Keeping a horse by itself - your opinions

I used to know a mare who had lived on her own for the past 20 or so years, she was extremely happy and lived on her own till the day she died, she didn't enjoy socialising with other horses and from what I know, never had! Some horses do just prefer it - but in my experience, it's not been common
 
I agree that in an ideal world every horse would have companionship that it got on with, would never be left alone when another was taken out etc etc.

However, we often don't live in an ideal world, and many people aren't fortunate enough to be able to afford multiple horses. I've also seen instances when a second horse/pony has been an impossible situation for owners to manage.

I think the best that we can do if we are forced into a situation where we can only keep a single horse is to make sure that that horse feels as secure as possible with plenty of attention.

There are also horses stabled 24/7 and even though they are on a large yard, they don't have the natural interaction of a herd animal.

I also pass a field where the horses are basically left to their own devices and breed foals every year. They have a more 'natural' lifestyle, but suffer from lack of attention regarding feet/ handling etc. In that situation I'd rather see an individual horse well looked after.

In domesticating horses everything is a compromise and providing we do the best in our abilities to keep a horse content and happy, then I think it is wrong to label someone as cruel for keeping a horse alone. Circumstances can change and you never know when you might have to face the same dilemma.
 
mcnaughty said:
How rude! How on earth can you possibly know how Tango's mum feels! Taking part in a forum discussion is nothing like interacting face to face with other humans - stupid comment.

As for keeping horses - in an idea situation all horses would be kept in herd environments - however I know several horses and ponies of all different types, sexes and ages that live by themselves very happily and never suffer any of the anxiety problems my mare does when she is seperated from her field mates. Actually, I would go as far to say that a horse by himself is happier than two together when one of those is taken out to exercise it. So if you have one by itself (by the way some on here are speaking) - you would need to get two more to make it happy.
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thankyou.....
this is why i dont bother. i cant work. dont really go anywhere.. ok i go shopping but only with my boyfriend..i feel ok talking on a forum as horses are my only interest, been around horses over 20 yrs, didnt start till quite late... i rode my pony yesterday and only went out for 20 mins, i was so scared but i did it.... when he was with other horses and they was seperated he didnt even look for them, when they was brought back he still didnt bother..
 
Wagtail said:
Also, I have to challenge you on the fact that you would be very happy without other people. You voluntarily come on this forum to chat with others. If you really didn't need any human interaction, there is no way you would do this.
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really??
i dont know anyone on here, cant see them, so am happy...i enjoy horse talk, not many of my friends are horsey.... i am out in the sticks no other horses dont know anyone.. had to move after divorcing my abuscive husband.. it took me 20 years to get out of that and take my kids...maybe now you understand...
 
Wagtail said:
I think you are in a very small minority. I love to be by myself a lot of the time (people drive me mad), but would hate it if I actually lived alone. Horses are even less likely to be content alone than people. Even horses that are rather anti social prefer to be kept with other horses as they feel safer. They are a prey animal and need others around to help keep watch. It has been proved that horses kept alone sleep much less than those tha live with others. You cannot possibly know how happy your horse is without horse company. At the moment you are what he relies on and so he will always be happy to see you and relaxed in your company, but you do not know how he feels when you are asleep or when you cannot be with him.
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Are the points in your posts validated, or your opinion? I'd be really interested to see the study done on sleep please :)

If you don't mind me saying so, you anthropomorphisise quite a lot in this post, and you seem to be making assertions which you can't possibly validate about this person's horse.

As a general rule, no I wouldn't keep a horse without company, preferably a stable herd to live with, and in descending order of preference from that; a companion horse, companion horses in neighbouring fields, or a companion animal(s) such as sheep. Some horses do seem worse off for company, or are even dangerous to other horses, many stallions being a case in point. I have no problem with anyone who has tried company for their horse but it didn't work out for the horse. However if it is purely for the human's benefit (keeping a horse at home but can't afford two for example; well put it on livery then, or take a livery yourself!) then that's not something I'm comfortable with.
 
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I have always said I woul dnever keep my boy on his own - my current yard nobody turns out so he practically does live alone aprt from me for company :o
He does see the horses on the yard when he is bught in but apart from that he has no contact with horses. Luckily I am moving next month so it wont be for long but I always feel sorry for him. He has adjusted to it really quickly & he always seems pleased to see me now where as before I was just his "food lady" lol!!
 
