How to get my horse used to being on his own

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Grumpymoo

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My horses Shetland companion that I had on loan went back to her owners at the weekend and much to my surprise my gelding seems to be coping. He is now out with my friends two geldings and has four horses in the next field.

The problem is that the two horses he is out with are often ridden together which means my boy is on his own. He used to be fine with this situation before I had the Shetland but he seems to not be able to cope with this now. I am sure with practice he will get there but the biggest problem is that when he gets stressed he just jumps out. I would use a stable but I don't have one. I could possibly borrow one but the other horses are ridden when I am at work during the week and won't be able to muck out the stable before the others come in of an evening. If one becomes available then I will take it.

I hoped that my boy finally being ridden by a freelance groom (which is going amazingly but that story is for another time!) would mean he wouldn't have the energy to stress but this doesn't seem to be the case.

We did a trial on Sunday to see what he did when the others came in and he was galloping around and eying up the fence so I decided to bring him in. He stood happily on the yard with the others and before they left I took him round the back of the stables with the other horses so he wouldn't see them leave for their ride. Once they went he settled happily on the yard so I took him back to his field with a section of hay and walked him to the fence where the horses were just the other side. I stood there and groomed him whilst he ate his hay and eventually unclipped his head collar. He was grazing happily so I sat in the field nearby to make sure he was fine. After about 15 minutes he suddenly galloped to the gate and started charging round again. The next 40 minutes were spent with him rolling/leaping and bucking/snoozing next to me and the gate. Once he saw them come back he happily waited on his own whilst they were untacked and fed etc (he can't see the yard from his field). Luckily they are not ridden together this week but it is going to happen soon and I don't want any drama whilst at work as I will not be able to get to the yard to deal with it!

Any ideas to help me get him used to being on his own I would be grateful!

Thanks
 
The horse must be brought in if both companions are removed from the field. Horses do not settle if left alone or put back into fields when companions have been removed.
 
If I had my own stable then of course I would get him brought in when they rode. Problem is if I use someone else's I am guessing he is going to be stressing as he will be in an indoor barn on his own. Which means he is going to completely mess up the stable and I can't get there to muck it out and tidy it up until the evening and the horses that have stables tend to come in by 4.

I guess I am just going to try and get him ridden by the freelance groom when the others are ridden if I can.
 
Have the same problem with my mare, since I had Angel put down, she happy in her own paddock so long as she can see the 3 boys, but if they disappear from view she goes apesh ! so if you do find the answer I to would be most gratefull
 
He is going to have to learn it is OK, as you asked. Can you make the fence so he can't jump out - a strand of electric on top perhaps? If he is just left but can't hurt himself he will give up running around when he gets tired. They can only sustain panic mode for a short time. I have done this with my companion horse, he hates being alone and tears about and gets in a sweat but he is getting better every time.
 
Similar problem here. No stable, 2 ridden (horse/pony) and my filly ( all 3 mine) but would like to ride one lead one of the 2 ridden ones while 3 yr old stays at home. Currently have to ride one then come home and ride the other which is a PITA :(

So now I am thinking we either need to buy a field shelter that she can be shut in circa £1500 or another blinkin pony that works out even more expensive and resource draining over it's lifetime :( Or sell someone..... :(

I shall watch this thread with interest.
 
Well the problem is he will attempt to jump even if he won't make it. He will scrabble at the fence until it breaks or he does :(

I can run a second row of electric but he keeps galloping up the gate so I think that is where he will go! The worst thing is that not only do they come in, to go back on their ride they have to come back past the field he is in!

I will try again on Sunday maybe get him ridden just before the others do so he doesn't see them go out. Then keep him on the yard until the last 10 minutes and then turn him out so its only a short period but he is still doing it. Oh why is it never easy!!!

Oh and if I find a way to make it work I will let you know :)
 
Just read the thread on Sandi's link - really helpful - Thank you Sandi.

Good luck OP we can try this together.

I too share your fear of coming home to find filly hung up bleeding to death on the gate or post and rail as she's tried to jump out and failed :( Such a horrid thought and sadly I have heard stories like it :(

Why do we have these beastly creatures who eat all our money and worry us sick ;0)
 
Is it not possible to get another shetland or similar on loan, if the owners took his previous friend back? There are lots of companion horses and ponies available through charities?
 
I just read the link too - thank you! I definitely will try and build it up gradually and if they ride in the week will get the groom to ride him for now! Let me know how you get on Beatrice.

I would love to get another but had to let the Shetland go as the fencing at this yard is not suitable and I can no longer afford two as I share my friends gelding as I do not ride my horse. I also have to pay for someone to ride my horse as he is not suitable for me (have posted loads of threads about him!) the plan is once he is worked with for the next 6 months or so I can then decide whether I want to keep or sell him. Oh always drama with horses
 
"he will have to get used to it"

"they can only sustain panic mode for a short time"

I've heard it all now, he may well only sustain panic mode for a short time, depends how long it takes him to kill himself.

