interred youngster, views please

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robroy

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Due to field poaching I am having to stable my pony, he is only 2 1/2 and has been out 24/7 most of his life, I am worried that he might be agitated and bad tempered, once he is stabled , the only 'out' time would be a very small enclosure against the stable ,or if I walk him,
He will be alone, though he is in the field, and I dont know how long he will be contained.
Any ideas on enrichment or life experiences with similar
 
Not much of a life for a youngster, especially if he's beenused to 24/7 turnout. I'd forget about enrichment and move somewhere he could have some "horse" time before he starts to develop vices such as cribbing and weaving and windsucking x
 
My friends horse is 2 1/2 and she dreads him stopping in the stable 24/7 on box rest due to injury. Luckily despite loads of injuries he only needed to stay in once for four weeks, but he got extremely agitated whcih is not suprising for one so young. To be honest I would look at moving yards, as it is not fair on him. He needs socialisation at that age and he also needs to be out in fresh air and to eat grass and play with his friends and develop his muscles and body.
 
My chap had lived out 24 x 7 though had been brought in to be fed etc so had been in a stable. I brought him home at 16 months and he had to be in at night and every other day from end October to start of May - I bought him end of Oct. Summer he lives out 24 x 7.

He took to it fine. He had ad lib hay, a snack ball, swede on rope. Fed in the morning, ball mid afternoon and fed again in the evening. On the days of no t/o, he went for about an hour in the school with my old gelding in the morning to play and stretch.

In the evening he did 10 mins in hand work - to mentally stimulate him which built up to 15 mins. He then had another hour or so with Cairo to play and groom.

Chancer is a very relaxed sort, gypsy cob and for him is fine with staying in. He actually does like his stable and in the winter can't wait to come in.

This is the maximum I would want to keep a youngster in, and if if were weeks of 24 x 7 in, I would have found another yard to keep my two. Shame as Harold Park by me has great facilities for my youngsters, but they close the fields for a couple of months in winter with no t/0 which is not acceptable for my requirements.
 
Just noticed that bit and yes I agree, horses, but especially youngsters should be with others learning to be a horse - you could have real problems with putting him with others later if he has not learnt how to behave in horse company.

I would be looking for somewhere to have company, even if this meant stabling more - being in over night at this age won't cause harm, but being alone could.
 
I would just turn him out anyway if you can, all fields are bad this time of year.
Personally I don't believe babies should be stabled for long periods of time, he needs to be out being a horse and growing up. Can he not go out with anyone on your yard? If he has no company at all I would consider moving to somewhere where he can have 24/7 turnout with other horses. You might find he will become bad tempered at some point anyway if he's being deprived of his social needs etc.
My 2 year old is out 24/7 with other horses, I have a stable just incase and to get him used to stabling if he needed to go in, but he is far happier out.
 
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