keeping horses on their own

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Jericho

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I know this is likely to open a can of worms but I was looking for positive stories about horses being kept on own.

I keep mine at home, within sight of the house on 4 acres with stables etc. I am at home the majority of the time with the dog and chickens.

Up until now I have had my mare for 2 1/2 years who I ride about once or twice a week and compete now and again for 2 1/2 years - she is a very stoic girl, nothing much bothers her, she doesnt show much emotion, will do anything, go anywhere type of horse. She doesnt get bored, she likes a quiet life and doesnt go seeking adventure. She is very happy pottering around the field, eating and lying in the sun and occassionally getting out for a nice hack (where she is forward going and enjoys a good gallop!)

During this time, I have always had a companion for her as is always advised, however I have just had to give the last companion back because he was a nightmare, breaking fences, and just generally being a hooligan and so at the moment she is on her own whilst I look for a replacement. However after spending time with her today, I can genuinely say I dont think I have ever seen her soo chilled out. She was friendly, affectionate, ears forward and just relaxed. She is spending time in her stable (door is left open to come and go) even lying down in there which I have never seen before.

When she has had a companion she would spend a lot of her time fielding them off her with ears back, she hated other horses being too close, would always get shoved out the way by the more forward companion and often would come across as quite aloof. She would always be the one leading the way, would often be seen at the opposite end of the field from her companion and never shows any seperation anxiety. I have seen her scratch necks with others but only at their insistence and she always breaks off first.

I am seriosuly considering not getting another companion - I have had a nightmare with the last 2 both of which she didnt particularly like - and I am finding because of the less work involved with having just one I am spending more time with her - grooming, riding, which I must admit is lovely.

In short she seems absolutely fine, indeed outwardly she shows only positive behaviour (the only difference I can see is that she is more friendlyer to me perhaps suggesting that she wants company) but keeping her on her own goes against everything I have been taught about horses.

Arghhh please help -am I being terribly cruel or should I just see how it goes? WHo else keeps their horse on their own?
 
I have my boy on his own, Whilst he can interact in the winter with horses over the fence he actually prefers to be stabled on his own. I would like to have another but I really don’t want a pair bond to develop as ive had too many problems with that happening in the past. He seems happy enough though on his own.
 
I wouldn't say you're being cruel, on the basis that she's well looked after etc... but your mare may have calmed down because the other hooligan horse has left (which actually may have made you more stressy - and she may have picked up on this, and how you have now probably relaxed yourself)
She is being more attentive to you because she has no other communication with any other animals. Dogs and chickens don't count :P

I've heard of some people getting sheep and the like, with bizarre success to keep company lonely horses. To me, all in all, no amount of human contact is really the same as having another horse there (well, ne that they get along with!)
 
My current boy is on his own, and I was worried about it, however we do go out with another pony, and go to pony club, and even then he could not care less about the other ponies, he seems to crave the human attention more.

I suppose some are just happy with their own company
 
She is probably more affectionate because she appreciates your company and she may think that her companion's absence is temporary and he will come back. I had a mare who I thought coped with being on her own quite well, but gradually she got more "friendly" until one day I got a call from my mum on her mobile to say she had gone to do a bit of pooh picking and when she finished the mare wouldn't let her out of the field! We got the mare a little shetland from the local rescue centre as a companion and my mum could pooh pick in peace!
 
OP it is very common for horses on their own to become more affectionate towards their human. Afterall, it is all that they have. Said human, then becomes convinced that they are happier alone because whenever they see their horse, it is happy to see them and nice and relaxed. However, a human cannot be with a horse 24/7. In fact, a horse kept on its own is likely alone for 22 hours every day. No wonder they are happy when the only company they have in their lonely lives appears and makes a fuss of them. Having said all that, there are, undoubtably some horses that genuinely ARE happier without other equines. Just like some humans prefer to be on their own, so too do some horses. Sometimes it is merely due to the fact that they have been separated at an early age and don't know how to socialise, sometimes it is due to having a traumatic experience with another horse, and sometimes it is because they are a danger to other horses.

