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

Just to put perspective on the idea of isolated horses appearing content. I, & I'm sure many others will have known horses who have been content on box rest for months, with no more freedom than walking in hand, & perhaps the odd bit of handgrazing. And its not unusual for them to appear happy & settled. Yet there is no way I would consider keeping a horse on box rest by choice, let alone for a lifetime.
 
Pigeon said:
How is it not comparable??

And I mean alone, as in can't reach other horses over the fence.
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The elephant you commented on:

35 years living in a tiny concrete enclosure. Has never seen another elephant in all those years. Has never been out of concrete enclosure.

The horses I commented on:

See/sniff other horses a few times daily riding past their fields. Ridden out for 3 to 4 hours most days with other neighbourhood horses. None can see or reach any other horses in other fields but they have good grazing in large enclosures with lots going on around them.

I'm not sure how you can possibly see any correlation between the two scenarios. They are like chalk and cheese to me.

To the posters on here who keep their horses in fields alone (with no other horses around their fields for them to interact with), do you ride out alone or do you ride out with other horses. Basically how often does your horse see another horse, is what I'm asking.
 
Spring Feather said:
The elephant you commented on:

35 years living in a tiny concrete enclosure. Has never seen another elephant in all those years. Has never been out of concrete enclosure.

The horses I commented on:

See/sniff other horses a few times daily riding past their fields. Ridden out for 3 to 4 hours most days with other neighbourhood horses. None can see or reach any other horses in other fields but they have good grazing in large enclosures with lots going on around them.

I'm not sure how you can possibly see any correlation between the two scenarios. They are like chalk and cheese to me.

To the posters on here who keep their horses in fields alone (with no other horses around their fields for them to interact with), do you ride out alone or do you ride out with other horses. Basically how often does your horse see another horse, is what I'm asking.
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In answer to your question Spring Feather, my mare can see other ponies, a local farmer keeps a couple of Connemaras and he moves them from field to field sometimes out of her view. Occasionally the field at the bottom of ours is rented out and there might be ponies/donkeys in. She just doesn't bother, there is no pacing or frantic neighing or trying to climb out of the field after them. She's just her relaxed, chilled out self. There will be dairy cows in the field adjacent soon, as there is every summer, she will ignore then as she always does.
 
Really PR? You make lots of assumptions dontcha. Apparently people are freaking idiots and we all feed sweet mix, let them graze their way to aggression, and cap it off with shoes. Very impressive!

Terri
 
Not really EI, I just paint with a broad brush. I know there are lots of folk who care about and do the best for their horses, I know there are some with tremendous knowledge and skill. I just get frustrated by the few who stolidly persist with some real detrimental practices. The problem is the stupid ones can't see it and the good ones are to nice to say what they really feel. I get a bit wound up, get banned and so it goes on, lol.
 
Well your paintint with broad strokes just makes you out to be judgemental and any pertinent points you might make are dismissed due to your clearly biased (based on your postings BTW ) views really.
 
I get frustration but at the same time most people on this board and elsewhere take very good care of their horses. It may not be my way but when you think of things in terms of the grand scheme life can be a whole lot worse for horses. Like I am guilty of coming here and mouthing when I'm gobsmacked by certain people. But then I think the big picture says that horse has life pretty good.

All of us can't be everything to horses. We can just do the best by what we have. My way, your way, Susie Q's way, as long as the horse is safe sometimes you just have to let it go. Livery yards are particularly stressful more so for people than horses. So when answering this question I had to think how it would be if I had one of mine on livery knowing exactly what she's like. In my herd I know she is fine with her company and will be kept well and truly in her place. Everyone would be on here mouthing about me and that mare that has wounded everyone. No thanks!

And as far as the original question about the now 1 horse in what seems like terrible conditions, no it isn't right nor fair. Said horse now has zero stimulation and company on top of some not so nice living conditions. That is wrong and someone should intervene.

Terri
 
Pale Rider said:
Horses come in three flavors, passives, dominants and leads.
Passives and dominants can be mares, geldings or stallions, leads are always mares.
I know there will be those who think they have a lead gelding, you don't. You may think you are the exception, your not. You have a very dominant horse but not a lead.
Fortunately for most owners, most horses are passives and are content to be treated like a bicycle.
The dominants and leads cause a problem for owners. These are the horses who often end up labeled and isolated.
Of course we confuse the issue by feeding the wrong types of grasses and hard food, so they are constantly on a sugar high, then we tip the feet in steel to make sure any damage is as bad as it can be.
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The problem I have with this is that you project yourself as some kind of equine messiah. In one breath you describe horses as being treated like 'a bicycle' and in the next you pop them into neat groups like traffic lights. Where did you decide this was true and why do you expect everyone to believe this? IH - please, horses are clever enough to realise that we are not horses, just like a dog or cat knows that we are not of their species and yet they will still seek us out above their own kind. This is the kind of thing that annoys me the most - a little bit like the 'research' done into fructans and the 'science' behind it. Because loading a horse with chicory derived fructan directly into the stomach correlates to grazing practice? It wouldn't matter to me so much, PR, except that you dole out this 'information' with loaded words like 'insane' to every person who doesn't keep their horses as you would keep them. Don't be so quick to judge, I wouldn't tar anyone with the same brush nor every horse, I certainly wouldn't let you near mine.
 
