Keeping 3 horses

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Ceriann

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Probably done to death but I now have 3 mares - newbie arrived just over two weeks ago and so far so good (she's everything seller said and better than I ever expected). I stabled all 3 overnight for first couple of weeks and kept newbie in separate paddock (next to the other 2) - she was kept in livery so used to being stabled and kept on individual turnout. They all went out overnight on Tuesday and plan to maintain this (unless weather turns) but am not keen to mix her with the other two in paddocks. One of my other two is very needy so I want to avoid a love in resulting in a melt down when I ride and the other is very dominant (she can and has been quite aggressive in a group of 3 in the past) - whilst they get along together brilliantly, I'm very wary of adding newbie to this mix. Newbie seems happy enough, she can and does interact with my other two over the post and rail (they are often nuzzling etc) and as paddocks are on the road (in front of the house) and we are surrounded by sheep and cows, there is plenty of entertainment. Is this mean or is this enough for her? I could, on occasion, mix her with one of my other two (probably the needy one).
 
I don't understand why you want to keep two bonded and one on its own? Unless they completely do not get along, there is no reason to.
 
I hate to say it, but in my experience mares don't work very well in 3s! I always keep 4 mares and that works very well- 2 good pairs
 
I only ride newbie - the other two are pets (long story). I can take newbie out riding and away in a trailer no problem - she's not bothered and neither are the other two (happy together). My worry is if I intro newbie to grazing with the other two the needy one latches on to newbie (creating an issue I don't currently have) and/or the dominant one becomes aggressive (as she has in the past in a group of three especially with food). Newbie is also fully shod so a falling out wouldn't be fun. They are always in neighbouring paddocks so never alone and can and do socialise over the fence.
 
l wouldn't keep them separated unless you really have to it's unfair on keeping one on it's own if it's not been used to it or there's a problem like one does get on. l have three mares and when we got our weanling afew years ago we introduced her with my ISH gradually due to her being so small compared to her. Within afew days she was put in the same field & my mare just looked after her. The only time l keep them in separate turnout fields is when l need to restrict the ponies from eating too much and need to keep the weight on my old mare. l don't totally agree with what The Mule said as the only time l've seen problems with mares is if you have a dominant mare. My mares get on well together & are close but they don't suffer from separation anxiety. But horses are horses & you can't wrap them up in cotton wool regardless of what precautions you take.
 
TheMule said:
I hate to say it, but in my experience mares don't work very well in 3s! I always keep 4 mares and that works very well- 2 good pairs
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That's my (limited) experience too - I had to keep separating a previous group of 3 mares (two of these are the pair I still have). I'm definitely not having 4 - the OH would kill me!!
 
dizzyneddy said:
l wouldn't keep them separated unless you really have to it's unfair on keeping one on it's own if it's not been used to it or there's a problem like one does get on. l have three mares and when we got our weanling afew years ago we introduced her with my ISH gradually due to her being so small compared to her. Within afew days she was put in the same field & my mare just looked after her. The only time l keep them in separate turnout fields is when l need to restrict the ponies from eating too much and need to keep the weight on my old mare. l don't totally agree with what The Mule said as the only time l've seen problems with mares is if you have a dominant mare. My mares get on well together & are close but they don't suffer from separation anxiety. But horses are horses & you can't wrap them up in cotton wool regardless of what precautions you take.
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Newbie has come from a livery yard where she was on individual turnout so is used to being on her own and one of the pair is dominant, which is one of my main concerns. My dominant mare has been quite aggressive with a third horse in the past but rubs along quite well with her current companion. They are all fine over the post and rail but putting them all together does really worry me mainly due to my dominant mares history.
 
Horses HAVE to learn to be on their own, or with others, as required: that's life. Otherwise you end up with ninnies that "can't" be separated, or integrated, or stabled, or put out, or whatever. If any of mine get too bonded I move them, separate them and tell them to get on with it. The nature of our business requires horses that work in whatever situation arises.
 
Cortez said:
Horses HAVE to learn to be on their own, or with others, as required: that's life. Otherwise you end up with ninnies that "can't" be separated, or integrated, or stabled, or put out, or whatever. If any of mine get too bonded I move them, separate them and tell them to get on with it. The nature of our business requires horses that work in whatever situation arises.
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I do the same.

Ted and Alice competed last Friday, they have lived together since 10 months of age and I regularly kept them alone to ensure they could cope without one another. This has paid off nicely as they can travel and compete together without so much as a second glance at one another. It makes me smile when people say how amazing it is that they are not clinging to one another.
 
The pair I have are separated from time to time, to avoid needy one getting too needy (painful lesson learnt there!) so at times all 3 will be kept in separate paddocks. The dominant one of the pair isn't needy and doesn't exhibit dominance in her normal pair but in a 3 in the past she's been a complete sh(t bag and has been known to kick, bite etc.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I do the same.

