Is my horse strange??

yaffsimone1

yaffsimone1

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I have found most horses like to be out 24/7 in the warmer months.

Mine if left out 24/7 gets quite unhappy and will turn on the others, if i bring him in for a few hours at lunch for a rest then turn back out for the evening / night he is fine, a lot more relaxed and won't beat the others up.

Has anyone experienced this with thier horse?


My question it purely curiosity....
 
If there's a reason for it, such as hunger, lack of shelter, flys etc then not that unusual really. Or a horse who's previously been stabled a lot can sometimes be conditioned to it & take time to break the habit. The beating up the others i'd guess is his way of being first in, normal herd behavior. Provided any reason for him wanting to be in has been ruled out, have you tried bringing in for a quick groom & a net for 20 mins & turning back out?
 
My pony had a spell a couple of weeks ago where he wanted to come in every morning till just after lunch to have a lie down, a good sleep and some hay (freedom from his muzzle!) This lasted about 3 weeks or so till I got the point he didn't want to come in anymore by launching himself at the door and threatening to rear over...

...i have a strange pony too but he's back out 24/7 now!:eek:
 
littlelegs said:
If there's a reason for it, such as hunger, lack of shelter, flys etc then not that unusual really. Or a horse who's previously been stabled a lot can sometimes be conditioned to it & take time to break the habit. The beating up the others i'd guess is his way of being first in, normal herd behavior. Provided any reason for him wanting to be in has been ruled out, have you tried bringing in for a quick groom & a net for 20 mins & turning back out?
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Before i had him he was stabled for 6 months, he didnt step foot outside his door whilst he recovered from a tendon operation, i agree he has probably become used to the comfort of the stable.

He is very much a loner and needs alot of space so he can get away from the others, this is why i bring him in for lunchtime rests (he seems to like it).

Just recently all the horses (15 of them) have been taken from a large summer paddock (because it flooded) and put into our small winter field and his tempers have been worse

Now im thinking he has been overwhlemed by the lack of space, all these horses in a small area
 
Sophstar said:
My pony had a spell a couple of weeks ago where he wanted to come in every morning till just after lunch to have a lie down, a good sleep and some hay (freedom from his muzzle!) This lasted about 3 weeks or so till I got the point he didn't want to come in anymore by launching himself at the door and threatening to rear over...

...i have a strange pony too but he's back out 24/7 now!:eek:
Click to expand...

This is what i find, the lunchtime rests come and go. Sometimes he wants a nap, sometimes he doesnt.

I wish he would make his mind up just when i think he can live out properly 24/7 he goes and has another spate of tantrums and the afternoon cat naps have to start again!
 
In that case he probably just needs the turnout building up slowly. Just carry on doing what you are & gradually decrease the time in dependent on how he copes. Being unsociable isn't uncommon after box rest either, he just needs time. Other thought is that if he's in the winter field with lots of others the fighting might be related to lack of grass & hunger, which would also increase his desire to come in & eat.
 
My ex racer has been living out and has never got used to it, he seems happy enough but cribs outside, he has been on box rest for a couple of weeks now and loves it, hardly cribs and is generally much happier, so that's where he will be staying, he is a much nicer horse stables not even grumpy anymore
 
Thank you for all your replies.

Bringing him in for a rest from either the heat on hot days or trying to avoid a field tantrum is something i've got used to.

He can be sociable when he wants to be and generally gets on very well with his herd mates, but i guess like us he likes a break every now and then, the practicality of it is what i find difficult. Im not always around to bring him in for a lunchtime nap and he has no choice but to stay out and i feel bad because i know he doesnt like it.

Over this summer I will gradually reduce the time he spends in his stable, hopefully he can get used to being in thier company 24/7. If it doesnt work and we have to continue with his summer rest breaks then so be it.


I know what he will be thinking....bring on winter!!
 
hi, my horse is out now during the day but shes always waiting at gate by about 6pm to come in and she does get brought in every night. This is probably just habit for her, i know if i leave her she does just wander off then come running when i shout but i dont think would fuss if left out. its just her learnt behaviour and i stick with it she enjoys comeing in for a snooze and her tea :) x
 
yaffsimone1 said:
I have found most horses like to be out 24/7 in the warmer months.

Mine if left out 24/7 gets quite unhappy and will turn on the others, if i bring him in for a few hours at lunch for a rest then turn back out for the evening / night he is fine, a lot more relaxed and won't beat the others up.

Has anyone experienced this with thier horse?


My question it purely curiosity....
Click to expand...

Yes my mum has a welsh cob stallion who is out 24/7 with plenty of grass but he is so miserable he stands by the gate all day, so she has been bringing him in at night and now he is as happy as a sandboy... there is no accounting for taste is there....?
 
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