Large Mixed Herd Turnout or Small Gelding Group?

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Harley122

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Hi, I've got a bit of a dilema. I currently keep my 4yr old gelding turned out on his own with horses next to him but the paddock he's in will get too muddy to be used all winter. My options are to keep him on my current yard and turn him out in a mixed herd of 16 other horses or move yards where he can go out with a group of 3/4 other geldings and I can't decide which is the best option!

I've only had him 3 months and over the last few weeks has really started to settle which is why I'm hesitant to move him. I just wanted to see what everyone's experience was of each option?

Thank you🙂
 
It does very much depend on the gelding but mine have been a pita in a mixed herd. They got very attached to the mares and were distressed at leaving them making it difficult to do anything with them. The last attempt of my gelding in with two mares resulted in both of them coming into season and then he started mounting them. He loved it but obviously the owners didn’t.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
It does very much depend on the gelding but mine have been a pita in a mixed herd. They got very attached to the mares and were distressed at leaving them making it difficult to do anything with them. The last attempt of my gelding in with two mares resulted in both of them coming into season and then he started mounting them. He loved it but obviously the owners didn’t.
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I think he will be quite playful atleast for a while but I've got no idea what he'll think of mares. He's really friendly so probably won't understand if some of them tell him to get lost. The thought of him charging round a big field is quite scary too!
 
New Forests Rock said:
I know its hard to move when they have settled well, but he will be happier with actual field buddies - of the same sex! Mixed herds can be a nightmare for all the reasons given above.
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I think he'll definitely be happier with friends and from what I've seen people do tend to go through a phase where youngsters can be a bit of a handful coming in but most seem to come out the otherside some how. I think part of me was considering it because a couple of new ones have joined the group recently without any issues but they are all older horses.
 
IME you can have just as many issues with small same sex herds if the mix of horses is wrong (which can land you in trouble if you don’t have options to shuffle around so that everyone’s with someone they like…).

I’ve had minimal issues keeping several different horses in large mixed herds on decent acreage where they have enough room to get out of each others way and enough resources that one or two of them can’t block the others from getting to them. (But again appreciate this only works if you’ve not got something riggy or that’s a nightmare for guarding things & that such setups work best as either full livery / some other system where they all come in at once & you’re not having to dodge gate hoggers, although small, same sex groups don’t guarantee these things won’t happen either)

Consider the land in each setup & how well it drains, how long it’s been rested for, if it’s got decent grass coverage (& if sufficient hay will be provided if not) and if sufficient acres per horse that it’s not all going to turn to horrid sludge! Does one option offer better shelter (even if trees and hedges rather than actual field shelter)?

If the field is ok and appropriate for number of horses and sensibly managed then it’s probably not something worth moving yards over if you like the place & are settled unless you know your horse has a history of issues being in with mares. (Or unless you’ve got specific concerns about one or more horses he’d be going out with)
 
If you had both options at your current yard I would say the smaller group of geldings. But as you are there already and you say he is settling well, could you try the larger field now for a bit - if he doesn't fit in well, move back to the smaller field and then organise the move to the other yard? It can work very well and the older geldings may well stop him being a pain with the mares (he might not be, of course). Agree that some smaller groups also don't work, just because of personality clashes!
 
it depends on how settle the herd are. I personally dont believe in single turnout, but If there are frequent changes with liveries coming and going you are better off with a paddock for him on his own.

Now, if the 3/4 geldings are settled id go with that.

Mine are all in mixed herds, but they all know each other and it works very well. The only issue i have is that my older gelding does get to be a PITA when we go out together. On his own hes fine , but out at another clinic he gets a bit nappy. He loves his ladies.
 
I have had mine in mixed herds most of my life, but now I just have the 2 geldings I cannot believe how much more relaxed they are! I won't go back!
 
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