Keeping a horse alone, how do you feel about it?

We have a very self-sufficient ex-broodmare, who can be left on her own in the field when the others go out for a hack, or left alone in the stable and barely seems to notice tht the others have gone. We had had her for over 10 yrs before we saw her mutual grooming with another horse - it transpired that the other was seriously ill and she was comforting her.
Earlier this week I put her out first, as usual. Before I had got back to the field with her companions, she was calling for the neighbours. Later that day, she came in hopping lame. Today we have found an abscess in her hoof.
Even she, one of the most self-contained horses I have ever met, needed equine support when she was not feeling at her best.
I hate to see horses kept on their own. Those on competition yards do at least usually have some contact withother horses when in the stable block, even if not allowed to share grazing. And as for any-one saying that 'I can only afford one'/'I only have room for one', both of which I have read on this forum as a reason for keeping a horse alone, well, imo, it isn't a good enough reason. Would any-one say, 'I can't afford to feed my horse so I don't bother'? And if they did would we consider that to be acceptable?
I'm with Littlelegs.
 
Freedom to express natural behaviour is one of the "five freedoms" enshrined in the animal welfare act (2006). This includes keeping social animals socially where appropriate. Defra also recommend providing company where possible. This doesn't neccessarily mean housing them together when out (although this is the ideal as it is closest to the wild herd state), but there should as much contact with members of their own species as possible, either over the fence, or visual contact, or group stabling.

Horses housed completely alone are more likely to develop stereotypies (weaving, box walking etc) and self mutilate.

I think psychological welfare is just as important as physical welfare, and housing horses completely alone (as this one seems to be) is definately a form of cruelty. I would contact a local BHS welfare representative if you feel able, as they may be able to educate the owner, or take action against them. From your description of the field, that sounds less than ideal as well.
 
I haven't had my mare very long but I did see her with the herd and I have had her in three different places.

She's low down on the pecking order and sometimes I get the feeling that she is just sick of having to watch her back all the time, always being moved off hay (doesn't matter how many seperate piles) ect.

It's the bullyboys/girls who go nuts when I take her out, she couldn't give a monkey's if she is the only one in the field. Doesn't rush to get home, never calls to the mare she is with.

Now I wouldn't keep her away from other horses, in fact she's jumped fences to be with them. But then they start on her. I wouldn't be surprised if over the years it turns out that she is happier with other horses being on the other side of the fence unless she can find a horse who won't bully her.
 
I kept my gelding alone on the farm for years. He was fine, no issues with or without horses, when hes in the field unless the others are galloping around he doesnt really care and is always by himself any way, was like this when i got him over 10 years ago.

My mare had to be by herself when my friends horse was pts. she was alone for 8weeks and it was a good thing for her. she was a very clingy horse but now she has a bit more confidence in herself and doesnt rely on the others as much and is less nappy :)

I have no issues with it personally. I would prefer to have sheep as companions than another horse or pony, better for the grass :)
 
Actually I use a my little pony as a companion, far cheaper to keep & doesn't churn up the ground. I get the farrier every 3yrs because I can't afford it, but my horses prefer having curling feet. I feed the minimum amount of nasty dusty hay, but my horse prefers the taste to decent forage, & is much happier with a cough & being very skinny. Just coincidental nasty hay fits my budget better. I check on her every 4 weeks, again she prefers this.
 
Littlelegs said:
Actually I use a my little pony as a companion, far cheaper to keep & doesn't churn up the ground. I get the farrier every 3yrs because I can't afford it, but my horses prefer having curling feet. I feed the minimum amount of nasty dusty hay, but my horse prefers the taste to decent forage, & is much happier with a cough & being very skinny. Just coincidental nasty hay fits my budget better. I check on her every 4 weeks, again she prefers this.
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Your definitely insane. Horses don't need hay! When they run out of grass they suck nutrients from the mud that gives them all they need.
 
Littlelegs said:
Actually I use a my little pony as a companion, far cheaper to keep & doesn't churn up the ground. I get the farrier every 3yrs because I can't afford it, but my horses prefer having curling feet. I feed the minimum amount of nasty dusty hay, but my horse prefers the taste to decent forage, & is much happier with a cough & being very skinny. Just coincidental nasty hay fits my budget better. I check on her every 4 weeks, again she prefers this.
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LOL :D
 
