Moving to individual turnout

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King Leo

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Please help!

We have recently become horse owners and really need some advice and support with a situation we find ourselves in.

Essentially, we have an arrangement where we share our field with another owner and their horse. This meant we can have one field resting and can rotate them and horses had each other as pair. The horses live out 24/7 and both have always done so. The contract is per field, we have one field which we pay for and the other Owner has another. We had made our own an arrangement to share, which the yard owner was fine with.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons to do with the other Owner, not the horses (!) the sharing arrangement has not worked out as we hoped. We absolutely cannot continue in this situation and it is very clear that the best thing to do would be to cease the sharing arrangement and do our own thing, in our own field. This means we would have to separate the horses into their own fields. They have bonded very well and seem very happy together. I am heartsick at thought of taking our horse away from his friend. He has really bonded with the other horse. The other Owner is constantly threatening to just move our horse into the other field, so I want to be pro-active and make the move on our terms.

However, I am literally sick with worry at the thought of putting him into his own field. He has always lived with other horses in a herd. He will be able to see his pal on the other side of the fence and there are two horses in another field next to him on the other side. But its not the same as being in pair? I should add that he is quite a nervy horse anyway. We have had troubles taking him out of the field away from his friend and he has pulled away from us and run off back to the field on a number of occasions, we have worked hard on this and made some headway but he still has moments. He follows the other horse around the field. When he is in the yard on his own he is very nervous and on edge.

Will he be happy in a field on his own? The fact is we have no other option and getting another horse / a new companion is not financially feasible. We are so upset with the situation, since becoming horse owners nothing has been easy or fun and now we face upsetting our new horse too. I am really struggling, both with the situation as it is and the thought of doing what's best for us by getting out of a terrible situation with the other Owner (we simply cant stay in this situation), but maybe not what's best for our horse by taking him away from his friend.

Please can anyone offer any words of advice? Will him seeing his friend over the fence be okay? What can we do to help him? There are no other yards in the area which have space or anywhere else we could move him to herd turnout.

I am in tears as I type this. Please be kind in any answers and any words of advice or experiences are greatly appreciated.
 
I would just move him and see how it goes.

The other owner obviously doesn't want him with hers so it important to respect that And move him ASAP.

it's helpful that his friend is next door. I had two horses last year. I lost my elderly one, which left my younger one on his own. They had been together 8yrs so I was concerned how he would cope. I like to keep horses with a field mate if possible. But actually he has friends next to him and has been fine.

He does sound underconfident, how long has he been at the yard? Do you have good support working through his issues? It can be daunting as a first time owner.
 
King Leo said:
There are no other yards in the area which have space or anywhere else we could move him to herd turnout.
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I'm very sorry you are in this situation. We go through so much for our horses and you don't have options ATM. I cant really suggest much except to say that I have recently joined various Facebook groups re livery yards, land to rent etc. I'm keeping a close eye because while not looking right now I need a plan B for because for the first time in ages I don't have a plan B. It is noticeable that some people looking for yards post anonymously and I like to think that they are successful in finding a new home for their horse. First just join the groups and look through posts for the last couple of months and maybe there is something that will suit you. If not post anonymously, giving reason why and say what you are looking for for your horse. You never know there might be someone wanting someone like you and your horse on their yard.
 
I had a bonded pair but one struggled with grass so I used to pop her on the bald patch in spring. Providing her buddy was next door she was fine.

Not ideal but it sounds like you have no choice
 
Is it ideal? No. But you’re obviously a very responsible and caring owner and you don’t have much choice, so don’t beat yourself up.

I strongly dislike keeping horses on their own, but he’ll still be able to groom and see his friend over the fence, he’ll adapt in the short term I’m sure.

In your position I’d still be looking to move yards. Keep an eye on local horsey Facebook groups, ask around as much as you can; word of mouth is often the best way of securing a space on a good yard.

And if not already, find yourself a good professional/trainer who you can rely upon for advice. It’s daunting buying a first horse and it’s important you have someone around that you trust.
 
It doesn't sound like horses are much fun for you and this 'other owner' situation is stressful.

I would try your horse on their own pretty quickly (maybe at the weekend when you can be there to supervise).
Maybe speak to your yard owner to see if there are any temporary alternatives just in case it doesn't go well (another companion you could borrow or someone else on the yard who might be interests in the 'share' situation that you don't know yet?)

I would also be putting lots of effort into finding another yard that is more suited to your horse and where they can support you a bit more.

Your horse may not worry too much about a specific friend (in the way humans would) but few horses are genuinely happy on their own so any company should be OK.
 
