Individual turnout

I prefer individual turnout, got totally fed up with having to fight my way through nasty horses gate guarding, being lumbered with getting other people's horse's in, arguing over poo picking etc so moved to a yard with IT.

If I had my own land and a small group that got on well then I would turn them out together, but on livery yards where people have different schedules it often just does not work.
 
my two and my friends mare were all out together until my 2 yr old tried to mount the mare, she booted him twice, cut him badly and his legs swelled up! the vet said he needed to be on his own to stop messing about, but he wasn't happy, so he's out with my mare and they are fine! so my friends mare went out on her own, she wasn't happy, she just stands in one spot watching my 2! we have put the shetties out with her now there is less grass but she still stands watching my two!

i want them to all go back out in a herd but im worried about them being stupid and ended up with more vet bills! so its a difficult situation.

but like you I perfer herds, its more natural
 
Mine is out on his own. He's not the nicest horse out with others and is very territorial, especially about any food. I have learnt the hard way you can't trust him, especially with smaller horses than him. He's perfectly happy with horses all round him and regularly stands at the fence with his particular friend. He's calm and happy, and I don't have to worry about other people's horses.
 
PandorasJar said:
I disagree lark. We don't have a single field with less than 15 horses in it.

The only time we've ever had a problem introducing ending in getting bum to bum was when two were introduced in a field alone (had been side by side for a while and one was in individual).

The large herds (varying from 15 to 30) frequently have horses coming and going between fields - depending on now additions, new youngsters, ones being brought into work or finished their job for the time. They've yet to have more than a good excuse for legging round and then deciding who to pal up with or in some fields which herd to join. One of the fields has a definite two herds, but will mingle for food and when you call them with absolutely no fuss. A good herd leader will quickly nip anything dangerous in the bud. With the two herds the two field leaders get on fine. Tell eachothers lot off as if they were their own herd and yet to do anything worse than a vigourous groom to each other. The fields are a mix of geldings, mares, breeds, jobs and ages.

The other bad introduction ive seen was in a small (4) herd where one took offense to the new horse.
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Disagree with what exactly?
We offer both options. It is the choice of the owners.
The introduction of a new horse to an established 'herd' is always unpredicatable. Do you disagree with that?? Surely not?
Horses are horses. There is a heirarchy in an established 'herd' and any new horse upsets that dyanamic.
I completely disagree with you that a herd leader plus another dominant horse will sort it without any potentially dangerous consequences. It is a situation that needs to be avoided at all possible.

End of the day if a livery wants their horse out in a group they can happily do that. Everyone concerned will try to ensure that the groups are well managed but accidents do happen and as long as everyone is aware I have no issue.

I still absolutely hate any livery pulling a horse in from a field with a group of horses in it and make no apologies for the fact that individual turnout does make thing much safer for both horse and person.
 
Why on earth can't I disagree with an opinion?

My horses were far more trouble individually or in small groups so I disagree that a large herd is more dangerous. Or I offer a different option if that makes it easier reading for you.

The two bad introductions I have seen have been a case of one kept in individual turn out a number of years previously and then introduced to a single field mate. She is now very happy in a large herd.
And one kept boxed for a number of months and then individual turn out. Again in a large herd happy now.

The biggest danger was that as a consequence of long term isolation they were clueless in how to act like a horse in a social situation. They were also both a lot harder to handle as that was their point of interaction and play.

I have never had a problem adding a horse to a large group. They aren't that unpredictable really. And yet to have a problem handling or riding with others around.

The only accident I've had with a horse was actually out by themselves. I have yet to have a problem or any hint of one stood in the middle of our herds.

I think that the best way to avoid that situation would be to not have a horse. I don't think that taking away a basic right for no real reason is an answer tbh.
 
PandorasJar said:
Why on earth can't I disagree with an opinion?

My horses were far more trouble individually or in small groups so I disagree that a large herd is more dangerous. Or I offer a different option if that makes it easier reading for you.

The two bad introductions I have seen have been a case of one kept in individual turn out a number of years previously and then introduced to a single field mate. She is now very happy in a large herd.
And one kept boxed for a number of months and then individual turn out. Again in a large herd happy now.

The biggest danger was that as a consequence of long term isolation they were clueless in how to act like a horse in a social situation. They were also both a lot harder to handle as that was their point of interaction and play.

I have never had a problem adding a horse to a large group. They aren't that unpredictable really. And yet to have a problem handling or riding with others around.

