Horses living alone

jumpingjack

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13 December 2005
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Newmarket
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I have the opportunity to move to a great little yard, but the problem is i would be the only one there (initially at least). My mare is very chilled and likes to be left alone in the field so i think she should settle ok, but has anyone kept just 1 horse on their own for a period of time and how did they settle?
 
Hi, I have my own place and my girlie is on her own, she can speak over the fence to others but hardly does to be honest. Mine is a pretty chilled iniependant type too, so see how she goes.
Good luck
Kate x
 
My previous horse was on his own after his only field companion died. He settled quite quickly but was noticably more spooky on hacks, so I think he felt quite insecure.
I was warned by the girl I bought him from, however, that he was insecure and needed a field companion so I don't think he was that bad actually.
If your mare is quite independent I'm sure she'll be fine. My friend's mare was fine after my horse died and she was left on her own.
 
My kid's pony lived with just sheep for company for a while. TBPH he became bargy and rude, he felt he could bully the sheep and do the same to me. But he didnt suffer, he was happy in his own little way, though he was better with no company at all lol.
 
My horse was on his own for two months over the summer. He had been very attached to his field mate but he surprised me how quickly he settled on his own after she left. He showed no stress and I found him stretched out on the ground fast asleep every morning.

I got him a companion from a welfare group as he is definitely a horse who loves company and I did not want him to be alone in the long term and anyway I have the space for two (they are having a ball together). But I think it is an individual thing and you know your own horse and how she will react and what your choices are.
 
I had a pony and now have a cob that had to live alone, they both actually prefer/ed this.
 
My horse is alone, well in a large sectioned off part of the field in which his mates are in, so he can see and touch them but not get upto mischief as he was when he was with them. I feel rotten about it, he is very sociable but his play fighting became so rough and was getting worse and one day I found him on 3 legs with a fractured radius, before this he was constantly marked and my rugs ripped. Ive noticed he is spookier too and I think its down to the fact that he played constantly and was always worn out by the time I rode him. Its not ideal but he seems happy although I wish he could groom another horse as I think he really misses that.
 
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