Horses kept alone - thoughts please

[moocow]

Thoughts please! Have bought new mare - she is a 3 yr old and has been kept for the past year in field with other horses. Do you think she will adapt to being on her own? My other horse is at livery and I wont be moving him over to the same area as the mare until next summer. I am just concerned she is going to be really lonely. any views?

 

[Dogbetty141]

I would personally find a little companion to keep with her like a little shetland they are cheap to keep. I would not leave her on her own for that long they are naturally herd animals

 

[Gwenneh]

I was always taught that leaving a horse alone wasn't healthy for them, as they're naturally herd animals and need companionship.

 

[AmyMay]

Hate to see horses kept on their own. Older horses seem to settle to it quite well - but would never do it to a youngster.

 

[_OC_]

Find a companion see if any one local will loan one to you to keep her company as she is young she needs it now more than ever,don't keep her on her own !!

 

[ecrozier]

I must say I wouldn't leave one alone again. My mare was in a field alone for 3 months when I first had her before we got a companion, and I honestly think it has permanently affected her. She now forms INCREDIBLY strong pair bonds, is TOTALLY neurotic if left alone for even just a short time, and can't even be led out of the stables second as it means she is alone in there and freaks out. She is better now as her pair (my gelding) is very laid back, so doesn't wind her up when he goes out etc
In fact my gelding would probably be fine as he is a very independant little soul and really prefers people to other horses!
There is a mare next door to us on her own, and although she seems ok she does get very excited if mine are in that field (not often as I don't trust the fencing!) so she must be lonely when they aren't close by.

 

[MagicMelon]

I would never keep a horse on its own - well, I'll sometimes split the odd trouble maker up but still have them right next door to each other so they can touch over the fence. But Id never keep a horse out of sight of others. I think its against everything in a horses nature! Especially as a 3yo, they need to learn about hierarchy / herd rules etc. One of mine was kept on his own as a 2 and 3yo (not by me!) which ruined him. Even now he doesnt seem to know the basic herd rules, he's had to learn the hard way!

Cant you get a shetland on loan or something? Any company is better than none, even if it was a goat etc.!

 

[Lucy_Ally]

I agree with Emma_C, my old mare lived a large chunk of her life before I got her on her own. She would get very upset if left till last in the field or turned out first, even though she would graze well away from everyone else when out

Lots of people are looking for companion homes for little ponies that are cheaper to keep and good as companions as they don't tend to get silly or excitable. Personally I wouldn't keep her alone.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I wouldn't keep one of any age on its own & certainly not a youngster. They are a herd animal & need the company of others. See if you can get a companion till you can bring your other to kep her company.

 

[JACQSZOO]

I had the same problem - I kept Royale on her own for a couple of months when I first had her as a 4 yr old before I got her a little companion. She always had huge seperation issues after that for the rest of her life. Bless her.

 

[Baggybreeches]

It depends on the individual, my mares have, at times lived quite happily alone, but Sov on the other hand would not cope at all!

 

[Tempi]

id definately get her a companion - youngsters especially need to socialise as its an important part of their growing up process. My new horse was kept in a field on his own (poor chap) and now hes at my yard hes out with all the other geldings and loves it, hes so happy. I hate to see them unhappy and out on their own

 

[sorona]

I ocassionally split my lot up to give one extra grass but they are always just the other side of a fence.
As horses are herd animals they feel far more secure in a herd and all look out for one another and sleep while another stays lookout. I think it would be unfair to leave a horse to take on a whole herds responsibilities on its own as it will make it feel insecure and nervous. A youngster, especially needs the company of others, even if it is just a goat or a sheep or something!

 

[1928sky]

When I got my horse we had 3 other old horses, and she was inseperable from them but was v. marish and would try to kick them and was just generally bully in the field. You couldn't keep her in as she just went very stressed and box walked permanantly. When the last of them died she was left on her own and was soon a much more mannerly and calm individual and you could also stable her. She has cows for company in neighbouring fields and seems perfectly happy and she doesn't get attached to them! I don't see any reason why I should not keep her alone- at the end of the day it depends on the individual horse.

 

[riotgirl]

My two aren't physically together (seperated by electric fence) as they hate each other! They still look for each other though and will 'talk' to one another.