It may well be that your horse is one of those that prefer to be alone. But if she is, then she is a very rare animal indeed. I suspect that she just has not gelled with the right companion. Imagine if we, as humans were just lumbered with a random person to be our 'forever' companion? How likely is it that we would enjoy their company? Highly unlikely I suspect, although if it was that or nothing, then maybe we would make do. In a perfect world our horses would be out in a large herd and be free to pick and choose their companion. Of course, this is not often practical. I expect that you have not yet found a horse that your mare is compatible with. Though I don't know what the solution is, other than to contact a rescue centre and see if they would be prepared to let you trial a companion? Good luck.
 
I think that there are some horses who seem to prefer their own company, especially mares. I know one who was positively grumpy and obnoxious when she was in with others, but relaxed and content on her own.

I'd let your horse be the judge and if she is settled and happy then she sounds as if she'll be fine. :)
 
Up until buying my stupid youngster my boy was on his own and couldn't see any other horses either. He was always ok but I must admit when I got Ollie and put them together he was in his element however they have really bonded. Ollie doesn't mind leaving D but D stresses when me and Olls go out for a walk so I do worry what he will be like next year when Olls has to go away to be backed- I'm dreading it as he just stands and calls when we go out!!!

If your ponio is happy enough on her own I would say stop worrying.
 
I'm sure all over the world there are millions of horses being kept on their own. But they are herd animals, and IMO should have one of their own kind with them.

I had a very very difficult mare once, with mega problems, and I only discovered the cause after a lot of rersearch into her former owners. From 18 months to 3.5 years she'd been kept on her own. There wasn't even another horse within sight. She never recovered from that poor start, though she was a very highly talented and successful mare. No horse had taught her the rights and wrongs of horse society, and she was like a badly behaved child. When she first came to me she had no idea of how to mingle with, or even live alongside, other horses. It took her about 2 years, and once the penny dropped she was a far more stable - not to mention far safer - horse.
 
Reggie is on his own at the moment. He can see others (neighbouring and adjacent field) but he doesn't really socialise with them beyond occasionally having a "I'm a mad TB and I can GALLOPPPP" moment and whipping them up into massive frenzy of coloured cob. He promptly chills again and resumes the important task of eating, and they continue the mad frenzy!

He's chilled, happy and easy-going on his own. Over the winter, he had a donkey chum and they were perfectly happy together. When Donks went to do companion duty with someone else, Reg remained just the same... He likes Al best and always has done, even when he did have 'proper' field mates (my old horse). When his old field mate was PTS, he had a few days of being a bit unsettled, and then just moved on and he's never seemed bothered since. Ideally, he will have a companion but that won't happen for a while. He looks well, is happy and isn't stressed and that's all that matters- and he's a worrier who does get in tizzes, so if he's coping this well he must be ok.
 
I have kept my mare alone and with company, she is currently alone, and in my experience, unless you have a horse that is a simiar age or is quiet with her, she gets picked on and bullied as she is an older girl now. It didn't used to be like that when she was younger, but now she is getting on, she prefers a quieter life. My mums older mare was the same.
 
Years ago I had a stressy hunter mare, she was a nightmare living with other horses. Everything came to a head when she jumped out of her stable and got stuck when the horse in the next stable was taken out.

The yard at the time had had enough, they had to remove the door to free her. They converted a stable in the cow barn for her. She lived with a herd of cattle and calmed down completely, she loved them. She did still see the horses but actually prefered being with the cows, even in the field.

When I moved her she became equally attached to a couple of sheep in her field.

I could still put her out with horses, she just no longer attached herself to them.

Perhaps a couple of sheep or goats would be an easier way to keep her company. They help with keeping fields worm free too.
 
