horsealone

Do you keep your horse on its own?

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colouredhat

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I have just moved yards, and my boy is now 'homealone'!!

He seems quite happy and chilled, already, having only moved yesterday, and having crept up on him to check him without him knowing he seems quite relaxed and happy to graze. However, he is now on his own.
He can just see some other horses from one part of his field, but that's it.

Is this ok? Do other people have horses on their own?

Obviously I know some horses are better like this than others.
I thought I might get him a couple of toys for his field to give him something to interest. Any suggestions.
I am currently thinking Decahedron Ball and possibly a likit hanging from a tree.

Any thoughts welcome.
Thanks.
 
I don't keep my horse on his own now but in the past I had always kept my ponies on their own. Have own land and couldn't afford more than one (or should say, my parents at that time couldn't afford to indulge their child with more than one :rolleyes:)

Now I am all grown up I seem to be in the habbit of collecting them and numbers range from 2 to 4.

My ponies never had an issue with being kept on their own so if your chap seems happy and settled then great.
 
I would always have a minimum of 2, they are after all herd animals and much of their day to day activity involves socialising. I have a companion pony with my riding horse, he is a native type and lives on fresh air, well worth the cost. When I am at work I'm happy knowing they are keeping each other amused. Could you consider a grazing companion for yours?
 
Personally i would never keep a horse alone, but i used to look after a horse when i was doing freelance and he was on his own for years with just a few horses in the distance and even i thought that was ok until we actually got him a companion and he changed into a totally different and so much happier horse :)

So in my opinion its do-able to keep some horses alone but obviously i wouldnt do it unless it was my last option.
 
Yes I have just 1 pony on a field I rent. He has company on both sides (although to see not to touch) i would like him to have company but I can't afford 2 or to go on livery. He's a very happy boy though xx
 
I'm another who would never keep a horse alone, they are herd animals and need companionship (of course there is always the odd exception.)
 
Nope unless it was for the horses well being I'd never keep one alone. Would be straight down the auction for a £10 section A to keep him company if it came to a situation where he was alone. :(
 
I've answered no, because you asked 'do' you as opposed to 'have' you!! I have in the past when circumstances have dictated, my mare though is very indendendant and it never did her any harm. Though I much prefer her to have company, I love watching her and her son groom each other.
 
I do keep my horse on his own. He has never been happy turned out with other horses and is extremely happy on his own. I think he is a bit of a freak of nature tho because most horses do seem to need company. I think go with whatever works for your horse.
 
amymay said:
I'm another who would never keep a horse alone, they are herd animals and need companionship (of course there is always the odd exception.)
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Ditto this.

After my old girl passed away last month I borrow a pony (from a lovely HHO'er) to keep my other horse company. I really don't think it's fair on them to be alone long term. :(
 
I wouldn't normally do it but I did keep a horse on his own and he was happy. It was an odd one really he was a stallion and although he spent from 3 years to 21 years living with a gelding (even during the covering season) and appeared quite happy the gelding's continual bossiness got him down.

In the end, stallion went to live in a huge field with a bull, cows, sheep and next to a run of pigs, he could still see his friends, but honestly he was much happier. He was honorary herd leader to the cows and he could push the bull about or biff the sheep along.

The gelding went to live with my mares and you really don't want to know what he got up to :o
 
my pony was in a paddock by herself for several months. there was another horse in the adjacent paddock but obviously if one of us took our horses in to ride, the other was by themselves for a couple of hours. She was fine and ignored other horses anyway as she was busy scoffing.

I moved her to here from a yard where field changes where made weekly. This resulted in me having an upset, tense pony. I'd much rather have her by herself than companions constantly swapping.

I have now bought a second pony so they are each others companions (again, other than if I leave one in the paddock and take one out).

It all depends on circumstances and the individual pony but for some, its definitely the better option.
 
I have tried keeping mine on his own.There are ponies in the next door field,which he could see,so I thought I would try to save money.
He LOOKED fine,grazing,mooching,hanging out by the gap in the hedge where he could see the ponies,but he was not as settled and relaxed as when he had company. He was spooky out hacking and generally showing signs of low but constant stress.
So I bought him a friend.:) and he returned to the safe, chilled (ish!) horse.
Thankfully his young companion seems to love time alone in the stable,so I have not encountered the next problem you meet when you get a companion.
i.e. unable to ride because of separation issues!
 
abitodd said:
I have tried keeping mine on his own.There are ponies in the next door field,which he could see,so I thought I would try to save money.
He LOOKED fine,grazing,mooching,hanging out by the gap in the hedge where he could see the ponies,but he was not as settled and relaxed as when he had company. He was spooky out hacking and generally showing signs of low but constant stress.
So I bought him a friend.:) and he returned to the safe, chilled (ish!) horse.
Thankfully his young companion seems to love time alone in the stable,so I have not encountered the next problem you meet when you get a companion.
i.e. unable to ride because of separation issues!
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I've found if I keep it regular with them that one or the other is taken out and away, then this stops the separation issues arising.
I take my highland out for hacks so the young 'un is used to that. I also make sure I take my young 'un out for walks so that the highland gets used to the idea that the young 'un isn't there ALL the time.
 
