Leaving yearling alone for the first time - am I being pathetic?

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Esme2015

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Hi all

I have read a thread on this here which was useful, so I hope you don't mind me posting again as I would be interested to hear more opinions and that thread was a good few years old.

My friend and I have three horses between us in our new private yard. They moved in a week ago. We want to take our two mares out for a ride on Saturday and my yearling will be left alone. I have read many opinions on leaving horses alone but in my opinion, I want my yearling to be happy by herself so that I can leave her and I know she won't be stressy. She has been left overnight once, a few months ago.

Our horses have been out in their paddock settling in together (my two hadn't met my friend's mare before). We plan to bring them all in to their stables Saturday, with hay, and groom and tack up the two mares. Once it's time to go, we'll close the top stable door on my yearling, pass her some more hay, and then go for a ride. We've been invited to go for a 45 min hack by the lady who owns our field but I am feeling like a bad mum - I was originally going to take mine out for say 15 mins and start building the time up to a full hack. Once we're back, my yearling will get a little hard feed. I was debating whether to give her hard feed just as we are leaving (I read this on a thread somewhere) but I'm concerned she might colic with stress.

Am I just being pathetic and a fussy mother and should we just go for it? My yearling is not the stressy type but obviously this will be different for her. It will also be the first time she has been in her stable here (although she is very used to being stabled).
 
Esme2015 said:
Am I just being pathetic and a fussy mother and should we just go for it? My yearling is not the stressy type but obviously this will be different for her. It will also be the first time she has been in her stable here (although she is very used to being stabled).
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lol, just a bit! Leave her with plenty of hay and the top door shut. Does she do toys? (3x 4pint milk bottles without the tops, tied tightly together with string, can be very entertaining!)
 
JanetGeorge said:
lol, just a bit! Leave her with plenty of hay and the top door shut. Does she do toys? (3x 4pint milk bottles without the tops, tied tightly together with string, can be very entertaining!)
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Ha, thank you! I think I need a kick up the proverbial! She's never done toys, but I think I will try her with some - that's a brilliant idea about the milk bottles!!!
 
You will not know how she will react until you do it. I would not leave her alone for 45mins though just in case. How about you tack up and let your friend lead your mare out and see how your yearling reacts first? You can join up the road if possible.
 
equi said:
You will not know how she will react until you do it. I would not leave her alone for 45mins though just in case. How about you tack up and let your friend lead your mare out and see how your yearling reacts first? You can join up the road if possible.
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My OH could lead my mare out I guess. The thing is it is the first time we are riding out in the new location too, so there's lots of variables in play, my friend is really quite nervous and OH not enormously experienced. I'm also concerned about my mare acting up and would rather be in control of her than anyone else. I'm probably over thinking it but I'd rather be the one she's silly with than anyone else, if she does play up as she will get short thrift from me (and also be more confident). She might be liable to be worse if I stay behind in the field - aaargh! Think we will just bite the bullet but do a shorter ride up the road?
 
adamntitch said:
Why would you punish a yearling for not liking being left alone
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I am assuming you are referring to my above post when I mention 'my mare?' When I do so, I'm referring to my adult mare who is 15, she is my yearlings mother! I'm certainly not thinking of punishing my yearling!
 
a yearling left in a strange stable for 45 minutes alone can produce a large vet's bill if something goes wrong plus it will not set her up very well for being left alone in the future. I think it will be a really useful skill for her to learn to be alone and I would teach it in very small chunks of 5 minutes at a time.
If you really need to leave her can't your OH keep checking her or alternatively go and sit with her and read a book to keep her company for the first time your other horses are away?

a yearling may not even be a year old, mine is only 8months. He is calm and rational but no way would I leave him for 45 minutes alone. Plus there is the problem if something goes wrong with your ride and you don't get back in 45 minutes.
 
If only all horses were taught to cope alone, properly taught it sets them up for the rest of their lives and would eliminate a lot of poor nappy behaviour as they mature.

All I did with mine was incremental periods of time leaving them alone ensuring a safe environment when I did it and a bribe of a few nuts in a bucket and hay.
 
You say she was left once before, how did she react then?

When our two year old was left for the first time I gave him a big bucket of chaff, with some carrots and a few nuts sprinkled through it just as the other two horses were leaving the yard. He also had a big pile of the best hay - I also made sure he was a little bit hungry beforehand as well. When they left he didn't even look up til he had finished his bucket! I think he had one whinny when another hacked past but that was it, didn't seem stressed at all. I did stay on the yard to keep an eye on him though. He can now be left quite happily all day whilst the others go out hunting.
 
