Keeping a horse on its own....

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very very cruel IMO.

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fair enough - can you justify this?

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horses are social..interact, have little groups, be it 2/4/6..who will happily graze/sleep while one watches over/separate into demi-groups/keep flies at bay/mutual groom..

would you like some more?
 
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very very cruel IMO.

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fair enough - can you justify this?

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horses are social..interact, have little groups, be it 2/4/6..who will happily graze/sleep while one watches over/separate into demi-groups/keep flies at bay/mutual groom..

would you like some more?

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thats fine - i agree with you on every comment as far as horses in general are concerned. but please, be open to judging each case individually. as other members have said, some horses are too traumatised etc to socialise properly...and some, perhaps like my horse, dont really seem to crave other equine company. true, she has a friend down the road who we meet with for rides sometimes, and they enjoy a nice back scratch now and again, but in a field situation, she is not what i would term 'sociable' - she was nearly always a rank outsider among our ponies. indeed, when i did keep her at a friend's yard, the friend insisted that every horse be turned out individually to prevent possible injury - there must be many yards like this!

please read what i have written about my personal situation, earlier in the thread, and let me know if you retain your opinion regarding this case alone.
 
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very very cruel IMO.

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That is rather black and white, and I can't agree

My first pony was on her own for a time. When we brought in any other ponies, she didn't want to be with them, yet she was an extremely friendly, sociable pony who did get on with others.
 
All horse social groups have a heirarchy and its often flexible...my mare would be at the bottom for shelter but always first in for a feed. Standing around on the edge of a group doesn't mean a horse is unhappy or being bullied, it's just the way they organise themselves. I really think welfare should include emotional welfare and that does mean companionship of some sort. Nobody can be with their horse 24/7.

Even if another horse or pony is not an option, something like a goat or even a sheep can provide company at minimal cost and upkeep.

Separate turnout is common but at least the horses can see and hear one another, probably even groom over fences in many cases.
 
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All horse social groups have a heirarchy and its often flexible...my mare would be at the bottom for shelter but always first in for a feed. Standing around on the edge of a group doesn't mean a horse is unhappy or being bullied, it's just the way they organise themselves. I really think welfare should include emotional welfare and that does mean companionship of some sort. Nobody can be with their horse 24/7.

Even if another horse or pony is not an option, something like a goat or even a sheep can provide company at minimal cost and upkeep.

Separate turnout is common but at least the horses can see and hear one another, probably even groom over fences in many cases.

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trust me, my horse would KILL a goat!!!! she's absolutely terrified of the three that are kept at the farm; we introduced her to them as they were initially homeless, and the farmer had offered them to us if we wanted them....but ellie said a very definite NO!
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I am curious, how would anyone know if a horse minded or not about being alone? They are fundementally a herd animal, they look out for each other, they groom each other etc. Is it because they dont pace the fence line, or charge around or spend their time screaming? Is it because they have just got used to it, which is not the same as not being bothered by it. I am not sure it is cruel, but it is not ideal for the majority. How many of you are aware that horses always have a look out so others can rest? It is quiet rare to see all horses lying down, at least one will be stood up, even if it looks as if it is dozing it is in fact on look out duty. There are horses that find being in a stable difficult because they dont feel safe, they cant see danger, therefore cant relax. I wish at times people could remember that though they may cope, does not make it right. They coped in stalls for years when they were working in the Cities, but that obviously was not ideal. We forget it used to be acceptable to put a bear in a concrete compond, & think it funny to watch it pace up & down.
 
I think it's fair to say that nearly any horse (I can't actually think of an exception), given the choice, would prefer to live out over being stabled. Same goes for companionship. If you go to a zoo or safari park, or wherever, there are strict guidlelines about how the animals are kept, in this country anyway. You'd never see a herd or social species kept alone for example - one zebra? One lion? It would be considered cruel.

Horses have been domesticated for centuries and as a result, subject to the whims and fashions of humans. Many of them do cope, and it is all credit to them for suffering in silence. Then again, look at how many have "vices" and little "habits" which almost certainly stem from the stress of stabling and/or being kept alone. I'll say it again, every horse should have some kind of companion, even if it's just a goat/sheep/chicken...SOMETHING to bond with, provide mental stimulation and companionship. They are social, herd evolved animals, full stop.
 
With all other ponies I have had before April (who we have now) I wouldnt want to keep a pony on thier own.

However, we first had her at a busy livery yard and she wa so stressed all the time and just really moody all the time. She spent most o the time in the back of the stable just not happy. We had her there for a good six months at least (not quite sure as it was a while ago). We then moved her to my uncles farm which meant she was on her own but I can genuinely say that she is a different pony living there. So much calmer!
 
Providing the horse has enough stimulation going on in its life then I don't think it is the end of the world to keep them alone....however it is obviously not ideal either.