My horse was very difficult to handle at times, He suffered the most severe separation anxiety which resulted in him being almost dangerous if you tried to bring him in alone or anything. As at the time I was a one horse owner on a livery yard this was a huge problem. In the field he was happy and non aggressive.
I rehomed him and the new owners kept him alone after realising how difficult he could be in company. (well I say alone he had a sheep but no other horse)
I had to admit the results astounded me- When I visited he was the most relaxed easy to handle horse- happily tied on the yard alone munching a hay net. They said it took about 2 weeks of hell then he gave in and was the loveliest horse.
They had problems keeping weigh on him I had problems keeping weight off and found this odd!
Due to their loss of grazing I had him back and as things were going so well rented a paddock for him to live alone.
I soon saw why he had a weight problem- He didn't graze anymore. Yes he ate the hay and hard feed provided but was stressing in a quiet "given up" kind of way...It was sad.
I moved him back in with my other horses and got him a Shetland companion. He's now happy again and fat! True he can sometimes be stroppy and difficult but I just bring the shettie in with him and life is good again!
Ive noticed since his 6 months or so alone he is slightly more independent and a bit aggressive with other horses (apart from his Shetland)
The bads outweighed the goods and its something i'd never do- I saw proper distress and unhappiness in his eyes (really!!!) and it was heart breaking
 
TBH, it doesn't worry me that much providing it gets out and does things where it has company at some stage regularly although I'd prefer it to have company but not necessarily another horse. Some horses prefer to be alone, I had one that would kill anything that came near it even over a fence so it was better for all of us to keep it totally apart although it worked well in company when ridden, just couldn't hack company in his field; others definitely need company although those that get attached and then can't cope when they're taken apart are just as much a pain in the bum which is why it's helpful to have three in that case.
I'm happy if the horse is happy, if that's alone, so be it.
 
Maesfen said:
TBH, it doesn't worry me that much providing it gets out and does things where it has company at some stage regularly although I'd prefer it to have company but not necessarily another horse. Some horses prefer to be alone, I had one that would kill anything that came near it even over a fence so it was better for all of us to keep it totally apart although it worked well in company when ridden, just couldn't hack company in his field; others definitely need company although those that get attached and then can't cope when they're taken apart are just as much a pain in the bum which is why it's helpful to have three in that case.
I'm happy if the horse is happy, if that's alone, so be it.
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Exactly, and when my gelding was kicked in the field and got an abcess in his shoulder (vet was called after the initial kick), he didn't stay with the rest of his buddies but neighed to me and had distanced himself from his mates which was an unusual occurrence. They tell us what they need and I believe it.
 
Out of choice I wouldn't & neither of our horses would ever settle without other horses but when I was little my mum had an old tb that we kept on a friends field & built a stable.. He was perfectly happy on his own but mum moved him to be with other horses. He was never bothered either way & was the type that often got picked on & beaten up by other horses.
 
When someone with a few horses & a lot of land goes to the trouble of creating a new field & stable for one horse, at the opposite end of their land & out of sight & earshot of their other horses, then I might believe its done because the horse prefers it. Till then, sorry I think its a case of the owner trying to adjust the facts to suit themselves.
 
Littlelegs said:
When someone with a few horses & a lot of land goes to the trouble of creating a new field & stable for one horse, at the opposite end of their land & out of sight & earshot of their other horses, then I might believe its done because the horse prefers it. Till then, sorry I think its a case of the owner trying to adjust the facts to suit themselves.
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Well thats your opinion isnt it, as you have said several times on this thread already, we get it and your well entitled to it, just as those who arent posting the same as you are entitled to theirs, just they dont feel the need to keep ramming it down folk's throats ;)
 
No, its my opinion that company within the field is better than individual turnout with company over a fence/nearby. Others may think company over a fence is better. And I can accept that view as being a different opinion. But that horses need company, whether nearby or with them isn't an opinion, its a fact. Just like people have different opinions on barefoot or shod, but the actual facts are that hooves require care of some form. Or that we can all have an opinion on automatic water troughs versus buckets, but the basic facts are horses need water & that isn't just an opinion. And for the record, the worst cases of separation anxiety I have seen were from horses kept alone previously, who upon getting permanent company were determined they weren't risking being left alone again.
 
Littlelegs said:
No, its my opinion that company within the field is better than individual turnout with company over a fence/nearby. Others may think company over a fence is better. And I can accept that view as being a different opinion. But that horses need company, whether nearby or with them isn't an opinion, its a fact. Just like people have different opinions on barefoot or shod, but the actual facts are that hooves require care of some form. Or that we can all have an opinion on automatic water troughs versus buckets, but the basic facts are horses need water & that isn't just an opinion. And for the record, the worst cases of separation anxiety I have seen were from horses kept alone previously, who upon getting permanent company were determined they weren't risking being left alone again.
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yep and again kinda got that you were against it when you were ranting about putting people in jail. You dont like it, end of.

Ive done it, and would do it again but I dont feel the need to justify why i feel that way or the various reasons for or against to random internet strangers.
 