 

[pottamus]

Well I keep my horse on his own (he can say hello to the neighbours horses over the hedge though). He was kept on his own when I bought him so he was used to it. He settled well to life on his own at my place and has never had tendancies to neigh or get worked up when riders hack by.
I think it depends on the horse really, I would not want to keep a youngster on their own for example. I try my best to give my horse as natural a life as possible and I am afraid this is the one big compromise we have to make. But I do it because it works for us and he has never given me cause for concern that he is lonely. He is a happy chappy in his 3 acre field all to himself!!!!

 

[moocow]

thanks for everyones replies. totally agree and keeping her on her own seemed just wrong to me but I just wanted to hear other peoples oppinions to see if I was being hypersensitive!

She is a good girl and is coming on great for her years. i am thinking of getting a little rescue pony for her temporarily until my other 3yro has had manners put on him at the yard!

She has been on her own a bit but she was always in sight of other horses and it would break my heart to see her sad..... I know that sounds soppy but she is the most expressive mare....

Rescue wooly pony it is then!!!!!

thanks!

 

[AmyMay]

Have a little look at this - have also bumped it for you.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1457140/an/0/page/4#1457140

 

[JaneMBE]

I know someone who is looking for a temp loan home for 1 0r 2 Welsh A ponies (both hardy and grass munchers, gelding and mare) wouldn't want one or both to go too far though.
PM me if you are interested

 

[Ginn]

Its not ideal but my youngster had to adapt to being on her own for a while this year.

They do adjust but it will probably take a week (or more if your moving your horse to a new home too!) but they do settle and do cope although through choice I would rather see horses with a companion.

Ironically, I'd rather keep my girl entirely on her own then have her separted from another horse by a fence line as this really stresses her out and she paces!

 

[Faithkat]

Mine's on her own but I am completely paranoid about them being turned out with others after I lost one last year following a kick in the field, and she was only out with two others. This one even managed to get kicked on the fetlock when she went to the stud to be covered but, fortunately, nothing serious.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Mine is on his own during turnout in winter. He's 3yo, and always had company. He's on a yard and sees all the other horses all the time, but none of the others go out during the winter so I have no choice but to turn him out on his own. he does fine, was screaming at the calves this afternoon.
He'll have the company of 3 or 4 others in the field all summer so I'm not worried about him.

 

[pixie]

Before I got her, mine had been kept alone in a field after her mum had been PTS due to colic. She was perfectly happy and well adjusted as her field was at the bottom of the garden, so had lots of visits from dogs and children from the nursery run there. At mine she adjusted well to living with 3 others, and again adjusted well to being on her own again when those 3 moved elsewhere for retirement. Again, her field was at the bottom of the garden, so she had neighbouring dogs, cats and cows and would always come up to anyone that was in her field (especially as our worker's cottages were further down the hill, so they had to walk through her fields to get up to our house).

So I think they're ok, as long as they do get some contact at least once a day. And preferably if they can see comings and goings in adjoining areas.

 

[dizzydolly]

I have my homebred 2 yr old (nearly 3) TB gelding offered for a companion!

He is very good, bit cheeky but nothing nasty, just lives out with enough hay/feed in winter, no rugs and has his feet trimmed up every 8 weeks or so by the farrier. He's approx 15hh i suppose now.

Desperately trying to find him somewhere, I may be leaving the country quite soon for a while

(nothing sinister!just something i have to do)

If anyone is looking, or knows of someone looking, please get in touch

 

[Skhosu]

I wouldn't. None of ours ever settled when kept alone (for various reasons) and a mare I knew kept alone was very stressed/dififcult in company and nappy etc.
I think they need social interaction.

 

[PoppyPony]

Although obviously it's preferable for them to be with company in a herd, my horse has adapted very well to life on his lonesome, he is next to fields with horses in and he talks to them/sniffs them/grooms them etc. ASAP I will be moving him to a yard where he will be in a herd.

 

[moocow]

THanks for all the replies. I am based in ireland so unfortunatly wouldn't be able to take up any of the offers of lones people have posted. thanks so much though. I would only be able to offer a home for about 5 mons or so until my other three year old is finished been broken and schooled.

Hvae decided to get her something to keep her company though as its just unfair since she is so used to company. Also think when i would be brining her hunting etc, she would go daft seeing other horses after being on her own. Agree she needs to be socialised.

thanks!