Is this fair? Opinions.

Pearlsasinger said:
I'm with Marydoll.
And my first horse was pts as a result of a field accident. I wouldn't dream of keeping a social animal such as a horse in solitary confinement with no chance of proper interaction with other horses, just for my own benefit (which is what is happening in OP). And if I were the YO I wouldn't allow it to happen.
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So what would you do with my aggressive horse ?
 
I think it's appalling. Mine gets as much turnout as possible. I think it's a bit dumb to go on about ooh, what about if xyz happens, and not enough turn out occurs? Let's not get silly here, we're talking about a horse that never gets turn out. Have we forgotten this? 'the ability to express normal behaviour'-one of the five basic needs of animals. We already suppress normal behaviour by riding, putting on shoes etc, the least we can do is allow freedom to buck, run, graze, be sociable. They're herd animals, for gods' sake.

My first horse was PTS after an accident in the field and I was terrified about turning out my next one but I did it because it's what horses do, go in fields. If the horse is an issue with others or you're terrified it will be harmed by others, find single turnout where they can at least see others.
 
He was part of a big rescue and I think cut late.
He's been locked in somewhere at some point as he showed some strange behaviour around that when he arrived
He's odd he will attack horses unexpectedly for no reason kicking viciously when he first came there was the usual argy bargy they he settled in then after a while,he started with these sessions of reversing and kicking for the most part the other horses thought prat and more or avoided him ( he was in a separate field before I got him and completely alone a lot of the time so I thought at first he needed to learn horse manners again )
Then he got cockier and got put in his place by the herd leader .then these aggressive explosions got more frequent until the herd leader got sick and there was a huge fight a proper one which ended up,with him injured and on three months box rest.
Since then I have tried getting him to settle with a friend but it's just to much risk to the other .
He's fine with people just not safe turned out, hes odd they will be grazing his facial expression changes and he will reserve from a hundred yards away and start kicking.
He's quite a dominant character you can't cuddle or fuss him to much.
Personally IMO it would completely unfair to PTS a completely sound healthy horse whose only issue was he goes into a indvidual paddock alongside others rather than in the field with them which is how many horses with no issues lead their lives.
 
I haven't read the whole thread but the OP's question is interesting. I wonder what happened in the larger cities when all transport was with horses. They'd have to be kept in stables with no turn out. Were they all unhappy and was it cruel?

As a farm student I worked on premises that had been the Whiteley's stud farm. The Whiteleys were multi multi millionaires. (Paignton Zoo was owned by them as a private collection -- they collected blue animals and birds mostly!). The accommodation for the stallions was beautifully built in brick but with a small inside loose box and a small concreted yard attached for each WITH TEN FOOT WALLS!!!

Not sure if the stallions ever got out, but they sure weren't going to jump out!
 
Dry rot they would have been in stalls but work for most of them would have taken up most of the hours of day light and I doult they where happy life was probally brutal and short for most of them.
 
Goldenstar said:
So what would you do with my aggressive horse ?
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Not having met your horse I can't say but I would want to find out why the horse is so aggressive and take it from there.


ETA, I have just read your last post and seen that your horse has individual turnout, rather than being kept in 24/7 so the matter wouldn't arise.
Actually my previous experience tells me to look very carefully at his feed, which someone with your experience may well have done already.
 
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Clare85 said:
.........I have known horses who seem to prefer to be in their stable and stand at the gate, etc. However, of course they will come to the gate if they hear you arrive at the yard and think they're going to be fed or fussed, etc. I'm sure when you turn them out and leave them alone, most horses will not just stand there pining and waiting to be brought in again - they will graze, relax, act like a horse for a while, which is sooooo important. Obviously some horses prefer to be out longer than others or have more tolerance for bad weather or flies,.........
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I have one of those! She was brought up on the Continent and used as a broodmare, I believe. We are on the top of the Pennines, she doesn't appreciate our weather! She thought we had finally got it in the snow when she had to stay in for a week because we couldn't physically get them out.
BUT she was enormously overweight when we got her and because I insist that she goes out every day and stays there, she has lost weight and is much more active in her movements. She lives at home, so has got used to our comings and goings not necessarily meaning that we will be doing something with her and has learned to ignore us except at tea-time. As for flies we use Cooper's Spot-on which is working well to keep them away.
 
I wouldn't judge someone for their choice - there are not many of us know how we would react to having our horse killed in a turnout accident, until it happens.

I like turning out as much as possible, ours are out for the summer and very happy, that is my personal preference, I do it for myself as well as the horse - horses out are easier in summer IMO.

We had a livery who competed a lot and her gelding was terrified of the noise his new zealand made when he moved about, so when turned out in it he would either be rigid with fear or go bananas. He was clipped and therefore she could only turn him out when the weather was fine - it must have been stressful for her - she was always an avid supporter of 8 hours turnout a day, but the horse was certainly much happier inside.
 