I would build up in increments and make sure you are around the first few times. Can your friends take out the mares and you stay with the yearling? I've always had youngsters who are happy enough being left by exposing them gradually and my current 4yo doesn't even bother when left by himself. I've never done it by stabling with the top door shut either, though obviously not everyone will agree with that.
 
Yearling absolutely needs to learn to be alone for periods of time.

However I personally wouldn't be doing it as you suggest. I'd build things up over a couple of weeks and also make sure your yearling knows what a nut ball is all about!!

If you really are just going to shut the top door and head out for 45mins I'd make sure there was an experienced person left behind keeping an eye and able to intervene if needed.
 
I would leave someone on the yard (OH?) so that you can see exactly how she reacts and yes, as above, probably start with a smaller amount of time. But otherwise I do think you're doing the right thing - she needs to learn to be left, it will be an invaluable life tool! She may not really be bothered, some horses aren't.
 
Unless your yearling is used to being shut in the stable with the top door shut then I really wouldn't it that way because you'll be giving her two new things to cope with at once (shut in a box AND being on her own) and are more likely to make her afraid of being alone.

It's great that you are taking the time to do this but be prepared to do it very slowly....literally bringing the others in for 10 minutes while giving her a lovely big feed of something delicious in the field, and build up from there. Teach her that being on her own is absolutely nothing to worry about. :)
 
Start getting her into a routine of being in the stable with the top door shut while you mess about on the yard. Without taking other horses away. I don't know why you want to just go for broke and leave her shut in and go away. You don't sound like you will enjoy the ride as you will be worrying about the yearling.

I also wouldn't give her hard feed when you come back, you're just reinforcing the fact that you coming back is a big deal. Last thing you want. You want her to see it as a complete non event.

I would be bringing her in by herself and leaving her in the stable so she gets used to it. Don't start something you can't finish. You can't let her out if she's creating a fuss or you will reinforce bad behaviour. So get her used to it in a way she will succeed rather than set her up to fail. You will know her temperament, is she likely to go bananas or not. Take it as slowly as necessary to ensure each experience is a success ie calm horse you can turn back out when you intend to.
 
paddy555 said:
a yearling left in a strange stable for 45 minutes alone can produce a large vet's bill if something goes wrong plus it will not set her up very well for being left alone in the future. I think it will be a really useful skill for her to learn to be alone and I would teach it in very small chunks of 5 minutes at a time.
If you really need to leave her can't your OH keep checking her or alternatively go and sit with her and read a book to keep her company for the first time your other horses are away?

a yearling may not even be a year old, mine is only 8months. He is calm and rational but no way would I leave him for 45 minutes alone. Plus there is the problem if something goes wrong with your ride and you don't get back in 45 minutes.
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Yep, think this is what we will do. There is a little circuit that should take us no more than ten mins. She is 17 months, so I guess rising two as opposed to being a true yearling if this makes sense. And you're very right about something going wrong - good point!
 
paddy555 said:
a yearling left in a strange stable for 45 minutes alone can produce a large vet's bill if something goes wrong plus it will not set her up very well for being left alone in the future. I think it will be a really useful skill for her to learn to be alone and I would teach it in very small chunks of 5 minutes at a time.
If you really need to leave her can't your OH keep checking her or alternatively go and sit with her and read a book to keep her company for the first time your other horses are away?

a yearling may not even be a year old, mine is only 8months. He is calm and rational but no way would I leave him for 45 minutes alone. Plus there is the problem if something goes wrong with your ride and you don't get back in 45 minutes.
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This. Personally I would build up the length of time left alone, not go for a full 45 minutes. I don't think you are over thinking it at all OP.
 
TGM said:
You say she was left once before, how did she react then?

When our two year old was left for the first time I gave him a big bucket of chaff, with some carrots and a few nuts sprinkled through it just as the other two horses were leaving the yard. He also had a big pile of the best hay - I also made sure he was a little bit hungry beforehand as well. When they left he didn't even look up til he had finished his bucket! I think he had one whinny when another hacked past but that was it, didn't seem stressed at all. I did stay on the yard to keep an eye on him though. He can now be left quite happily all day whilst the others go out hunting.
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Well, I didn't know about her being left till the morning in all honesty. She and the other horses were all moving as we lost our grazing, and the other sharer left her there and moved hers (long story!), without telling me, she probably didn't tell me because she didn't want me to worry, plus she knew I would have freaked out!!! I got there in the morning and she did have the top stable door shut and she was absolutely fine. In fact I was surprised how calm she was. However, I don't know what she was like initially. She was very attached to the two horses that left too. I was worrying about colic if she had some hard feed but I'm guessing chaff would be ok?
 