TheEquineOak said:
They are herd animals and that is how they should live.
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Dogs are pack animals but I know plenty of people who only keep one dog ;) The vast majority of cat species are solitary animals but most cat people I know keep multiple cats, so it's swings and roundabouts really.

As with everything in life, it's about individuals, some horses are fine on their own and some aren't.
 
NiknKia said:
i wouldnt be on the forum if it wasnt about horses. having been kicked in the chops (figuratively) by people I called friends more times than I can count I have to say people arent for me in the most cases. I sometimes cant be bothered with people in general and dont socialise much outside of a very small circle and even that has disappeared to almost nothing over the last wee while.

I like posting about horses but if I was told to walk away from it then I would without a second glance, its not necessary to me and I have to say I spend more time on here looking at things than I do interacting :)
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But could you walk away from all communication with humans? That would include books, TV, the telephone, the internet, the list is endless. I doubt there is a single person on this board that would be happy without some kind of human communication and just live with animals. The point is, you come on here because you choose to, despite saying you could quite happily walk away. You seek out others to talk to. It is irrelivant what the subject matter is. Keeping a horse alone is selfish and cruel unless there is a very good reason for it that is beneficial to the horse.
 
Spring Feather said:
Dogs are pack animals but I know plenty of people who only keep one dog ;) The vast majority of cat species are solitary animals but most cat people I know keep multiple cats, so it's swings and roundabouts really.

As with everything in life, it's about individuals, some horses are fine on their own and some aren't.
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Dogs are different because they see humans as part of their pack. Often they prefer humans to other dogs. Completely uncomparible.
 
I personally wouldn't, but think it depends on the horses personality (and breed)

I had a native type that before we got him was kept by himself (the owners purcahsed him off the moors as a 2yo, then they broke him and we bought him as a 6yo). Once we got him home, with around 10 other horses, it was pretty much impossible to seperate him. Competiting was also a nightmare - he'd be whinnying at everything and anyone, and if we'd gone with stablemates he'd bolt across the show ground not to be seperated from them.

I understand this is not a standard case either as most horses aren't got off the moors then kept by themselves whilst young and going through the breaking process but I think it was being on his own that caused him to be so needy. It took him a good few years to get over it and realise he was going home to other horses every night!!

ETS - also, think keeping a horse in its own paddock is completely different than completely on its own at an establishment. Know several horses that thrive having their own paddock if they a bullied/bullies themselves, but they can still see/smell/touch others
 
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i know plenty of folk who keep a single horse or pony and there are no problems at all. What a shame this post turned into one where terms like 'cruel' are bandied about. I also know many people with 2 horses who have terrible problems with separation anxiety, horse left behind goes mental and sweats up etc etc.
Surely each case should be examined by the type of horse and owner, not by a blanket rule that keeping a horse alone is 'cruel'. There are MUCH worse things horses are subjected to than being kept alone and (usually) extremely well looked after and much loved. Look at all those gypsy poines tethered by every motor way in the UK. They have company but are basically often neglected and not fed etc. Now that is cruel / abuse.
 
Wagtail said:
Dogs are different because they see humans as part of their pack. Often they prefer humans to other dogs. Completely uncomparible.
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Dogs are not different. Dogs are animals designed to live in packs. Just as cats are animals designed to live generally solitary lives. Just as horses generally are designed to live in herds.

Lol! I'm sure you realise how silly your comment is? Of course they are comparable. You can't just change facts to suit your own personal view. My guess is you either have a single dog or multiple cats ;) so you don't like the boot being on the other foot?
 
I have a horse who I suspect might be better off kept alone. He has had a really wierd background though and was on the verge of being put to sleep due to behaviour issues when I got him. He really loves other horses in that he suffers acute separation anxiety if other horses leave the field, but they also give him rather a hard time, which is tough to watch as he gets older. He thrives on attention from people and I have to make sure I take him away on his own to get it. However, I think that he would deserve and need substantial contact from people if his horsey company wasn't there. I don't think many can offer that, we generally spend a few hours a day with our horse - if we're lucky - then they are left to their own devices for maybe 20 hours every day. So, if I felt a horse behaviourally would benefit from living alone, I'd probably need his field at the bottom of my garden and need to be able to give him a lot of attention.
 
