Keeping Horses on Their Own - Do You?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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I know that horses are herd animals and would rather have the company of others but is it really awful to keep them on their own?

This Winter things are going to be a struggle, my TB is going to have to come home (he has spent the last 18 months on a yard half an hour from my house) from around November time as last Winter he really struggled without the TLC he usually gets at home.

The problem is he is going to be kept on his own due to only having one stable that I can use, he needs to be stabled at night and during really bad weather he will be stabled during most of the day as well. It wouldn't work having one horse in and one horse out as I think they would both stress out (more so then if he was on his own) if they were separated.

He will only be home for a few months and then he will go back up to the yard were he will have company for the rest of the year. I was thinking of getting him a stable mirror and he'll get ridden out in company most weekends which I know isn't the same as having company at home but it's the best I can do.

I am really looking forward to getting him home but I am worried that he will be miserable on his own. Do any of you keep your horses on their own? How do they cope? Is there anything I can do to make it easier for him? Am I a really mean owner for even thinking about doing it? :(
 
I dont think if he's naturally not a stressy horse itd be a problem for a few weeks. Better than him dropping weight/starving. xxxx
 
When i got my horse back from loan she was on her own for a few weeks until i found a lovely companion.
In that time she was miserable & moped about calling out. I know this was stressing her out & this is not what i was wanting either.
As soon as i got my companion she settled back down.
She was used to having horses around her & it was a shock to her being an only horse.
So basically no she couldn't be kept on her own.

I do know of horses that do live on there own quite happily.

I suppose all you can do is give it a try, your horse will either be ok or he won't.

XxX
 
I cant keep my little guy on his own, he goes mad if he cant see another horse.

My friends mare is kept on her own and she is fine as long as she doesn't see another horse. If a horse goes by she gets pretty stressed out.
 
I know of a couple of horses that live on their own. I'm told that they prefer it (one goes for any other horse if it's in the same paddock nor is he too keen on horses being nearby; he's fine at shows though).

If you try it and he doesn't settle, can he go back?
 
My Mum kept her childhood horses at home with no company and they were always fine. I think if the animal in question is fairly quiet, not prone to stressing easily and doesn't despise being left alone then it will be fine. However, I certainly wouldn't advise keeping a horse prone to stressing alone. One of the girls in my PC did this and her Thoroughbred lost 10KG in the space of 2 months through not grazing and just standing at the gate.

Horses are herd animals at the end of the day and its just not natural for them to live alone.
 
Unless in a dire emergency I wouldn't keep a horse on their own personally. I know some horses do just fine but it doesn't seem right to me. Sorry, just my opinion.
 
I think it very much depends on your horse. My friends 36yr old is kept on her own although there are horses next door that she can just about see. In a ideal world she would have a companion but hand on heart she has not fussed at all, she actually seems happier on her own. She is very much loved and gets lots of human company, she has four acres of field to potter around in and a totally draft free stable for those long winter nights. She is kept on a busy ish road so lots going on and lots of horses going past but she hardly ever lifts her head to look at them.

I think you've just got to try and see how it goes for your boy xx
 
He has been on his own in the past for a few weeks and he wasn't visibly stressed out, just a bit quieter then usual, in some ways I think he was better behaved as he wasn't constantly worried about what the other horses were doing. I'm just worried that he will be miserable which may make him drop weight when the whole point of bringing him home is to stop him turning into a hat rack. I also think a lot of people will give me stick for keeping him on his own :(

MrsM - I don't think I would take him back up there because last winter he struggled so much, the yard is to far away for me to go up there more then once a day, when he's home he'll get fed 3 times a day. If he really gets depressed on his own I guess I'll have to look at other options.
 
My horse prefers having his own company (although he does field share with 2 donkeys - who he loves, but he has always loved donkeys)

If I put him in the other field with the rest of the horses he walks up and down his section, never settles and stresses generally!

Last winter he went out with a mare, who he managed to bully successfully out over the hedge...

He definately prefers the donkeys!!

Not all horses thrive with company - mine definately dosent!
 