The only accident I've had with a horse was actually out by themselves. I have yet to have a problem or any hint of one stood in the middle of our herds.

I think that the best way to avoid that situation would be to not have a horse. I don't think that taking away a basic right for no real reason is an answer tbh.
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The point is I don't have an opinion to disagree with :)
I provide options - individual or group.
The client comes first and their horse, if they want group they get group
If they want individual the get individual
Of course there is less likelihood of injury in individual turnout and more likelihood of injury in a group which is why as a YO you try and manage what you have as best you can.
 
Lark said:
The point is I don't have an opinion to disagree with :)
I provide options - individual or group.
The client comes first and their horse, if they want group they get group
If they want individual the get individual
Of course there is less likelihood of injury in individual turnout and more likelihood of injury in a group which is why as a YO you try and manage what you have as best you can.
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But your actual opinion (not what you provide as a YO) is that herds are dangerous and that you prefer individual turn-out. Do you actually provide group turnout, or just pairs, as I wouldn't consider this a herd. I don't think 2,3,4,5 horses have the same reactions as a large herd. Which is what I deal with and have no problems.

Having run a yard - aside from the two mentioned I never once had a problem with a horse injuring another/creating a bad situation while turned out together. Yes nips/rears etc in play, but nothing that did any physical damage - unlike one on individual putting it's leg through post and rail very much intent on taking out another horse. The only real injury one of my own horses has ever sustained was while stabled. Again the only time I ever had a problem with an owner injuring themselves (aside from riding) was one of the ones on individual turnout being handled - which was why they were moved to a herd environment. The only time I have was in a similar situation.

So I disagree with the comment about the likelihood of injury. In my experience it's been heightened by individual turnout.

We aren't all sheep... it would be very boring if we didn't disagree with each other at some point or just rolled over and changed opinion :)
 
I have to shuffle mine fairly frequently. I have a mare that was very thin and down when we got her (mane and tail,had been eaten by the others ). She is far more relaxed on her own, she doesnt have to worry about protecting her food, its hers.
The others live out together except when one of our geldings gets too bolshy, we then keep mares and geldings seperate.
All ofthem have somebody in sight
 
PandorasJar said:
But your actual opinion (not what you provide as a YO) is that herds are dangerous and that you prefer individual turn-out. Do you actually provide group turnout, or just pairs, as I wouldn't consider this a herd. I don't think 2,3,4,5 horses have the same reactions as a large herd. Which is what I deal with and have no problems.

Having run a yard - aside from the two mentioned I never once had a problem with a horse injuring another/creating a bad situation while turned out together. Yes nips/rears etc in play, but nothing that did any physical damage - unlike one on individual putting it's leg through post and rail very much intent on taking out another horse. The only real injury one of my own horses has ever sustained was while stabled. Again the only time I ever had a problem with an owner injuring themselves (aside from riding) was one of the ones on individual turnout being handled - which was why they were moved to a herd environment. The only time I have was in a similar situation.

So I disagree with the comment about the likelihood of injury. In my experience it's been heightened by individual turnout.

We aren't all sheep... it would be very boring if we didn't disagree with each other at some point or just rolled over and changed opinion :)
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I don't prefer individual turn-out just stating that if there is no-one to kick then there is no kick!
 
Lark said:
I don't prefer individual turn-out just stating that if there is no-one to kick then there is no kick!
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And no-one to bond with, or play with.......would you like to be a kid in a playground all on your own??? Horses are herd animals and their mental welfare needs to be taken into consideration as well as their physical.......to often nowadays humans are only considering their side of the story....
 
All the horses where we are are kept In 2's or 3's. We had our boy on our own land, alone, for 3yrs when we got him, then moved to livery 18 months ago where he went In with another. Although he was always settled & happy on his own, he looked REALLY happy with a friend. There were times that he got fed up of the other pestering to play all the time & it was a nightmare getting ours out of the field - the other didn't mind being left alone but always started to attack ours while he was being led out :(

After about 8 months, the other one was sold & ours was alone again for a few months. He had his friend over the fence but due to her being very aggressive they couldn't be kept together. At Xmas time another livery came on & my boys field was split for the newbie to move onto. After about 3 weeks mine decided that they'd had long enough to say hello over the fence & so jumped in with the newbie! They've been together ever since & are getting on great. Neither one of them are bothered if the other one is taken away either. Infact mine will still carry on munching if the other 11 are brought in & he's the only one left out!!

