horse isn't careful with hooves!
 
We used to stable a cob made and a sheep together in winter, because the sheep was the last one left of her family. We had other horses who would NOT have shared their stables.
I would get the horse a companion which will happily stay on its own when you go out, especial ly as IG will have company over the fence.
 
I have one pony for riding and one companion as I do not have stabling for more.
Both are happy to be left on their own for a while - we try to make sure that they are apart for some time each day even if only ten minutes, it's then 'just as it is' and there's few problems.

If you are looking for a companion, how about contacting a reputable local charity to rehome a pony? A good charity will want to fit a pony in a home that suits them. We have one - she's fab.
 
my concern would be leaving the other horse out on its own? it might get upset having a friend come and go, if its stressing in the field, it will probably upset the horse in the stable
 
We have a horse on our farm that normally goes ballistic being inside but is quite content with calves next to her! Also complained when we removed the calves from her field...
 
My first horse would leave the field if she saw cows, jumping 5 feet if need be, but she was very adaptable (or strange). One winter I was stuck for any accommodation at all and took the one place I could get: limited grazing but big building divided in two by a lowish internal wall. On the other side was an in gilt sow, who duly gave birth, so she had 6 porkers for company at night. When eventually I had my own land she was happy with Soay sheep too! Still miss her 20 years on.
 
Totally depends on the horse, I have one that doesn't give a toss about being left alone, two that would be fine about being left with anything for company and one who will not even be stabled without another horse he agrees with in the same stable!
 
I think your problem is that unless you buy from a home where the horse has already been living on its own or only with other species for company, you won't know how it will react. The majority of horses I know would be very unsettled in a new environment without any equine company. I think a companion pony is your best option. You can accustom the companion to being left by starting with short periods of time, whilst you take the horse for a short hack, and build up the time so you can box out to events without a problem. We have four at home, and they all can be left home alone if necessary with a big pile of hay in the stable. They are always happy to see the others come back though, so I wouldn't be happy keeping them totally alone full time.
 
Agree with TGM.

Mine went from out 24/7 to full box rest without any issues, although the alpacas he lives with did come and sit outside his stable most days. The donks made an appearance as well, usually when it was feeding time :p
I think it is important to be able to stable them, but good idea that if you do get a companion to not always stable them together - don't want the horse to only settle stabled if another horse is with them!
 
Assuming neighbours horse is also alone, could you offer neighbour the use of a stable for overnight.. then both horses will have company and noone will have to buy a companion?
 
I didnt have a companion for my big ISH when I moved him home but he is surrounded by neighbours horses and ponies so always something in his line of sight but he has been really jumpy and spooky when around the stable block and my little concrete yard, it really was driving me nuts because its out of character (all the others were still in full view) I've recently got a small dartmoor hill pony companion ... actually he's 14h and I think DHP are about 12.2 arent they? ... anyway companion will live out, doesnt care if he's left alone and although they have become friends and its nice he has the company they arent stupidly attached and the difference in my boy is very noticeable, he is no longer spooky or jumpy on the yard.

Try for a small companion pony that doesn't really care about being left on its own for the day if you go out and will also winter out happily. Otherwise as you say you start needing a companion pony for the damn companion pony, lol!
 
My boy became an 'only pony' a couple of months ago after his friend was pts. Up until last week he had the company of sheep or pigs or cattle depending on who was n at the time. Then everyone except him was turned out, so at night time I left the sheeted gate to the outer yard open so he could see the rams in the paddock. As of yesterday there are a bunch of ram lambs in the next pen for a while, so he has company again. Makes me feel better to know he is not alone, but I don't think it has made any difference to him!
 
You could get two miniature Shetlands...they equate to the same together as a
one medium sized pony and they will be small enough to be able to share a stable together. Plus their tiny hooves are much kinder on the land than something larger
 
Procrastination said:
You could get two miniature Shetlands...they equate to the same together as a
one medium sized pony and they will be small enough to be able to share a stable together. Plus their tiny hooves are much kinder on the land than something larger
Click to expand...

Shetlands aren't great imo. They need too much restriction on grazing to prevent fat/lami to be a good companion for a normal sized horse! :)
 
Edited to add: chickens are a bit squashable if horse isn't careful with hooves![/QUOTE]

One of ours shared stable with a little cat for years. They were great friends, interacting and rubbing faces. Cat sat on edge of manger at feed time and horse sometimes carried it around by the tail! Cat always slept snuggled under the straw and escaped injury. Horse seemed to always know where it was - though I tripped over it a few times.
 
Until I bought my cob he was kept in the cow shed at night with the herd of cows. Have you thought of having two miniatures, they can be stabled together so two stables are fine and there would never be one ln its own. They are easy to keep, live on fresh air and aren't much bigger than your sheep.
 
only_me said:
Shetlands aren't great imo. They need too much restriction on grazing to prevent fat/lami to be a good companion for a normal sized horse! :)
Click to expand...

I have three miniatures they are brilliant companions for the big horses. Mine are all restricted in the summer months and then in winter they have about 14 acres to wander through. One of them does get over weight but I walk her everyday which helps. I know of many that lead their minis whilst riding their horse.
 
only_me said:
Shetlands aren't great imo. They need too much restriction on grazing to prevent fat/lami to be a good companion for a normal sized horse! :)
Click to expand...

Depends what horse you have, if it's a good doer they are ideal. I have two minis and a cob cross, kept at different places but the hope is one day I will have my own land and can keep them all together - will make things so much easier!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top