I would never choose to keep a horse alone. They need another to swat the flies, to watch over them when they sleep, to play with or at least to interact with, to scratch those itchy spots that they cannot reach themselves etc etc...
 
My horse is obviously an exception to the rule
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because he hates other horses with a vengance...he is a complete bully....he chases them, wont let them eat....until lately he has lived alone, for atleast the past 10+ years
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....I often worried about him being lonely and have tried a few horses in with him......he hated them all and injured a few of them..
I recently put my mams horse in with him(not that I wanted to.....but had little choice.....it took 3 months before I could let them out together...as my horse kept trying to run my mams horse into the fences and attacking him over the stable door
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they are now turned out together and he still bullys him....although not as bad...he wont allow him get within a few feet of him....will eat his food if I dont stand guard and bites him when he comes near me
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he has always been like this with other animals.......but im certainly not gonna have him PTS, I rescued him and when I took him from the sanctuary he was kept near to other horses but not in the same field....as he was a complete bully with the other horses....he scares other horses whitless....no matter how big.....they back off immediatley....which deflates the situation somewhat...but I know for a fact is is much happier on his own.

He injured a goat and stood on and killed numerous chickens
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he will just say tolerate the dogs, but has injured a few....he loves me though
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I keep my boy on his own and he has always been fine and more interested in eating! He can see and talk to horses over the hedge but they are not always there throughout the year. He has never shown any signs of being upset by it and does not even lift a head when the hunt go past!
 
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Cruel!

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sorry AmyMay..you cant say that....too black and white..you have to elaborate
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Damn you woman!!!

Ok. In a 'normal' situation I think that it is awful to keep a horse on it's own. They are heard animals and very social. Obviously lots are kept on their own, and yes they can get used to is. But what a solitary life they must lead.

I recognise that some animals are better off kept on their own - usually for tempramental reasons of one sort or another. But I would still be unhappy if they did not have companionship of one sort or another in an adjoining field.

I had to keep Amy on her own for a couple of months in the spring/summer as she was becomming increasingly aggressive with some of the younger horses - and they could not be risked.

She hated it, I hated it - and I'm sure that was a contributing factor to her damaging her tendon so badly. (Mad galloping around one day when horses nearby were moved).

It's not an option I would ever choose for a horse I owned again - and I would do everything in my power to prevent it.

This is an entirely different scenario from individual turnout - which I am not opposed to.
 
There have been a few studies into this recently, basically it is agreed that horses kept on thier own for long periods of time will suffer from long term stress even if they show no outward signs (as the cortizone levels in the brain actually drop below normal after long periods in animals like horses, elephants and pigs).
So where people say my horse copes fine with being on its own i would have to disagree and say it may appear to be fine but it is scientifically under stress which surely from a welfare point of view is cruel to the horse?
If you can't provide an equine companion at least get a goat or something although i think if you can afford another animal you can offer a home to a retired shetland!!!!
 
Dont think its right unless there is a reason for it, eg- my gelding is very riggy and trys to kill most other horses although he is in with my colt happily now, he has been a huge problem in the past.
 
To say it is cruel is a very sweeping statement. My own horses are in a mixed group of 2 mares and 2 geldings, with the two mini ponies kept in an adjacent small paddock. They are all very sociable and spend much time grooming each other etc. I have two friends who keep their horses entirely on their own. Both horses are ridden with others and never show any signs of being reluctant to leave their riding companions and return home alone. I wouldn't ever keep a youngster on its own though.
 
It depends on the horse...only you know your horse if is appears to be happy on its own then it probably is..my girl was kept on her own for a long time and she was never bothered even when other horses rode by she ignored them.
 
i agree with Ben_and_Jerrys - i personally think its a bit cruel to a keep a horse on its own. I know some horses might not seem to mind, but personally its not something i would ever consider.

Even tho Bloss really dosent like other horses and has to have her own paddock because of this, id never keep her on her own anywhere.
 
I disagree with it - most animals (humans and horses included!) are happier when they can interact with others of their own species.

Individual circumstances must be considered though.

If I owned a horse that "hated" being with other horses, I would keep it alone in the field with others in sight, preferably next to my horse's field.
 
I know/knew several that live(d) on their own and are/were happy as larry. Friend has a farm and had one horse. He lived with the cows. He'd been a whippers-in horse so had lived in a busy yard, but totally unbothered about being the sole horse on her farm, and still hunted on occasion.

There's a horse down the road from me that's been on its own for years. He came to stay for a fornight at the farm I was housesitting at, so looked after him, my two and the farm owners two. Said horse was not a jot interested in having new friends in the paddock next door.
I don't know his history, and why he's like that but he is.

Don't think any of mine would be that keen, but each to their own I think.
 
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