Retired horse owners - how do you know they're happy?

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Welshie95

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As title really, I've recently had to call it a day with my 12 year old (arthritis and tendons), he is still in the same routine just not being ridden, but I don't know how to tell if he enjoys just going out and coming in every day, or if its just what he's used to?
 
Ours are native types who have always lived out so really the only difference is they just stay in the field with their mates more. They seem pretty happy just hanging out together plotting ways to get extra food.
 
I don't think horses particularly consider whether they are enjoying their life or not like we do ;)
I think if his needs are met, he is happy to go in the field and has friends around to keep him company, then he's probably OK :)

I retired my old girl to the field, she was previously a very busy horse who was out and about in the box regularly and I wasn't sure how she would adjust but she's absolutely content with her new buddy. They nose into the neighbour's gardens, watch the rugby on the local pitch next door, snooze in the sun and browse the hedges. They have each other and plenty to eat, they feel safe...what more does a horse want, deep down?
 
My big chap has been turned away for just over a year, and recently I moved him. He's definitely happier and more settled, he's in a larger herd (7/8 horses) and is quite happy as he has company and plenty to eat. I think if you retire them and keep them in their stabled routine, they don't do as well as when you turn them away and let them just be horses.
 
JennBags said:
My big chap has been turned away for just over a year, and recently I moved him. He's definitely happier and more settled, he's in a larger herd (7/8 horses) and is quite happy as he has company and plenty to eat. I think if you retire them and keep them in their stabled routine, they don't do as well as when you turn them away and let them just be horses.
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My lad is very low in the pecking order in any herd, he is currently in a group of 3, they all go out and come in at the same time and can see eachother and another 6 on the yard at night. The first time he did his tendon I tried to turn him away for 2 years and he spent more time getting picked on and jumping out than grazing (lost a LOT of weight), he absolutely hated it which is why I've not changed anything yet until I can find something perfect.
 
JennBags said:
My big chap has been turned away for just over a year, and recently I moved him. He's definitely happier and more settled, he's in a larger herd (7/8 horses) and is quite happy as he has company and plenty to eat. I think if you retire them and keep them in their stabled routine, they don't do as well as when you turn them away and let them just be horses.
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I have to disagree but ours are at home and they always live in a settled herd, whether retired or working.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I think that some retired horses do prefer to be kept on in a similar management routine re stabling, grooming etc with as when they were in work. Not every horse takes to 24/7 turnout if they've been used to being stabled some of the time.
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I only consider keeping this routine due to previous reactions to living out, and in all the yards we have been to over our 9 years together I've never seen him lie down as much in the stable as I do now which I can only think indicates he is comfortable and relaxed
 
i kept my mare exactly the same way, still groomed her etc and she was out with her companion 24.7 in summer and in at night in the winter, she seemed happy with that arrangement and i only called it a day as she had avanced cushings and i didnt want to let her get laminitis and be in pain...which seemed to be inevitable as we couldnt control her levels even on 4 prascend daily..
 
My old girl lives out with her best friend, who is also retired. She's 25 and they've been together for the last five, maybe six, years so are very devoted to each other. I would say they're pretty happy, in their own horsey way! She's very active still, and very feisty with her field mate, but always has a contented look about her. I know when she's unhappy as her whole demeanour changes, she looks depressed and lethargic and tends to hang around the gate area. She was like this back in January when their field became waterlogged as she hates standing in mud. But my YM got them moved pretty quickly and she's been happy as Larry ever since. Very bright eyed and sparky. I don't bring her in unless she has the blacksmith/ vet and I never groom, but I do spend time with them both in the field. She likes lean into me and have a little dose, or have a head rub. Her field mate on the other hand likes to lick me (don't ask!). I've owned her for 16 years so I find I can easily tell if she's not right/ not happy.
 
My old cob has been retired for about 4 years now and we estimate that he is probably in his early 30s. He has always lived out. He is still behaving normally (for him!). He looks well, is alert and bright eyed, keeps his herd in order and behaves like a hooligan if he can get away with it. Today I brought him into the yard to have his feet trimmed and he snorted and pranced all the way. I have had to keep him well rugged this winter and he needs a mushy feed each day (his teeth are worn out) but for the moment I'm sure he is happy.
 
I retired a 6 year old and he lived happily on the yard with me until he was 18. We tried turning him out but he went feral and became a nightmare to do anything with regards feet, jabs, teeth etc. I also missed his daily company if I’m honest.
He came back and slotted back into the normal routine but instead of being worked he’d have a good groom or go for an in-hand walk. When the others worked, he stood in happy as Larry with a haynet.

Hooligan retired out, as he was quite stressy in the stable. He only had 6 months out before I had to bring him back for various reasons and in his case, I decided that returning to a life on the yard was not for him, so I put him to sleep.
 
Mine runs away if he sees me coming with a head collar. I guess that means he’s happy doing nothing. He’s very pleased to see me if I haven’t got anything in my hands. He lives out with access to his stable. He gets stiff if i shut him in.
 
It depends on the horse. I know several who would stay out happy and content then I know others who jump the fence and run about going mental all the time - first are fine to retire the second I’m afraid would be pts if it had a physical issue
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I have to disagree but ours are at home and they always live in a settled herd, whether retired or working.
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I disagree as well I have more success with the ones that just live as they did but without work and a few other tweaks like longer turnout .
I got heartily sick when I was a well fare officer of seeing freezing retired horses up to their knees in mud ‘enjoying ‘their retirement .
 
I think you can tell by looking at them when they are happy. One day last week when the rain was horizontal and the mud was welly high I could tell my old boy was not at all happy - by lunchtime he wanted to be in his stable.

But seeing them not happy on the odd occasion is a benchmark for when they are happy. If he looked that miserable every day then I'd be calling it time. Today spring is in the air and we got silly galloping draft horse. Snorting, ears pricked with a fair attempt at piaffe when he had to wait for the gate to open.
 
Mine has been retired since he was seven, and I don't think he could be happier if he tried. He lives with a stable herd of horses that he likes, he's top dog in the field and gets treated like a king by the others, and gets the same amount of love and attention he always did but without having to work for it. From where I'm standing, I'm not surprised that he's pleased with himself! :D He's a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, beautiful boy with a coat that gleams (beneath all of the mud, at any rate), so I'd say retirement suits him well.
 
Granny would not be happy out 24/7. She expects her stable in winter, she's the first horse on the yard to start demanding to be brought in in Autumn. She could do with being out 24/7 physically but mentally she wouldn't cope. Her QOL will probably get less sooner because of the physical issues being made worse by stabling than if she could cope with being left out, but leaving her out would not be possible. She's been quite unhappy in the bad weather and with moulting starting over the last couple of weeks but I've given her some Bute and let her have a roll without her rug on and she's cheered up. I don't know how I know if she's happy or not, just do from her general demeanor I suppose.
 
SEL said:
I think you can tell by looking at them when they are happy. One day last week when the rain was horizontal and the mud was welly high I could tell my old boy was not at all happy - by lunchtime he wanted to be in his stable.

But seeing them not happy on the odd occasion is a benchmark for when they are happy. If he looked that miserable every day then I'd be calling it time. Today spring is in the air and we got silly galloping draft horse. Snorting, ears pricked with a fair attempt at piaffe when he had to wait for the gate to open.
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This exactly with my boy, if you know them well then you can pick up on any change quickly.
 
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