Ash and Belle
Member
I only have one horse and she is in the pasture with a bunch of cows (which she avoids at all costs), is this bad or what can I do to help her with loneliness?
Lonely horse?
- Thread starter Ash and Belle
- Start date
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
They are herd animals & require company of their own kind.
onebigjump
Well-Known Member
Could you get her a companion pony/horse? Whilst it's great that she has some company with the cows, horses do better with company of there own kind. Of course there are exceptions to this. I have known horses that prefer to be kept away from others
Ash and Belle
Member
Thanks I will look into it, I have a pony but she doesn't stay at my yard so maybe I can make arrangments.
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
what a lovely person you are thinking so much for your horses wellbeing. x. if shes in with a herd of cows even if avoiding them at least she has company. i kept a mare for many years with a flock of sheep ,she mothered them all and was actually far happier than when she was in a herd environment. that said usually horses are the best companions for horses. you need to think about what happens to the second pony when you take the first one out to ride or groom. it may not settle you will most probably need a stable to put it in whist you are out and it must be used to comings and goings or it will fret and get upset on its own.
sunnyone
Well-Known Member
Having had 1 horse who had free grazing with cattle I'd try and get an equine companion. My first mare became absolutely besotted by them and would do whatever it took to be with them. They accepted her too, it was not unusual to go and find her soaking wet from a mutual grooming session. Cow's do a good wash, it seems.
She appropriated any calves that were born in the field overnight. She stood over them so that mum could not approach. So once this had happened 3 times the farmhands had to move her into a neighbouring field for which I had no keys as it belonged to another farmer entirely. The farmhands had OK'd it with him but omitted to tell me!
We later moved well away to a small livery yard. Madam spotted cattle 3 fields away from hers which was with the ponies,so she jumped the intervening 1.25 m hedges to go and be with the cattle, when I eventually found and caught her up I had to lead her back more than 1 mile down a busy bus route, just as it was getting dark.
She appropriated any calves that were born in the field overnight. She stood over them so that mum could not approach. So once this had happened 3 times the farmhands had to move her into a neighbouring field for which I had no keys as it belonged to another farmer entirely. The farmhands had OK'd it with him but omitted to tell me!
We later moved well away to a small livery yard. Madam spotted cattle 3 fields away from hers which was with the ponies,so she jumped the intervening 1.25 m hedges to go and be with the cattle, when I eventually found and caught her up I had to lead her back more than 1 mile down a busy bus route, just as it was getting dark.