Spring Feather said:
Dogs are not different. Dogs are animals designed to live in packs. Just as cats are animals designed to live generally solitary lives. Just as horses generally are designed to live in herds.

Lol! I'm sure you realise how silly your comment is? Of course they are comparable. You can't just change facts to suit your own personal view. My guess is you either have a single dog or multiple cats ;) so you don't like the boot being on the other foot?
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Dogs should always have company, just as horses should. However, human company is just as good for dogs and they often enjoy it better. However, if you are going to leave your dog alone at any time then it should have another dog for company. We have four dogs, two of which are giant long haired breed and live out doors. We always ensure we have at least two outdoor dogs as they do not live in the house with us and therefore need the company.

Dogs are completely different to horses who rely on others of their kind for safety and mental well being.
 
Dogs are not different. Dogs are animals designed to live in packs. Just as cats are animals designed to live generally solitary lives. Just as horses generally are designed to live in herds.
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This made me smile.

:D < Like that

I'm one of those crazy peeps who believe in evolution.
 
Faracat said:
This made me smile.

:D < Like that

I'm one of those crazy peeps who believe in evolution.
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And tell me - how does living alone confer any selective advantage? To the contrary it restricts the gene pool to one - in fact none if a gelding. Evolution - doh
 
What a shame this post turned into one where terms like 'cruel' are bandied about.
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Not really, Hessy, because in some people's opinions it is exactly that 'cruel'. And of course we are all free to have our own opinions on what constitutes cruel or acceptible.
 
However, if you are going to leave your dog alone at any time then it should have another dog for company
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Lord even I don't think that, and i'm one of the rabid 'don't leave your dog at home alone and work full time' brigade.........:o:rolleyes:
 
Until this August, we have pretty much always had 2 horses. My horse was PTS, and we couldn't face getting another. 7 months later, our horse is happy, chilled (as long as he gets turned out before half 8 each morning!!) and has come out of the winter looking amazing. Yes, when we had Cheeky he dealt with being in better- we think he's mildly claustrophobic. But the difference is fairly unnoticeable and we've just got better at dealing with it. Sometimes, keeping two horses just isn't feasible.
 
Faracat said:
I'm one of those crazy peeps who believe in evolution.
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:D

scarymare said:
And tell me - how does living alone confer any selective advantage? To the contrary it restricts the gene pool to one - in fact none if a gelding. Evolution - doh
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Don't think anyone was suggesting evolution has created horses who want to be alone.

However, mankind kinda stirred up the evolutionary soup when we started selectively breeding, and what with the whole nurture side of learning, well we're bound to find the odd horse who doesn't act like the stereotypical evolutionary example.
 
Naturally said:
Are the points in your posts validated, or your opinion? I'd be really interested to see the study done on sleep please :)

If you don't mind me saying so, you anthropomorphisise quite a lot in this post, and you seem to be making assertions which you can't possibly validate about this person's horse.
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No, I have not made it up search on google "horses kept alone sleep" and you will find hundreds of references including:

Pascoe, Elaine. "How Horses Sleep, Pt. 2 – Power Naps". Equisearch.com. EquiSearch. http://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/behavior/eqpowernap1771/. Retrieved 2007-03-23.

and:

http://www.furrycritter.com/resources/horses/Clydesdale.htm

And I am not anthropomorphisising at all. I am taking the human world and suggesting that a human would not like to live without human communication, so why should a horse live without the company of other horses just because it suits us? :)
 
hessy12 said:
i know plenty of folk who keep a single horse or pony and there are no problems at all. What a shame this post turned into one where terms like 'cruel' are bandied about. I also know many people with 2 horses who have terrible problems with separation anxiety, horse left behind goes mental and sweats up etc etc.
Surely each case should be examined by the type of horse and owner, not by a blanket rule that keeping a horse alone is 'cruel'. There are MUCH worse things horses are subjected to than being kept alone and (usually) extremely well looked after and much loved. Look at all those gypsy poines tethered by every motor way in the UK. They have company but are basically often neglected and not fed etc. Now that is cruel / abuse.
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I think that equine company is every bit as essential to a horse's well being as kind and sympathetic handling. I feel very strongly about it and do think that it is cruel to keep horses alone so why can't I express that opinion. I am not alone in feeling this way.