I kept my teenage cob on his own ( but within sight of three other sad solitary beasts), for the first three years I had him and constantly felt so guilty, as although he is a very quiet type he always seemed depressed and sad and was soooooo pleased to see me when I made my daily visit. When he did get a chance to be out with another horse he seem really happy and indulged in lots of mutual grooming and grazing nose to nose. One day he took fright on his own and jumped out of the field and made his way to a small group of horses that he stood next too and grazed by until we found him.
I bought my youngster because we hope to move to my OH croft soon and I knew fat Cob would be lonely and sad and scared with no horse in sight, and it seemed pointless to buy a sh**land when anorther riding horse made sense. After the intial shock of having a bouncy 4 year old foisted upon him, he soon got over it and his personality changed and his fitness level!. They are "joined at the hip" now and neigh to each other when parted or at reunion and I never feel worried when I leave them together as they both have a mate.
I would NEVER let a horse live on his own again. I think it is unkind and wrong.
 
My three are all out on their own. However, they can all see other horses all the time. The reason they are out on their own is: TB gets seperation anxiety so not worth it. ISH is a bully and loan pony isn't mine so don't want him out with either of the other 2 in case something happens!!

They are all fine and quite happy!!
 
My first horse, would physically not live on his own...he would just pace and not eat...
However my present horse really could not care less either way!! Never has, and hopefully never will!
My little sisters pony however, hated being left on his own...
So really its going to depend on the horse! But keeping a horse on its own is fine in my opinion, so long as the horse doesnt mind :) x
 
There was a thread a little while ago about horses being allowed to "say goodbye" when one of their field companions is PTS, as it helps with grieving. Someone then pointed out that when a horse is sold, there is no warning, it just disappears, so no "goodbyes" can be said. Near to me is a field that, until very recently, had four horses in it. Virtually overnight three of them moved elsewhere, leaving one (relatively young) horse on his own. They had been together for almost three years. I do actually feel quite sorry for the one left, as he cannot posibly understand where the others have gone. He spends hours just standing, and looking over the fence. I do go and give him a fuss sometimes, but it is sad to see him. I wonder occasionally if he is showing signs of missing them in other ways?
 
when I first got Shy, he was at a livery yard where each horse had to have it's own paddock. I think it was a shock for him, being a baby, and coming from a field with other youngsters.

When I moved him, he joined a gang, and didn't look back. Tbh, I would never keep him on his own again, I learnt my lesson seeing the difference in him.

sm x
 
From the sounds of your horse kepping him alone for a short period shouldn't be a problem.
However long term I don't think it's a good idea and I would have a death wish if i tried to keep any of mine alone!
 
While I wouldn't keep a horse completely on their own I do have to keep Lil in a field on her own but in sight of others. If you turn her out with other horses she's fine in the field but she gets terrible separation anxiety if you bring her in to ride, spends her whole time stressing and weaving and borders on being dangerous to handle as she is so desperate to get back to her companion. We tried her in a field on her own and she's a different horse. She stressed for a few days and then settled down and got on with life. Everyone who sees her says that she's a different horse. Docile and happy.

Sorry for hijacking OPs thread but thought I'd post a different perspective to those people saying individual turnout was wrong for their horse.
 
Groom42 said:
There was a thread a little while ago about horses being allowed to "say goodbye" when one of their field companions is PTS, as it helps with grieving. Someone then pointed out that when a horse is sold, there is no warning, it just disappears, so no "goodbyes" can be said. Near to me is a field that, until very recently, had four horses in it. Virtually overnight three of them moved elsewhere, leaving one (relatively young) horse on his own. They had been together for almost three years. I do actually feel quite sorry for the one left, as he cannot posibly understand where the others have gone. He spends hours just standing, and looking over the fence. I do go and give him a fuss sometimes, but it is sad to see him. I wonder occasionally if he is showing signs of missing them in other ways?
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That is wrong in my opinion. To leave a horse on its own after being with others. Nope. Can't get my head round it.
 
Not quite the same but my horse is in a field with one other pony so when is taken out the other is left on his own. My old pony and current one both had no problem being without the companion pony and I think they prefer it as he is a bully to the others.