I do think individual turnout has its advantages in the respect of teaching them to cope alone & the less risk of injury, but tbh i know I would prefer mine to have at least 1 field friend.

You know your horse. If they are not happy I think I would probably start looking for somewhere new if the yo absolutely won't let you share xx
 
Alyth said:
And no-one to bond with, or play with.......would you like to be a kid in a playground all on your own??? Horses are herd animals and their mental welfare needs to be taken into consideration as well as their physical.......to often nowadays humans are only considering their side of the story....
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Honestly!
Please read the rest of the thread first.
Are most horses happier in a herd - Yes
Do all horses get on - No
Is there a higher risk of injury in a herd - Yes

They are just facts.
Every horse is different and everyones need is different.
Thats why people should have options.
Am I going to force them into group turn-out - Absolutley not.
 
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My horse is so different when turned out in a large herd. So much more relaxed and happy and content in life altogether. At the moment I'm at a yard when they are in 2-3s. He is a lot more difficult to manage in general as he is more nervy, sharp and generally uptight about life! I would do anything to go back to a big herd, it's just finding out close by with the right facilities and rules!
 
My horse is kept on individual turnout because she's a danger to herself and others in a herd. She chases and kicks above and beyond the usual hierarchy squabbles. When she was in a big herd (13-15) many years ago, she'd run herself ragged herding the horses into little groups and then spending the day keeping them in those groups. In smaller groups, she'll either be extremely possessive of one (which includes herding it away from its owners if owners come into field to catch it; fellow liveries tend to not appreciate this behaviour and most ammy owners, to be honest, seem to lack the skills to do anything about it. She will run away from a human who gets pissed off and assertive, but can figure out who isn't going to be) and if she take a dislike to another, she'll chase it relentlessly and try to corner it so she can kick the crap out of it. Much better out on her own. She seems to appreciate her fenceline friends, though, and isn't happy if she doesn't have that.
 
My horse is on livery where all horses ( bar the YOs) are out in individual paddocks.

The horses can scratch, groom, play with each other side by side or completely ignore other horses and stuff their faces :D

Heres a few pics of my horse interacting with others over the fence.

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Myhorse has been in a small herd and individual turnout, shes prefers her own space. :D
 
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havent read all the replies, but with the current state of most people's grazing, those of you on individual turnout who say you are looking for something else, good luck:o:( Id take individual turnout over no turn out, or group turnout in a mudbath any day.
 
I have no problem with either individual or group turn out.

My horse is turned out in a small group at the moment but he's been turned out with larger herds before and never had a problem - in fact I think he's sometimes better in a large herd where there are more horses there to put him in is place - he can become a bit bargy if he think's he's the top dog.

As an owner, individual turnout is easier - it can be a pain trying to bring your horse in past 10 other horses blocking the gate!
 
As a reluctant individual turnouter due to one of my horses being a complete thug with anything he has every been out in a field with, I think it is not ideal but a hell of a lot better than restricted or no turnout.

For me as long as they can groom and touch over the fence then that is the key.

Group turnout is ideal but when there are no more volunteer crash test dummies you have to change plans! Not even a pheasant is safe in my chaps field. He is much happier and more chilled alone.

So it depends on the horse - as long as they can groom over the fence And the individual paddocks are a decent size i hink there are a lot worse issues.

It doesn't half cut down on who didn't poo pick arguments ....:-)))
 
My friend's warmblood became a different horse on individual turnout (at first and then he had company of another horse at her request and could see others but it still wasn't right). He would rear up when taken to the field and the staff became afraid of him, he would spook for no reason in the indoor school and was becoming unrideable. The yard staff wanted to use a chifney on him. My friend moved him back to a herd situation and he reverted back to his sweet self. She has had him since a 2 years old and he is now 10 and she said he had never been like that before.
My mare has been in small mare herds and a big mixed herd. She would occasionnally fight when in small mares herd. The big mixed herd setting is brilliant, they are really chilled and happy.
 
I used to have mine in herd turnout, but due to various circumstances they are all in individual paddocks now. Must say I haven't noticed any change in their behaviour whatsoever, but they always have other horses next to them and can interact over the fence.

I must say it is easier to manage horses with different dietary requirements this way and much safer at bringing in time, which seems to be when most aggression and injuries occur.

I'm not against herd turnout, but with the horses I have at the moment, individual works best. If my circumstances/horses were different in the future I might return to herd turnout.

If I was at livery I would appreciate the option of individual OR group turnout depending on what I thought was best for the horse concerned.
 
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