I do and have done for over a year now and he's fine.No other horses nearby either,only time he sees them is out hacking where he takes very little notice BTW.

Recently he went to a friends for few weeks while I had some treatment on my feet,and he had various horses next to him and around him (none in together as my friend prefers individual paddocks for hers),he appeared to get on fine with them (he hasn't always done so in the past hence being kept on his own for a while now),and I was worried that when he came home he would miss the company having got used to it and seeming to like it,but have to say he has been fine and really doesn't seem bothered,in fact he seems more relaxed than ever!!

I think most horses prefer company of their own kind and it is certainly more natural for them,however there are some like mine that can find other horses stressful at times and are just as happy if not more so on their own.
I am still debating getting a second one as company eventually,but although might be able to buy a pony cheap they still cost the same to keep so have to consider that aspect.Then there is the other worry of seperation anxiety,having had two kept together in the past and having had a nightmare when taking one out I am not keen to go down that road again TBH.

Anyway that's my experience,it might not work for most but it can be ok for some.
 
Out of preference I always keep my horses in company, but due to circumstances I temporarily kept my old boy alone in a field next to some alpacas once. Very weird experience, as those things were pretty scary and very protective of him - I was glad there was a fence in the way! He wasn't happy, though, and I was glad it was only for a short time.

Life partner mare also lived alone on two occasions. She couldn't've cared less! Didn't mind if there were horses in nearby fields or if she was pretty much stranded solo. She never seemed worried or down or lonely. But as soon as I could I shifted her to where there was some proper company.

I think it depends on the horse whether they can cope or not and imo it's not an ideal scenario.
 
on his own, and thank goodness. All the others I've had he has attacked repeatedly and been very aggressive with. He likes his space, his food and the one to one attention he gets, plus the geese and ducks he lives with. Every horse is different (just like us) but my boy is much happier alone. And other horses are safer away from him! Out hunting he has a red ribbon...
so the answer your Q is yes, it is fine, because your horse is fine with it.
 
Mine's quite happy wherever he is, and who'ever he's with, as long as his belly is full! He really doesn't seem to worry either way.

He came back from being liveried with 40 other horses, to being in a field on his own for a few days before we could organise some company - and was fine! Totally chilled and relaxed about it all, and quite happy.

My old pony, years ago, lived on his own quite happily - we'd quite often turn him out with my uncle's cows on his farm just down the road; and I'm sure he thought he was a cow!!! He became very adept at "herding" them, which was very useful when it was time to bring the cows in from the outlying fields - he was always a lazy boy, bless him, but by god he could nip around that herd and drive them in when it suited him. It was so easy, you didn't have to steer or do anything, just sit there.

My last horse was turned out with another very similar to him in size, breed and colour. And they pair-bonded, with was a real pain-in-the-b0m. You just couldnt separate them coz the other would hoon round the field neighing and hoo'ing, it was awful. Then when the other horse had to be PTS and my boy was left on his own, the grief you could see in him was awful, just terrible. Which taught me a lesson: coz I had a friend with two young Arab horses, 3 y.o's, and my old boy was 20 - and we put them all together in the hope that it would be just the thing for my old boy. Big mistake. It wasn't a good idea at all; it was a bit like putting an old man in a room with two young hooligans and expecting everything to be hunky dorey!

I learnt a real lesson with this: that if you're putting horses together you have got to be VERY careful - and not just bung em all in and hope for the best. My boy old boy grieved more for his old friend after these two youngsters turned up, then he did before. Poor old love.

But going back to the original point: yes, I think some horses ARE perfectly OK on their own. Strange but true.
 
No, never ever would I keep a horse on its own. Unless there are reasons why a horse is actually distressed by being with others or is aggressive towards others then I actually think it is cruel to keep a horse alone. Some horses adapt better than others but it's a lonely and unnatural life to condemn them to IMO. Sorry to be blunt but it really is a pet hate of mine.
 
My two could never be kept on their own, my tb would get very stressed and my idx would probably hang himself! He loves company and attention! TBH, I don't think I could keep any horse on their own as I'd feel awful as naturally they're herd animals. Also, I take comfort knowing they've got each other for company, like the time when I can't ride one day or am in a rush! I don't feel quite so guilty!!
 
Cuffey is currently in a field on his own due to his best pal being pts last month.
I do have a small pony which he can see but not interact with except for short periods, she is dieting! Hopefully they can go out together soon but ''swimming in grass'' just now.
 
My lad used to be fine alone, in fact happier than with other horses. But this year he has been out with Fany and has become extremely attached to her, shouting his head off when she was taken out, even though he could still see her! So I would keep a horse alone, but only if was happy to be kept like that. Ideally I would prefer not to.
FDC
 
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