But the bully is awful left on his own, he trots up and down the fenceline neighing and just being a pain in general.

So I think its fine for a horse to be on their own if they cope with it well, if they get stressy like this Iw ould not recommend it. And he gets worse at night so your boy might be fine during the day on his own but at night might be frightened.
 
I will be shot down in flames for saying this.....but some really are not bothered about having company.
My first pony HATED company....he would go for anything in his field wether it was another horse, sheep, etc etc. He hated company out hacking. But he was fine at shows! We used to worry..so we tried a friends pony...the sheep got chased so much we had to get them out....the dog couldnt go anywhere near the gate! he just loved people.

Second horse wouldnt be without lots of other horses.

Several of the other horses i used to ride for other people were kept on their own and wernt in the slightest bit fussed if they had a friend or not.

I think it really depends on the horse. Some are so dependant on the company of other horses that it would be cruel to keep them alone, some are happy if there are horses near or they have a sheep for a friend...some are happy mooching about alone. If they are alone, as long as there are people around often enough to say hello to them and give them something to look at i.e you coming and going, peoples voices etc etc they will be happy enough. I think my horse like his own company as we were having building work done the whole time he lived with us and he could watch/hear them chatting all day. Also my mum was at home all day working from home and so she would be in and out all the time.
Your horse will soon let you know. If he is not happy then move him back straight away...if he doesnt seem worried im sure a few weeks wont hurt.
 
We did. We had our companion 2 years before either of the others (long story!) and she was fine. Her previous home she had been at 8 years with sheep for company but not horses, and she's never fussed about being on her own, but it was what she was used to. Now we've got another, who I regularly compete, and although she's very attached to him, she's used to him coming and going and never stresses for very long. I think it might have been a different story had she been living with other horses before us. Each horse is different and what works for one won't for another, you just have to try it!
 
Depends on the horse- some cope fine but most would prefer to at least see others.
I'd try him but be prepared to get a *****land in case he doesnt settle- you can always pen it up outside your stable when yours is in- it'd be fine with a little rug on and some hay I'm sure.
 
I've only had one horse that it happened I had alone and he was fine. It was only for a few months and then I found a friend to share the field but he had no issues. I think it really does depend on the horse and on how much time you can spend with them too.

Also, when I was a kid I had a friend who kept her horse alone for years. She had a barn cat that slept in his stable and the two were very fond of each other. Company doesn't have to come in the form of a horse.

Sounds like your horse has been fine for short periods alone in the past so he's likely to be okay. And don't worry about what other people think or say - you are obviously concerned about his happiness and doing your best to keep him healthy.
 
I do, he's fine on his own, happily grazes and isn't bothered if other horses come by the field.

I did have a mare on LWVTB that had never lived on her own and she hated it, she stood by the front room window all the time talking to herself. I had arranged to get a shetland as a companion but as it turned out she wasn't right and went back before the end of the trial period anyway.

As others have said I think it depends on the animal.
 
I did keep my little section A on her own for 9 weeks whilst my cob was being broken in,she was NOT happy and cleared the fence,so had to put electric fencing where she got out.I know a horse whose been on his own for years and he seems happy enough!! Depends on the horse really!!!
 
Seth said:
Of course I don't. It's cruel.
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But what if that horse is actually happier on its own? Which would be more cruel - being stuck with a load of horses that it hates and being miserable or allowed to eat and relax in peace?

I have known some horses that ARE happier on their own, and to brand all horses being kept alone as cruel is a bit harsh.

My horse has been on her own for a few months at a time and is quite happy with the situation and couldn't give a toss when her fieldmate is taken away or put back in the field.

Yes, there are some horses that it would be cruel for, but certainly not all.
 
My old boy was on his own for about 10 years. And was happy with his own company, we tried a companion, but he was really unhapy with it.

However, he is now in a herd of 22 others ( long story, so wont bore you with the details), and there is no way he could now live on his own, I think he now realises that being with a herd is much nicer.

However, if the choice was to keep him on his own, or let him go really down with company, then I would keep him on his own.

I guess you will have asked, but can ytou not leave some feed at you current yard and ask some one to give him an extra feed?
 
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