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My horse is on his own (although has another on the other side of the dyke)

I don't like it one bit really, and whilst he doesn't seem too bothered I'm pretty sure he would prefer company in his field

Unfortunately farmer won't let me put another in with him (no, not even a miniature :()...... But looking at other yards around, they are all separate aswell
 
I hate seeing them on their own. My MIL kept her elderly horse on his own for a couple of years before some horses moved in next door, she always used to say he was happy but once those horses arrived he was glued to the fence by them all day and put weight on and purked right up, I think it was the other horses that kept him going a few more years, he was pts this year at nearly 39 years old bless him :)
 
After an old horse was pts mine was on their own and absolutely fine. Anyway in my good wisdom of herd etc(& yes I do think they ideally should be kept together with others etc).
So I got a pony, I actually bought one...
and
what a b....y nightmare. Then I sold that one. So we put a mare in who he had lived with before very peacefully and she kicked (hair flying) in the b....y leg twice. He then barrelled her(so we were even on the injury front). She went off to a breeder. At one stage I had mine and two ponies, one was an escapee and it was an utter nightmare. We divided and ruled those 3 with electric fencing and yes 3 was a crowd, we had bullying 2 v 1. Seriously.

So the last few years old boy was on his own and it was v sad but had company over the fence so that was it. He wasnt lonely but when there were flies I did wish he had someone to groom and get rid of the flies etc.

Unless they are distressed its very down to the individual horse. Mine was ok on their own ie never called out for another etc. But good and bad. So if they are happy alone unless you want extra poo picking , extra farrier bills, leaving one running around calling for the other(unless you can have more or are livery thats ideal). Never again! Perfect world.
 
russianhorse said:
My horse is on his own (although has another on the other side of the dyke)

I don't like it one bit really, and whilst he doesn't seem too bothered I'm pretty sure he would prefer company in his field

Unfortunately farmer won't let me put another in with him (no, not even a miniature :()...... But looking at other yards around, they are all separate aswell
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Dont do it as if you go out riding you then have the issue of bringing in the ie miniature or a headless chicken running around calling whilst you are out. See my post!! If yours is ok leave alone. The only thing for me for a companion is if another horse that is going to be cared for by another owner(not me) or its twice as much poo etc.
 
I cannot believe the selfishness of some of the posters on this thread. 'Haven't got a horse spare' , 'twice as much poo' , 'I can't afford another' etc etc. Keep your horse at livery then FFS!
 
You know its threads like this that show the people who are really judgemental and like their opinion to be the correct one. I quite like them as it also shows those who dont really give a fig as long as horse is happy and healthy to what those opinions are.

Its easy to be forceful with your convictions and slate those who dont share them, its better but harder to just accept that you cant make everyone of the same opinion and live and let live :) Its not the worst crime IME to have a horse on its todd. Id say that there are crueler things I have seen than a horse alone in a field or with sheep, donkeys, cows etc.
 
Just because there are crueler things, doesn't excuse it. It is not opinion, It is fact. Just as horse need food and water, they need company of their own kind.
 
My last pony I rescued. Was alone with just chickens n rabbits for company. When I took him After 15 years of being there. He was shaking with shock when he saw the first horse at his new house, Ill never forget that moment, They should never b left alone
 
Those that have decided it is okay, how many wild horses have you heard of that CHOOSE to be alone? It is pure ignorance and human arrogance to decide for them. It's sad.
 
Wagtail said:
Just because there are crueler things, doesn't excuse it. It is not opinion, It is fact. Just as horse need food and water, they need company of their own kind.
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Wagtail said:
Those that have decided it is okay, how many wild horses have you heard of that CHOOSE to be alone? It is pure ignorance and human arrogance to decide for them. It's sad.
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Again, in your opinion :) To those that do have to/choose to do it it isnt. Difference of opinion, simplez :)
 
No, not difference of opinion. It's a fact. However much that doesn't fit in with peoples lifestyle/ budget/ convenience / poo picking duties etc. We do agree on one thing though black beastie, threads like these certainly show those who don't give a fig.
 
Littlelegs said:
No, not difference of opinion. It's a fact. However much that doesn't fit in with peoples lifestyle/ budget/ convenience / poo picking duties etc. We do agree on one thing though black beastie, threads like these certainly show those who don't give a fig.
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Great Glad we agree on something :D

Horses are always kept to our convenience, we keep them on livery yards with/in stables, we ride them in menages and compete them to our convenience, we shoe them and feed them, we exercise them in various different ways to our convenience so really horses are always kept at our convenience no matter how you look at it. Its just some of us operate on the reasoning that we know our own horses and have the open mind not to judge, name call and generally try and insult people who are doing us no personal harm.

So yes differences of opinion :)
 
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My filly is kept alone, but then so is my dog should I go out and buy another dog too? Oh and btw my grandsons an only child should my Daughter have another child?
I really do love you Horseyier than thou lot.

It's not ideal but life seldom is, the alternative is we sell her and she ends up where ? In a much worse place than she is now........
 
I would not keep a horse alone .
I have one who I turn out alone he can't touch others and most of the time can't see them but he was so aggressive with others it was dangerous and was doing to end in a broken limb he's stabled in an isolation box because the last time I had him on the main yard he just demolished the door because I opened the door in the living of the lorry he's an odd horse , he's ridden out with others I do feel bad for him but his antics are dangerous .
 
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