Ted and Alice competed last Friday, they have lived together since 10 months of age and I regularly kept them alone to ensure they could cope without one another. This has paid off nicely as they can travel and compete together without so much as a second glance at one another. It makes me smile when people say how amazing it is that they are not clinging to one another.
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I can understand the compliments you get for this - it's not that common.

Newbie and my dominant one are happy on their own or be left and I want to keep it this way- newbie is for riding and will go away, ride out, compete etc. The third needs to be reminded of her ability to cope alone every now and again - she's a rescue pony and hasn't had the easiest time so it may always be a work in progress.
 
Cortez said:
Horses HAVE to learn to be on their own, or with others, as required: that's life. Otherwise you end up with ninnies that "can't" be separated, or integrated, or stabled, or put out, or whatever. If any of mine get too bonded I move them, separate them and tell them to get on with it. The nature of our business requires horses that work in whatever situation arises.
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Same.

But if OP says two together are bonded but happy to seperate, but if the thirds added the two older ones get bonded.....oh i dunno its all very confusing.

Do what works for you and your herd lol
 
Your current set up sounds perfect and is obviously working really well - you're not keeping the newbie alone - she has company and can groom/nuzzle/interact but can't get kicked/bullied. Keeping horses on opposite sides of a fence is not the same as keeping horses alone - the former is a sensible management method and the latter is a somewhat undesirable situation in most cases. All of my shod horses have individual turnout, like yours they groom and socialise over the fence but can also walk away when things get 'Marish'. They are perfectly content x
 
equi said:
Do what works for you and your herd lol
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I don't personally agree with individual turnout for any horse, but at the end of the day, this is the golden rule. Do whatever keeps your horses as happy and healthy as they can be and you won't go far wrong.
 
I have three mares, I don't have a problem with them turned out together.

I would acutally turn out your new mare with whichever other mare will be the nicest. Either keeping the other one in, or putting in the individual turnout area.

Play around with this for a few weeks, but I would be aiming to get the three of them out together eventually.

Glad you are pleased with your new one :)
 
Lulup said:
Your current set up sounds perfect and is obviously working really well - you're not keeping the newbie alone - she has company and can groom/nuzzle/interact but can't get kicked/bullied. Keeping horses on opposite sides of a fence is not the same as keeping horses alone - the former is a sensible management method and the latter is a somewhat undesirable situation in most cases. All of my shod horses have individual turnout, like yours they groom and socialise over the fence but can also walk away when things get 'Marish'. They are perfectly content x
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I'm probably overthinking it all this is exactly the current situation and all seem happy and well settled after a very short period. My other two each have their own issues (one gets needy and the other can be a thug, which I manage (by separating from time to time etc)) and I don't want to intro newbie to them and upset all that if having her over the fence works.

I may mix newbie with the non dominant mare at some point but I really don't want to put newbie. and dominant one together - if they clash she is much smaller, finer etc and wouldn't come out of it well. The dominant one has mellowed over the last year or two but I'm not sure if that isn't down in some part to management.
 
OP I think you have it right for what works well now so unless you think it needs changing then carry on as you are. No one can tell you what to do, you know your own horses and if this current situation is working then its working.
 
I dont really see why there's a need to keep them seperate unless you see a problem. You're assuming there might be one but there also may not be. Ive only ever kept one in a seperate paddock but that was purely because he was a very big horse and was forever messing around wanting to play with my others to the point that he didnt graze enough to keep his weight up and he risked my veteran re-injuring an old tendon injury. I keep 3 who live out together, 1 gelding and 2 mares. One of the mares doesnt like the other mare, both love the gelding (and he loves them). Mare doesnt do anything bad to the other though, just makes faces a lot at her, if shes not actually bullying her then I leave them to it.
 
You seem to have it sorted already. I'd be wary too of putting a newbie in with another mare who is known to kick or bite.
 
Hi
I don't see what the problem is with the way you keep them at the moment. If they are all happy and you are happy with the set up then go with it. We have 4 horses and we keep three in one field together and one of the mares on her own next door. They are all happy.
 
If it ain't broke don't fix it - horses are happy, you're happy , you can do what you want with the ridden one - you're overthinking this, I'd leave well alone if I was you.
 
TheMule said:
I hate to say it, but in my experience mares don't work very well in 3s! I always keep 4 mares and that works very well- 2 good pairs
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I have 3 mares living happily together, each can be taken away from the others as and when I need to.

Cortez said:
Horses HAVE to learn to be on their own, or with others, as required: that's life. Otherwise you end up with ninnies that "can't" be separated, or integrated, or stabled, or put out, or whatever. If any of mine get too bonded I move them, separate them and tell them to get on with it. The nature of our business requires horses that work in whatever situation arises.
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Definitely this
 
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