Individual turnout

[King Leo]

Please help!

We have recently become horse owners and really need some advice and support with a situation we find ourselves in.

Essentially, we have an arrangement where we share our field with another owner and their horse. This meant we can have one field resting and can rotate them and horses had each other as pair. The horses live out 24/7 and both have always done so. The contract is per field, we have one field which we pay for and the other Owner has another. We had made our own an arrangement to share, which the yard owner was fine with.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons to do with the other Owner, not the horses (!) the sharing arrangement has not worked out as we hoped. We absolutely cannot continue in this situation and it is very clear that the best thing to do would be to cease the sharing arrangement and do our own thing, in our own field. This means we would have to separate the horses into their own fields. They have bonded very well and seem very happy together. I am heartsick at thought of taking our horse away from his friend. He has really bonded with the other horse. The other Owner is constantly threatening to just move our horse into the other field, so I want to be pro-active and make the move on our terms.

However, I am literally sick with worry at the thought of putting him into his own field. He has always lived with other horses in a herd. He will be able to see his pal on the other side of the fence and there are two horses in another field next to him on the other side. But its not the same as being in pair? I should add that he is quite a nervy horse anyway. We have had troubles taking him out of the field away from his friend and he has pulled away from us and run off back to the field on a number of occasions, we have worked hard on this and made some headway but he still has moments. He follows the other horse around the field. When he is in the yard on his own he is very nervous and on edge.

Will he be happy in a field on his own? The fact is we have no other option and getting another horse / a new companion is not financially feasible. We are so upset with the situation, since becoming horse owners nothing has been easy or fun and now we face upsetting our new horse too. I am really struggling, both with the situation as it is and the thought of doing what's best for us by getting out of a terrible situation with the other Owner (we simply cant stay in this situation), but maybe not what's best for our horse by taking him away from his friend.

Please can anyone offer any words of advice? Will him seeing his friend over the fence be okay? What can we do to help him? There are no other yards in the area which have space or anywhere else we could move him to herd turnout.

I am in tears as I type this. Please be kind in any answers and any words of advice or experiences are greatly appreciated.

 

[misst]

First of all have a virtual hug. Second welcome to world of livery.

The obvious answer is to move yards. Find somewhere with company for him. If you can't do that perhaps the yard owner can intervene?

It's never easy and the best thing we ever had was our own little yard shared with a friend and 5 horses between us. The owner sadly moved back and we had to find somewhere else. You are not unusual finding yourself struggling with yard politics.

Horses are stressful and they should also be fun. If you're not enjoying things at all then definitely move yards. Your horse sounds as if he won't be happy on individual turnout. Is there someone else you can pair up with or make a threesome with? What is the actual complaint about from the other owner? Is your horse fighting or running around etc more than she likes?

 

[Birker2020]

Most yards these days are individual. Our paddocks have paddocks both at the side, and behind them. They can touch and indeed play over the fence regardless of the electric being on especially when they have necks on their rugs.

Lari and Bailey before him were both strip grazed, this was a necessity with Bailey due to colic issues although part of the year the grazing was safe to give them both the total amount. Having nearly lost Bailey due to a field accident when originally turned out in a herd and having lost a youngster to a compound fracture again when kicked in a herd situation my viewpoint is to me justified.

 

[Red-1]

I would give it a try when you have time to stay and see how he settles. Many do settle but if he does not, then I would seek alternative livery arrangements.

On the bright side, it may make him more independent.

I know my view will be unpopular for some.

 

[dottylottie]

both of mine had never been on individual turnout but coped absolutely fine for over a year, when both were rehabbing and were in their separate pens. one of them is definitely happier in a herd, but she was fine with being next door neighbours. i think the other one would actually prefer it if her little sister could only groom over the fence but not pester her

sending hugs, livery yard politics are brutal. you can but try it out, but be on the lookout for an alternative yard. if they all live out 24/7 so he’s never completely alone i think he’ll he just fine!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mine alternate between being out together and turned out individually, based on Mim’s weight. When I first separate them, I do keep their pens quite small so they are still close to each other, and then I open up more and more for Miri and she gradually gets further away.

 

[Fire sign]

Mine alternate between being out together and turned out individually, based on Mim’s weight. When I first separate them, I do keep their pens quite small so they are still close to each other, and then I open up more and more for Miri and she gradually gets further away.

Please help!

We have recently become horse owners and really need some advice and support with a situation we find ourselves in.

Essentially, we have an arrangement where we share our field with another owner and their horse. This meant we can have one field resting and can rotate them and horses had each other as pair. The horses live out 24/7 and both have always done so. The contract is per field, we have one field which we pay for and the other Owner has another. We had made our own an arrangement to share, which the yard owner was fine with.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons to do with the other Owner, not the horses (!) the sharing arrangement has not worked out as we hoped. We absolutely cannot continue in this situation and it is very clear that the best thing to do would be to cease the sharing arrangement and do our own thing, in our own field. This means we would have to separate the horses into their own fields. They have bonded very well and seem very happy together. I am heartsick at thought of taking our horse away from his friend. He has really bonded with the other horse. The other Owner is constantly threatening to just move our horse into the other field, so I want to be pro-active and make the move on our terms.

However, I am literally sick with worry at the thought of putting him into his own field. He has always lived with other horses in a herd. He will be able to see his pal on the other side of the fence and there are two horses in another field next to him on the other side. But its not the same as being in pair? I should add that he is quite a nervy horse anyway. We have had troubles taking him out of the field away from his friend and he has pulled away from us and run off back to the field on a number of occasions, we have worked hard on this and made some headway but he still has moments. He follows the other horse around the field. When he is in the yard on his own he is very nervous and on edge.