My boy has been alone and in company. My two girls are pretty well bonded. When I first put the girls in with my boy (who had been alone for a short while before) he was so happy, it was lovely to see and they all get on really well together. While he was on his own though he was coping really well, not a stresshead at all, but he is blatantly much happier with the girls :)
 
It sounds as though your horse is very well cared for, but I do think they should be with one of their own kind, even if they seem like they arent that bothered. I would say the other companions weren't right for your horse, but really the only one that really knows your horse is you. I have horses that are kickers that are in a paddock on their own, but will always have another one next door for interaction etc.
 
Mine is on his own, set up much like yours, he loves his doggie pals and being around me and them. He is fine, and really not that interested in other horses when we hack, or when they go past. Depends on the horse I think. Mine is a worrier but no in HIS home area. He is happy and relaxed but if spooked does look to us for reassurance. But then he did that anyway when he had a companion, who he hated!!
 
trouble is its not one companion but two you need to stop the issue of taking one out. Easy for me to do cos I've got 26 acres. Ideally you'd get a couple of Shetlands or similar. Trouble is when I went down this route one got lami. No easy answer I'm afraid and I'm sure you are beating yourself up enough anyhow,
 
Pony lives out on his own. Although I see him regulary and he is often being petted by passers by. And he's happy enough.

He did used to have a companion but she got moved so he's on his own.
 
I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer to this one. My boy came to me in October last year from a reasonably large livery yard where he had lots of (equine) company, to our family stables where he is one of 4. The boy and I do ride out with two of the others on occasion where he gets hot and unless is directly following the mare, can be a little unruly shall we say, but never too naughty/dangerous. The other horses are owned by family members who run on a different routine to me and had decided to turn their horses away for a winter holiday on the farm away from the grazing fields. This is within eyeshot of him but not immediately next door. I was concerned about how he would react to this as when he first arrived here he suffered terribly with scours and although it had started to improve the slightest stressful encounter set us right back. Within a matter of days of the other horses being turned away he had chilled right out and his scours had totally stopped without the aid of haylage balancer or any supplements. There is no doubting he loves being with other horses and seeing them when we're out hacking but in terms of his general behaviour and stress levels (using his dungs as a 'measurable' yardstick!) he is super chilled and not bothered at all about being on his todd.

In my limited experience of horses I think they're all as varied as we are, some take to changes better than others. If it's working for yours then why not?
 
I have one and friend does too that are absolute loners and will normally be half a field away, if not in the next one to the rest of the herd.
However when they have their mad moments both horses love joining in and having a run around, play and groom. Then take themselves off again. I've yet to meet one that will separate all the time.

Also have one out with ours that was completely disinterested in the herd even though they'd keep bringing her back over. She had far more interest in people and dogs than horses. After a couple of weeks she moved over to the other herd out and is very sociable with both herds now.

I think it's perfectly possible to keep one by themselves and them not be overly fussed. But I think it is rare as wagtail says. And think it's often that they haven't had the right companion/herd. If there is danger to human or another horse then I would keep separate though.
 
I used to ride a horse who was kept on his own, with no other horses in sight, and who was as happy as Larry. He happily hacked out with others if needed.
I would say if your horse looks stressed by being on its own, then something needs to be done. But if he/she is happy, good times! Guess horses, like us, are all different.
 
I don't like horse kept alone. I think that a lot of owners are fooled by their calmness and affectionateness into thinking they are ok because they are not charging around neighing.

There is an old horse in the next field to us, she has been on her own for at least 15 years. She has sheep and cows for company (but doesn't mix unless there is haylage) and about thirty acres to roam. There are footpaths go through the fields, and she comes and has a fuss off anyone walking by. She seems a chilled and happy old lady. Yet if she happens to be near the fence when you ride past, she will immediately go into grooming/communicating mode over the fence, as though she is desperate for contact...

Another friend had a neighbour across the road with a pony that lived in the orchard, alone, and again seemingly perfectly happy. After about ten years, the granddaughter's pony was unwanted and dumped in the paddock too. The original pony became so obsessed with it, she followed it around everywhere, and got really upset if it went out for a ride..
 