Wagtail said:
This. Personally I would build up the length of time left alone, not go for a full 45 minutes. I don't think you are over thinking it at all OP.
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Thank you Wagtail. I know I do over think and worry about them - they're my substitute babies, and I'm the reason my little one is in the world so I feel I have a huge responsibility to her.
 
Nudibranch said:
I would build up in increments and make sure you are around the first few times. Can your friends take out the mares and you stay with the yearling? I've always had youngsters who are happy enough being left by exposing them gradually and my current 4yo doesn't even bother when left by himself. I've never done it by stabling with the top door shut either, though obviously not everyone will agree with that.
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Sadly, I will need to be there to take my older mare if they go for a length of time. Perhaps we just go to the end of the road, or as you say, maybe my OH and my friend can literally take the other two off the yard and bring them straight back. The reason I want to shut the top door is because my little one is a Houdini and I've seen her climb up a ten foot hedge with a bank on top, so am worried she will try to throw herself out (XC in the making I think!)
 
I would start off very slowly, bring her into the stable (try for a little bit of time each day) and leave the other horses in the field. Give your yearling a good brush and a fuss with some nice hay and show her that her new stable is a lovely place to be. The first day just turn her out again after a bit, the second day shut her top door and do something around the yard for 10-15 minutes before turning out, increase the time she's left alone and play with the other horses as the time increase. The main aim is to try and get back to the stable while she is still calm so that she doesn't get into a habit of thinking if she stresses out you will come. Put the hack off until you've given her a chance to settle there will be plenty of time to go hacking but only one shot at giving her a good start to being left alone :)
 
Take JanetGeorge's advice, she has raised hundreds of yearlings.
Mine was left for the first time when he got OCD and had to travel to Newmarket in my trailer, first time ever, anywhere. At Rossdales he couldn't see another horse at all from his stable. He survived and now as an adult is happy on his own in the field, stable or out on a hack. Really check the stable to make sure she cannot hurt herself - they can be inventive!
 
Clodagh said:
Take JanetGeorge's advice, she has raised hundreds of yearlings.
Mine was left for the first time when he got OCD and had to travel to Newmarket in my trailer, first time ever, anywhere. At Rossdales he couldn't see another horse at all from his stable. He survived and now as an adult is happy on his own in the field, stable or out on a hack. Really check the stable to make sure she cannot hurt herself - they can be inventive!
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Thank you, this site is so brilliant for advice. Everyone's comments are hugely appreciated.
 
At the end of the day, if she is stressed enough to be colicky she probably won't eat what is put in front of her anyway! But chaff is good as it takes them a long while to chew.
 
My baby is 7mths old and is very happy to stay on his own, has a top grid on the door. Have always got mine used to being stabled at times on their own due to others going for hacks and shows. Makes it so much easier and less stressful in later years for going to shows on your own etc.
 
Could you bring her in to the stable on her own tonight for 5 minutes and give her a bucket of chaff? At least it won't then be totally new to her tomorrow? I assume she and mum are used to leaving each other, and it's just that she's not been totally alone before.
 
Well, my hand has been forced after all this. I went up there today as the big one had to see the farrier and decided to stick the baby in the stable too. She was absolutely fine even when I took the big one out of sight (she still had another horsey friend in the field though). But, the reason my hand is forced is because she has managed to cut her back leg. It's a bit swollen - I think she knocked the electric fence and the handle caught her :-( I've thrown some hibiscrub at it and given her lots of hay and some feed but I'm worried about infection so thought I'd keep her in overnight - well vet advised it too. She can see her mum and friend as they are just on the other side of the small pen outside the stables and when I left there wasn't a peep out of her. In fact I think she was quite chuffed being the only one in! I can't bring her mum in as my friend's stable isn't ready for her horse yet and I didn't want to leave hers out in the field alone. I thought it best to keep my little one's top stable door open so she can see her mum and friend.

Wish me luck overnight everyone - I just hope to god she doesn't try and jump out otherwise I will be having to deal with a VERY poorly horse tomorrow :-(
 
Follysmum said:
My baby is 7mths old and is very happy to stay on his own, has a top grid on the door. Have always got mine used to being stabled at times on their own due to others going for hacks and shows. Makes it so much easier and less stressful in later years for going to shows on your own etc.
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I wish I had done this at 7 months, but we didn't have the opportunity. I had so many people telling me just to leave her in the field and not do anything with her! I shall always go with my gut feel from now on!
 
If it was me I would ask someone to stay within hearing distance of her for your first outing just in case. Also it would mean that you can relax and enjoy your ride rather than worrying whether she is OK. If there are any problems they can give you a call.
 
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