Will he be happy in a field on his own? The fact is we have no other option and getting another horse / a new companion is not financially feasible. We are so upset with the situation, since becoming horse owners nothing has been easy or fun and now we face upsetting our new horse too. I am really struggling, both with the situation as it is and the thought of doing what's best for us by getting out of a terrible situation with the other Owner (we simply cant stay in this situation), but maybe not what's best for our horse by taking him away from his friend.

Please can anyone offer any words of advice? Will him seeing his friend over the fence be okay? What can we do to help him? There are no other yards in the area which have space or anywhere else we could move him to herd turnout.

I am in tears as I type this. Please be kind in any answers and any words of advice or experiences are greatly appreciated.

Nearly all my horses have ended up on individual turnout for various reasons … for their own safety , to avoid kicks , to enable me to strip graze one and not another, to avoid excessive pair bonding and silly behaviour … and there was only one who just couldn’t hack it ….all of the other horses settled quite happily , they could always see and often touch another horse over the electric fencing.
All you can do is give it a try and when you first set up the new arrangement , maybe make sure your horse is nice and tired and after a long hack at a quiet time of day .. if you can move your fence so that there is a nice patch of tasty grass to distract them then it might help .. and make sure it’s not a howling gale or other exciting weather .. I would hang about to check that they were settled and then let them get on with it . Try and bring in at the same time as your friend does or before them . If you are really worried then you could ask your vet for some Sedalin a low dose about 45 minutes before turn out .. makes them a bit sleepy so they don’t notice they are on their own .. in theory anyway ! You have to give the Sedalin before the horse is stressed though or the adrenaline overrides it ..
Good luck and don’t feel bad .. horses can be very adaptable

 

[Surbie]

I do really feel for you, this is a rotten situation to end up in, particularly in the first months of owning a horse.

I am not a fan of individual turnout for horses (and those arguments have been done to death on here!) but I do understand needs must to get away from the other livery. To help him I'd probably try to increase his work a bit when you move him, maybe introducing some new things that make him think more, and add tasty things to the field - whether it's an area of new grass or some hay/haylage.

In your situation I would probably be putting my name down on the waiting list for other yards so I could move to something better when possible. Even if you end up wanting to stay where you are, it may offer options for you in Spring when people are more likely to be moving around.

My horse did have to be on his own for a little bit a few years ago, and he coped but I can see he's not suited to it long-term.

Most yards these days are individual.

I think this can be very area-specific. Where I am individual turnout is rare and never for 24/7 t/o.

 

[Exasperated]

Please help!

We have recently become horse owners and really need some advice and support with a situation we find ourselves in.

Essentially, we have an arrangement where we share our field with another owner and their horse. This meant we can have one field resting and can rotate them and horses had each other as pair. The horses live out 24/7 and both have always done so. The contract is per field, we have one field which we pay for and the other Owner has another. We had made our own an arrangement to share, which the yard owner was fine with.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons to do with the other Owner, not the horses (!) the sharing arrangement has not worked out as we hoped. We absolutely cannot continue in this situation and it is very clear that the best thing to do would be to cease the sharing arrangement and do our own thing, in our own field. This means we would have to separate the horses into their own fields. They have bonded very well and seem very happy together. I am heartsick at thought of taking our horse away from his friend. He has really bonded with the other horse. The other Owner is constantly threatening to just move our horse into the other field, so I want to be pro-active and make the move on our terms.

However, I am literally sick with worry at the thought of putting him into his own field. He has always lived with other horses in a herd. He will be able to see his pal on the other side of the fence and there are two horses in another field next to him on the other side. But its not the same as being in pair? I should add that he is quite a nervy horse anyway. We have had troubles taking him out of the field away from his friend and he has pulled away from us and run off back to the field on a number of occasions, we have worked hard on this and made some headway but he still has moments. He follows the other horse around the field. When he is in the yard on his own he is very nervous and on edge.

Will he be happy in a field on his own? The fact is we have no other option and getting another horse / a new companion is not financially feasible. We are so upset with the situation, since becoming horse owners nothing has been easy or fun and now we face upsetting our new horse too. I am really struggling, both with the situation as it is and the thought of doing what's best for us by getting out of a terrible situation with the other Owner (we simply cant stay in this situation), but maybe not what's best for our horse by taking him away from his friend.

Please can anyone offer any words of advice? Will him seeing his friend over the fence be okay? What can we do to help him? There are no other yards in the area which have space or anywhere else we could move him to herd turnout.

I am in tears as I type this. Please be kind in any answers and any words of advice or experiences are greatly appreciated.

How have you got on?
Horse owning can be stressful; too often other people making things more so; and it was all meant to be fun....
However, if your horse has his original pal visible and touchable on one side, even more horses on the other, he is not ‘alone’.
He probably would prefer one or more mates in with him, most prefer some sort of herd, but all horses have to do things solo, whether a schooling lesson, a hack, a competition round, a trailer trip, whatever. If permanently with the same companion - ‘pair bonded’ - he might easily get too attached and develop separation anxiety - which will be equally stressful.
Similarly, if you move yards, he (and you!) will have all the stress of uprooting and resettling with fresh companions. That might be your best ultimate move, but I really feel you would all be happier in the short term giving him chance to adapt to grazing individually. He is definitely better turned out within sight and touch of others than cooped up in a stable!
It is highly likely he WILL handle this (historically, working horses often lived much of their lives alone) although your worries are completely understandable.
To help, take him out as much as possible for other activities - riding, including riding with others, grooming, bonding. You could add ‘calming supplements’, but keeping him occupied and exercised is likely to be more beneficial.
We’ve occasionally had to keep horses entirely on their own for periods (not my preference), and without exception they have all settled - given plenty of turnout and attention and activity. And a bit of patience. Good luck!