I'm sorry, but all this "each to their own" doesn't wash with me. 24/7 stabling for no good reason is disgraceful and a serious welfare issue. The horse may appear happy enough but I would imagine he is somewhat institutionalised. Does each to their own, don't judge, etc, apply to the likes of Jamie Gray then? Why is constant stabling seen as a safe, soft option - oh it's ok really, they like it...blah blah. I'm sorry but I think it is appalling and yes, minimum turnout would be impossible to police but does that mean it's morally right to ignore the concept?

Anyone who believes 24/7, 365 stabling for no good reason is acceptable isn't fit to own a horse. I'm sorry if that comes across as extreme but it's just not on.
 
It depends completely on the horse. It is that simple.


I owned a horse who WANTED to be in 24/7 ..... who loathed and detested being outside. Luckily the set up i had allowed mine to choose where they wanted to be, which worked well (they could access the yard themselves if they so wished).


I don`t like those who will keep a horse in "just because", and for the million reasons listed in other peoples posts on this thread .. but just sometimes, it is actually what the horse will chose.
 
Nudibranch said:
I'm sorry, but all this "each to their own" doesn't wash with me. 24/7 stabling for no good reason is disgraceful and a serious welfare issue. The horse may appear happy enough but I would imagine he is somewhat institutionalised. Does each to their own, don't judge, etc, apply to the likes of Jamie Gray then? Why is constant stabling seen as a safe, soft option - oh it's ok really, they like it...blah blah. I'm sorry but I think it is appalling and yes, minimum turnout would be impossible to police but does that mean it's morally right to ignore the concept?

Anyone who believes 24/7, 365 stabling for no good reason is acceptable isn't fit to own a horse. I'm sorry if that comes across as extreme but it's just not on.
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Of course it does not apply to James Gary what he did was clearly unlawful which is nothing to like the girl OP is talking about who lost her last horse to a field accident as I said earlier I have had a horse break a leg in field and it was hard to turn her out again and my current horse got and cracked his femur before I bought him I turn my mare back out ASAP but I understand her feelings .
 
Police horses, Household cavalry/army horses and some city riding schools - all horses/ponies kept in 24/7 unless out on work duties. They do get a fortnight away (tho not always).
These are all in pretty good nick.

I do think some posters here need to (literally) get off their very high horse and realise that it IS possible to keep equines stabled 24/7.

Most here are able to keep theirs in the way they want to.
Some had to suffer keeping theirs in last year for months on end due to snow, then bogged fields & flooding. How can you censure a way of keeping equines, as long as they are healthy & appearing happy with their lot - just because it doesn't suit YOUR vison?
 
Having had a horse badly kicked when out, I completely understand how she feels. Our horse has been out of work now for 6 months & undergone 2 ops to try & make her sound. I too will never turn her out in a field full of horses, but luckily we were able to move her home & have been given a very adorable shetland to keep her company.
 
You ask if this is fair for her to keep her horse in 23 out of 24 hours a day. Horses are living creatures that are meant to be out as much as possibe, running around, grazing and interacting with other horses. This is what they are born to do. To keep a horse in when there is nothing wrong with it because a person is scared it will get injured is morally wrong and is inhumane in my opinion.

This evening when you get to your yard, shut yourself in your horses stable and sit in there for half an hour.

Then ask yourself the same question again.

I think you will have your answer.
 
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Police horses and the like get a lot more than one measly hour of work most days. It has nothing to do with anyone's vision and everything to do with basic welfare. So yes, I'll stay on my high horse thanks. That horse is no better off than a battery hen.
 
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Each to their own I suppose however I wouldnt have my horse stabled 24/7 unless there was a medical reason they could not be in the field so I tend to agree with you here.

I think that horses should be kept in as natural an environment as possible. Being out in the field moving around all day is great for them and also means they can become used to everyday things happening on and around the yard. Tractors coming in to lift muck heap, cars going past, bikes going past etc.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Police horses, Household cavalry/army horses and some city riding schools - all horses/ponies kept in 24/7 unless out on work duties. They do get a fortnight away (tho not always).
These are all in pretty good nick.
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Allthough of course the above all do more than an hour a days excercise.

I agree people are getting emotive and prehaps unduly humanising horses, but I dont think 24/7 stabaling is ideal. City riding schools dont get much choice, this girl does.
 
If I was in such a terrible state that even the thought of my horse going out in the field made me sick, due to the last horse dying in the field - I wouldn't have bought a new horse until I was in a better place mentally.
 
Faracat said:
If I was in such a terrible state that even the thought of my horse going out in the field made me sick, due to the last horse dying in the field - I wouldn't have bought a new horse until I was in a better place mentally.
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Very wise!

Our first horse died following a field accident, we didn't get another for two years. Admittedly there were lots of reasons for that but when we did get the next one she was turned out immediately. There are all kinds of things you can do to mitigate the likelihood of a field accident, stabling 23/7 doesn't have to be one of them.
That isn't a high-horse, it's a sensible, practical one. And I have to say that comparing the horse in OP to police/cavalry horses is disingenuous, they are NOT stabled 23/7.
 
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