She's calm because her companion, who she didnt like, has gone. She needs company though. And to keep her alone is cruel.
 
It's selfish, cruel, & completely wrong imo. There is the rare one that is happier with just a friend in an adjacent field, or very close by. Or the odd one that needs to live like that for everyones safety. But otherwise I think its unacceptable. Along with many other things, I'd make it something that resulted in prosecution for cruelty.
 
Wagtail said:
OP it is very common for horses on their own to become more affectionate towards their human. Afterall, it is all that they have. Said human, then becomes convinced that they are happier alone because whenever they see their horse, it is happy to see them and nice and relaxed. However, a human cannot be with a horse 24/7. In fact, a horse kept on its own is likely alone for 22 hours every day. No wonder they are happy when the only company they have in their lonely lives appears and makes a fuss of them. Having said all that, there are, undoubtably some horses that genuinely ARE happier without other equines. Just like some humans prefer to be on their own, so too do some horses. Sometimes it is merely due to the fact that they have been separated at an early age and don't know how to socialise, sometimes it is due to having a traumatic experience with another horse, and sometimes it is because they are a danger to other horses.

It may well be that your horse is one of those that prefer to be alone. But if she is, then she is a very rare animal indeed. I suspect that she just has not gelled with the right companion. Imagine if we, as humans were just lumbered with a random person to be our 'forever' companion? How likely is it that we would enjoy their company? Highly unlikely I suspect, although if it was that or nothing, then maybe we would make do. In a perfect world our horses would be out in a large herd and be free to pick and choose their companion. Of course, this is not often practical. I expect that you have not yet found a horse that your mare is compatible with. Though I don't know what the solution is, other than to contact a rescue centre and see if they would be prepared to let you trial a companion? Good luck.
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Ditto.

Not going to beat about the bush. I think it's cruel to keep a horse by itself. Plenty of horses seem 'fine' on their own but plenty of horses with a badly fitted saddle seem 'fine' too. If I could not provide a friend for my horses (just the same as if I couldn't feed it properly, exercise it properly or keep it healthy) I would not keep a horse.
 
Littlelegs said:
It's selfish, cruel, & completely wrong imo. There is the rare one that is happier with just a friend in an adjacent field, or very close by. Or the odd one that needs to live like that for everyones safety. But otherwise I think its unacceptable. Along with many other things, I'd make it something that resulted in prosecution for cruelty.
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I think we may have been reading the same horse manual! And we should so be allowed to write the laws.

It is now illegal to keep horse by itself in Norway. And completely against the 5 Freedoms used over here.
 
Honey08 said:
IThere is an old horse in the next field to us, she has been on her own for at least 15 years. She has sheep and cows for company (but doesn't mix unless there is haylage) and about thirty acres to roam. There are footpaths go through the fields, and she comes and has a fuss off anyone walking by. She seems a chilled and happy old lady. Yet if she happens to be near the fence when you ride past, she will immediately go into grooming/communicating mode over the fence, as though she is desperate for contact...
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That's so so sad. So common to see and so heartbreaking:( We rescued a little old mare in a very similar situation.
 
Equivalent to cruelty? Seriously? Why aren't you intent on prosecuting people for keeping just one dog? They are pack animals.
Each situation has to be looked at and dealt with accordingly, rather than a blanket edict.
Hope those solitary horses in Norway haven't ended up in Tesco's burgers...
 
I know its in the five freedoms, but nobody actually gets prosecuted or has their horse confiscated because they don't. Agreed kallibear, I'd make the penalty a pappilon style solitary confinement.
It's an amazing coincidence how people who find it convenient to keep one alone always magically own horses that, contrary to survival instinct, prefer to be alone.
I can't actually afford a third at the mo, but I reckon there is a good chance mine, & potential new one, aren't at all bothered by not having enough to eat, or hoofcare, vets etc, so I can now buy one & trot that line out as my justification. 'My horses are just as happy/prefer to go hungry'. That will be fine.
 
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