A distressed horse, left alone is an accident waiting. Don't do it.
 
Grumpymoo said:
I just read the link too - thank you! I definitely will try and build it up gradually and if they ride in the week will get the groom to ride him for now! Let me know how you get on Beatrice.

I would love to get another but had to let the Shetland go as the fencing at this yard is not suitable and I can no longer afford two as I share my friends gelding as I do not ride my horse. I also have to pay for someone to ride my horse as he is not suitable for me (have posted loads of threads about him!) the plan is once he is worked with for the next 6 months or so I can then decide whether I want to keep or sell him. Oh always drama with horses
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HI yes i remember your last thread about him and the shetland, glad it is working out better for you at the moment and hope all goes well, is your friends horse on the same yard so you could use her stable?
 
Thank you. Yes he is one of the horses in the same field as mine. He does have a stable but as they never use it there is loads of stuff in there big metal trunks etc (there is nowhere else on the yard to put them) . it's one of the outside stables with no top door too so I am worried that even if we emptied the stable he would come out over the door! The inside stables have sliding doors with metal bars on the top half so there is no way out.

Hopefully it won't be long until the others are all out 24/7 then maybe I can use one of the yard owners stables.
 
No bother Grumpymoo and Beatrice, it's a difficult situation to be in really isn't it :(

Grumpymoo said:
Well the problem is he will attempt to jump even if he won't make it. He will scrabble at the fence until it breaks or he does :(

I can run a second row of electric but he keeps galloping up the gate so I think that is where he will go! The worst thing is that not only do they come in, to go back on their ride they have to come back past the field he is in!

I will try again on Sunday maybe get him ridden just before the others do so he doesn't see them go out. Then keep him on the yard until the last 10 minutes and then turn him out so its only a short period but he is still doing it. Oh why is it never easy!!!

Oh and if I find a way to make it work I will let you know :)
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Could you have an electrified gate in front of the actual gate too? Just so there is no point where there is no electric.
 
Yes I could create an electric gate but as I have seen him previously escape if he wants to get out he will try until he can!

How have you got on with leaving yours on its own whilst you ride?
 
Grumpymoo said:
Yes I could create an electric gate but as I have seen him previously escape if he wants to get out he will try until he can!

How have you got on with leaving yours on its own whilst you ride?
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I haven't been able to do anything so far as I'm just about ready to start doing things again (serious back trouble has prevented me from doing much more that the usual feed, check and groom for the last month:() also I'm usually up there on my lonesome but if we've got time tomorrow me and mum will give it a go and see if it works. I actually think her mare will be alright as she could take or leave my boy but I think he might get pretty stressed out if she leaves without him - they both had a trim on monday and she went first, we just did it in the field so I put her headcollar on and walked her to the flattest bit and he came barrelling over to us looking a bit worried that we were taking his girlfriend away :rolleyes: I'll let you know how we get on though if you like?
 
Grumpymoo said:
Good luck Sandi and please keep us updated!
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Couldn't do anything today unfortunately, it turned out to be busier than I was expecting :( I will definitely do an update on how it went when I finally find the time to do it :o
Will you keep us updated too? I'd like to hear how you get on as you're in a similar situation :)
 
Of course I will. I have a feeling I will end up stabling as soon as a stable becomes free tho. I just don't want to worry but for now I will keep trying! :) x
 
ribbons said:
"he will have to get used to it"

"they can only sustain panic mode for a short time"

I've heard it all now, he may well only sustain panic mode for a short time, depends how long it takes him to kill himself.

A distressed horse, left alone is an accident waiting. Don't do it.
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^^^^^^
This . It is absolutely wrong to leave the horse out. Cruel even. He must be brought into a stable preferably with other horses within sight.
PLEASE do not leave him on his on in the field OP. It is asking for disaster.
 
I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't have any other choice. I am doing my best to get him ridden or be there to be with him myself when the other two go out but I am also trying to get him used to it just in case there is a time when it happens. There are 4 other horses in the next field so he can touch and see them etc he is not completely on his own.

But I do know what you are saying.
 
Well today my horses two field companions were ridden out together so I went up to the yard to bring him on to the yard with a haynet whilst they rode. I was planning on putting him back out for the last 5/10mins to see how he coped.

Anyway as they caught their horses something odd happened, my boy was calm!! He stood at the bottom of the field munching on hay and although he called whilst they were gone I didn't need to bring him in. Somewhere inside is my boy who is fine with being on his own again! Think it will be a while until I don't have to be there to watch him/bring him in and I will still get a stable as soon as I can but its looking good :)

A picture of the boy whilst he was waiting

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