You are tormented because you are putting human feelings onto your horse. You maybe pleasantly surprised but you just have to do it and react to whatever comes next. Turn him out, I imagine there are other horses around and about. I know lots of horses on individual turn out who are perfectly fine so don’t anticipate trouble..wait and see…I’m sending good luck.
 
There’s not really anything you can do other than try it in your scenarios, my own wasn’t particularly clingy until on individual turnout (unfortunate events his pal left and no one else on the yard had a single) when he would fret badly if his immediate neighbours went in- particular the ones on 24h turnout as they were there more than not.
 
Very few horses actually do well on individual turnout, although some cope better than others. Unless you think your horse is going to come to harm sharing with the other horse, I would leave them together and get YO involved in whatever is going on with the owner. I would also start looking for a new yard preferably with herd turnout
 
I’ve always found my horses have done fine on individual turn-out and whilst not ideal unfortunately when not your own set up you’re at the mercy of other owners and any yard rules. Sometimes it’s the lesser of two evils.

Pairs unless you own both and can deal with them together in my opinion are the worst for separation anxiety. Alternatively find another set up but it’s becoming harder and harder to find places.
 
I'm lucky with my 2 as they have shared a paddock and are also fine on individual turnout. They are currently turned out separately as they are both geldings and like to play. My oldie is 28 and whilst he likes a bit of play he cannot cope with much. Hopefully they will be back together in the spring if they both behave!! I would try your horse and see how he gets on.
 
Would moving yards somewhere there is herd turnout be an option? If you have fallen out with the owner of the other horse, her field is still going to be next to yours, so probably not enough distance for you.
 
I am not a fan of individual turnout, however my horse usually lives as part of a small herd but is currently on individual turnout on the rehab yard she is on, next to other horses. She appears fine with this and is relaxed and happy on the rehab yard. Individual turnout, next to other horses, is what is on offer on the majority of livery yards near me, and a lot of friends are happy with their horses on this type of turn out. What I really have an issue with is horses on their own who have no contact with other horses, I had a share horse a few years ago who ended up being truly on their own as the owner sold the companion. This horse was not happy as the closest he got to contact with other horses was neighing to ones that could be heard, but not seen, several fields away.
 
Mine do individual next door to others, they do small herds and will do pairs. Horses are fairly adaptable and can still be kept happy as long as horse company very close.
 
Faran has coped beautifully with individual turnout since I moved to this yard. Yes it’s not ideal but he has horses on all three sides of him and can interact over the fence so he always has company during the days and all during 24/7 turnout.

He doesn’t like being the last out and this does cause him some worry but he knows he will be brought in when I get there so he just eats nearer the fence when the others have been brought in.
 
I can see why the other owner no longer wants her horse to share with yours. You say that your horse has pulled away from you several times and has legged it back to his friend in the field - I wouldn’t want to be dealing with that, either. It’s not safe for anyone to have a loose horse charging about.

Try the individual turnout and see how it works out. If it’s a disaster, then you’ll have to reconsider.
 
Despite having my own field and 2 horses, I often split the field and have them out individually.

This is sometimes because their needs are different, but also to give my gelding a break. Your horse sounds a lot like my mare. She follows the gelding around, she's nervy on her own etc. My boy is tolerant but he does get fed up with her, and I think appreciates the break.

My mare then does fine, she used to get a little upset initially and fence walk but now she has accepted it. She's quite happy to wander off from him in the field and even doesn't mind when he leaves.
 
My 3 are in together but quite often one or other will be separated off for something, for instance currently have one in overnight, one loose on the yard overnight, and one in the adjacent turnout area (differing food needs) - as long as they are in pens/fields next to each other they are fine. It could work perfectly well, you can only try.
 
I would split your pair proactively, if you have to.
Perhaps YO could find you someone else to buddy up with, to remove other owner from the situation?
 
Given the time of year, I would try and pick a dry day, when no rain for a few days and none forecast.

I would work your horse hard first, maybe a 2 hour hack. Turn him out slightly hungry, and give him some buckets of tasty food.

If you are allowed hay/ haylage in field I would maybe also put a bit of what he find tastiest.

If he hasnt been in the resting field for a while, I would maybe (if safe for you) lead him round field a few times in a bridle (reins twisted) and lunge line to bit.

Then lead him over to the bucket of tasty food, and if he starts eating I would take bridle off. I would make get a chair and then watch him to see if he settles or not. You might be pleasantly suprised.
 
At our yard we are in individual turnout and this is fine. The fields are made into individual paddocks using electric fencing. The horses are fine like this, they graze nicely & if they want some company they move to the electric fencing & groom each other over the fence. If someone decided to move my horse to another paddock without my consent & with me not being there there would be trouble. No way would I put up with the fellow sharer you have,
 
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