Options please: stable dividers

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LankyDoodle

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Moved to new yard on Saturday/Sunday.

They have concrete blocks bvetween stables, but decided to have a large gap set into the wall so that they can put grilles into them. The problem is, they haven't got round to this yet as it's been harvest and they are also still building. Yesterday my 18 year old gelding got bitten by my new 7 year old warmblood who is 17.3hh and can poke his head over the wall with no problems. The thing is, my warmblood is not nasty; in fact, he's as soppy as they come. However, the WB likes to groom and mess with other horses and has already grown fond of George; George can take only so much and then backs off. But because Lanky has SUCH a long neck he can still keep pestering George. George turned to Lanky, ears back to warn him off, and they went at each other briefly, then I saw Lanky bite G's nose - not a massive bite, a nip.

The vet was coming to do Lanky's jabs and saw the cut. He said it was fine (which I knew) and just to keep it clean.

The thing is, I don't want my new horse to keep upsetting my new boy like this. Both need their space and while George is used to low stable walls, he's not used to such sloppy horses!

I mentioned it to the farmer this morning and he said that the grilles still haven't materialised and he could put some metal bars up, but then retracted it because it's obviously dangerous having metal bars shunting out into their stables!

What options are there? I am unsure whether it would need to be permanent or temporary as I don't know how true to his word he is going to be on these grilles. I think the gap is about 10 feet long and 3 or 4 feet high (the stable is 13.5ft long). I would have to measure properly.

I have thought about putting some green garden mesh fence up there for the time being. I tried to get my husband to fill it with wood (he's a carpenter), but he is reluctant as he reckons they won't like that. I would obviously check with the farmer first! I just want my horses to be happy and short of beheading Lanky, I am not sure what else I can do.
 
Well I kind of do keep dropping it in but then he says things like he did this morning - 'still not go round to it' (which I can understand as he's just had 200 acres to harvest) and 'I could put some bars up'. I don't want to p them off in our first week, by nagging for stable dividers.
 
But is he running a livery yard or a farm??? And couldn't he have ordered them whilst his harvest has been sitting under water for the summer??

Ask him for a date by which the grilles will be put up - and in the meantime, ask that one of the horses is moved to another stable thereby stopping them fighting.
 
There aren't any other stables! They have 3 horses and we have 2. There are 3 stables at the moment, soon to be another 3.

He's a farmer. He's just sold his dairy herd and is setting up a livery yard. We needed to urgently get away from our old yard due to a legal dispute with our builder whose wife keeps her horse at that yard. They took us in based on the fact we were desperate and our horse was suffering because we could not stand to be at the yard through worry we would bump into someone that has caused my husband to be very ill. We requested the stables at the beginning of September, which is when he began harvesting. They were very kind to agree to us taking the stables this soon, and only did so because of our situation. They are not yet advertising.

I don't actually have a problem that the harvest has set him back a bit, because having grown up on a farm, I can understand the difficulties he would be facing. That is why I wanted a temporary solution until he sorts out some grilles; and that is why I don't want to keep nagging him like I have been.

I just want to stop Lanky licking George's bum, because George really doesn't like it!!
 
Talk to the farmer, explain your situation, then go and get some lengths of wood, shell out for some mesh wire (the square stuff) and get your hubby to put that up. Cheaper than Vets bills for injuries.

Or, get the farmer to get the grills, bars, whatever, then do a deal, get hubby to put them in place for a suitable reduction in your fees, that is a better option as far as I can see, then everyone is happy.

Chicken wire is also frequently used as stable dividers of this sort over here, I have seen it in many barns. Not sure that I would use it myself but it seems to do the job, even if it does look a bit tatty.
 
Oooh didn't think of chicken wire! I also don't want tatty stables, but it would be temporary. I also like the idea of the lengths of wood covered in mesh! That really could work.

Thanks, Enfys. Just what I'd hoped for! I'd racked my brains and couldn't think of other solutions. I knew other people here would have some!
 
Put some Cribbox on George so he tastes yuck!
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The only thing I would say about wire, especially the thin chicken wire is that if your horse tries to bite through it, you said he was biting the other one, he may get it stuck in his teeth....
 
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Put some Cribbox on George so he tastes yuck!
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Lol!

I think I might be going for the strips of wood with some kind of coated mesh so that it doesn't cut either of them etc. That can then be screwed into the wall until the farmer has had the grilles made.

Thank you
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Just get some mdf and cover it up completely. No danger then of horses cutting noses on chicken wire, getting wrapped up in bars etc.

I am not personally a fan of having grills between stables and would just leave the mdf in place to be honest. I've horses get anxious because the yard bully is next door, anxious because a greedy horse thinks his neighbour might come and steal his food, flirty mare and gelding etc etc. Just seems a lot simpler and more restful for everyone if they have their own space!
 
I also agree. George had grills at the old yard and coped OK, but he also didn't have a sloppy horse next door! I have been thinking about the lengths of wood with board attached to it. My husband reckons it will be difficult to cover a 10ft gap with mdf and as a carpenter I am reluctant to disagree with him, but I think attaching it to a frame would be a good way.
 
A friend did hers as a frame with spindles from a staircase they bought, as they were quite solid and put close enough together couldnt get their noses through, but could see each other.
Dont know if that is any use!
 
I would hang an old rug up to 'block' your new horse being able to get at your old chap ..... seen it done before when I went to see my old chap over 17 years ago, as they obviously had the same problem all those years ago
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