Separation anxiety is caused by us not managing the situation well. Sometimes two horses can be a problem when we want to do our human things with them. The answer of course is to have a threesome or else keep the horses where there are others so they can be part of a larger herd. It only goes to prove how strong the horses instincts are to be with a companion. Horses kept alone may seem content, but that is because they have given up and shut down. It is a common psychological response to isolation. Often these horses are so badly damaged that they can never be kept with others again as they do not know how to socialise. I agree that some horses appear to cope better than others.
 
Spring Feather said:
Dogs are not different. Dogs are animals designed to live in packs. Just as cats are animals designed to live generally solitary lives. Just as horses generally are designed to live in herds.

Lol! I'm sure you realise how silly your comment is? Of course they are comparable. You can't just change facts to suit your own personal view. My guess is you either have a single dog or multiple cats ;) so you don't like the boot being on the other foot?
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I have addressed this earlier. My comment is not silly at all. There is a vast difference between dogs and horses and their relationship with us. I don't know about cats. I've never owned one, but I know that all of my four dogs choose to be with the human members of their pack and would happily leave the other dogs to go alone with the human. Not many horses would choose the humans over their herd (unless you had food). Dogs eat meat as do most humans. We are far more alike. But having said that, dogs should not be left alone for long periods of time either as they fret. That is why if you regularly leave them it is kinder to have more than one.
 
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amymay said:
Lord even I don't think that, and i'm one of the rabid 'don't leave your dog at home alone and work full time' brigade.........:o:rolleyes:
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I guess it is down to personal preference. I am at home all day, but if I regularly went out then I would not want to leave a dog on its own. A couple of hours here and there, okay but not if it's a regular or prolonged thing.
 
Have to say, I agree with the minority that there are cases when horses are better on there own and to put across that it is "cruel" or "bordering on abuse" when you do so I think is unacceptable.
I bought a pony last year which I ended up keeping on his own for a few weeks and was the best thing I could have done; when I got him no one could get anywhere near him and he would have NOTHING to do with humans, being on his own, if he wanted company he had to put up with me :D And he was down to be shot if he wouldnt come near anyone anytime soon so tbh I'm glad he decided he needed to make friends with humans afterall :P
He had also been in a herd where he was very much bullied and as soon as he was kept on his own his behaviour became a lot more chilled out, he would snooze and lay down a lot which he had not been able to do previously :D
But that is of course a very extreme set of circumstances and was for only about 3/4 weeks while he changed his ideas on life - he is now in a field with 3 others and is boss of them all ;) Will also not leave me alone, is broken, jumps, hunts the works. I am def grateful for the time he had to spend on his own though and it was definitely the right thing to do, so there are most definitely exceptions and it can hardly be accused of as being "cruel" or "abuse" and I agree with the few on here that is very narrow minded.

In this day and age horses have become domesticated creatures and they have to rely on us as we have ruined the natural world they would otherwise live in - this means they have to have a relationship with people and as much as some people would love to be all "au naturel" (I think!? :S) it just cant happen sometimes and the next best thing has to be done instead....
 
Wagtail said:
There is a vast difference between dogs and horses and their relationship with us.
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No there actually isn't. Dogs are animals. Even dogs are not silly enough to believe that humans are dogs ;) Dogs are opportunists and view humans as their meal ticket and providers and yes they may enjoy our company but not because they think we are dogs, Lol!

Dogs eat meat as do most humans. We are far more alike.
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:D I have to give it to you, you have a superb sense of humour. Pointing out the obvious here, most humans I know eat carrots, swedes, wheat, barley, greens, oats. Just like horses. Most of them also eat meat. Just like dogs. ;)

The inconsistencies in your posts are wild. You say it is unacceptable for single horses to live with goats and yet it's acceptable for single dogs to live with humans. Horses and dogs are both social animals designed (just for Faracat :D) to live within complex social structures. Evolution (via domesticity) has enabled these animals to adapt. Just as it has with budgies, canaries, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, mice, rats (all highly social and interactive animals within their natural environments) which are kept as pets, often alone and without the interaction of their own species.

Facts cannot be dismissed just because they don't suit your vision of what is acceptable.
 
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