doriangrey said:
The problem I have with this is that you project yourself as some kind of equine messiah. In one breath you describe horses as being treated like 'a bicycle' and in the next you pop them into neat groups like traffic lights. Where did you decide this was true and why do you expect everyone to believe this? IH - please, horses are clever enough to realise that we are not horses, just like a dog or cat knows that we are not of their species and yet they will still seek us out above their own kind. This is the kind of thing that annoys me the most - a little bit like the 'research' done into fructans and the 'science' behind it. Because loading a horse with chicory derived fructan directly into the stomach correlates to grazing practice? It wouldn't matter to me so much, PR, except that you dole out this 'information' with loaded words like 'insane' to every person who doesn't keep their horses as you would keep them. Don't be so quick to judge, I wouldn't tar anyone with the same brush nor every horse, I certainly wouldn't let you near mine.
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Sorry Dorian, I do tend to be simplistic for the fun of it. I'm a bit lost with your dogs and cats thingy. Don't worry too much it's only a forum, lol.

Equilibrium Ireland, I think your wonderful as well.:D
 
Pale Rider said:
Sorry Dorian, I do tend to be simplistic for the fun of it. I'm a bit lost with your dogs and cats thingy. Don't worry too much it's only a forum, lol.

Equilibrium Ireland, I think your wonderful as well.:D
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Damn it! I want to hate you and then you come out with something like this, and it makes me laugh :rolleyes: I must be insane or switched off :D
 
Thing about it is, there are many posts of Pale's that I love. Because lots of times good ole fashioned common sense!

I can't do smiley faces so pretend these are smiling o's oooooo!

Terri
 
PR I tend to like sense no matter who the point is against ;) but yes EI does talk some wonderful sense most of the time, actually just picked up a tip on the sugar beet thread for linseed which was awesome :D
 
Pale Rider said:
Fortunately for most owners, most horses are passives and are content to be treated like a bicycle.
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Really? Most? Not some of the horses I've met . . . and certainly not mine. You remind me of an acquaintance I happened to run into at Tweseldown last weekend - she was fence judging and was telling me about the new horse she had bought for her son . . . a 17.3 grey mare . . . NOT a gelding, because (she said) ALL geldings are boring and are ALL the same.

You have both made sweeping, ill-judged, badly-informed and (frankly) a tad insulting statements.

Really, if you tempered your statements somewhat more people would be prepared to take on board some of what you say . . .

P
 
Originally Posted by Littlelegs
Lmao at tunasomeone. Ditto everything Wagtail has said too.

Would just like to say how rude and condescending I find you both.
And in both your cases I feel that H&H stands for Horrible Haggs.
And just for the record it's Tuono, should have gone to specsavers.
Lots of love D.
 
Tbh, your opinion of me isn't something that remotely bothers me o'tuna o. If I was so inclined, I am more than capable of coming up with personal insults (except mine are generally more articulate than yours was) but you aren't worth the effort, & as an adult I usually manage to express myself without resorting to name calling.
 
PolarSkye said:
Really? Most? Not some of the horses I've met . . . and certainly not mine. You remind me of an acquaintance I happened to run into at Tweseldown last weekend - she was fence judging and was telling me about the new horse she had bought for her son . . . a 17.3 grey mare . . . NOT a gelding, because (she said) ALL geldings are boring and are ALL the same.

You have both made sweeping, ill-judged, badly-informed and (frankly) a tad insulting statements.

Really, if you tempered your statements somewhat more people would be prepared to take on board some of what you say . . .

P
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I'll agree with ill judged, sweeping and insulting.:D
 
tuonodeb said:
Originally Posted by Littlelegs
Lmao at tunasomeone. Ditto everything Wagtail has said too.

Would just like to say how rude and condescending I find you both.
And in both your cases I feel that H&H stands for Horrible Haggs.
And just for the record it's Tuono, should have gone to specsavers.
Lots of love D.
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Tuonodeb, have a care, I got banned for Horrid Harpies, lol. :D
 
Littlelegs said:
Tbh, your opinion of me isn't something that remotely bothers me o'tuna o. If I was so inclined, I am more than capable of coming up with personal insults (except mine are generally more articulate than yours was) but you aren't worth the effort, & as an adult I usually manage to express myself without resorting to name calling.
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So suddenly the victim, yep you're good congratulations.
 
My section A rising two year old wintered with two calves. She preferred them to the ponies she lives with normally! They played together and were really good friends the three of them. Even though she couldn't understand why they always slept lying down ;). Possibly looking like a Hereford helped her fit in :p I think company is important, at a pinch, other grazing animals will do.

B4A0A58A-B8C3-4DF3-A40D-35C81CECC3F5-495-0000004F223866C2_zpsd9f5aaa2.jpg
 
FfionWinnie said:
My section A rising two year old wintered with two calves. She preferred them to the ponies she lives with normally! They played together and were really good friends the three of them. Even though she couldn't understand why they always slept lying down ;). Possibly looking like a Hereford helped her fit in :p I think company is important, at a pinch, other grazing animals will do.

B4A0A58A-B8C3-4DF3-A40D-35C81CECC3F5-495-0000004F223866C2_zpsd9f5aaa2.jpg
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Looks nice.
 
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