Sheep and horses

Shantara

Shantara

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 August 2009
Messages
7,425
Location
Milton Keynes
Visit site
Looking into every possibility for a new friend for Ned. Everything is EXTREMELY up in the air still, so take nothing I say as concrete, PLEASE!!

Do any of you keep your horses with sheep or similar without another equine? I don't know if Ned would take to that at all, but I thought it was worth asking!
 
Not all horses like sheep! Some are pretty aggressive to them. I have kept sheep and horses together, I have not tried keeping a horse with just sheep for company for any length of time, only whilst out for a hack etc.

You also need to be aware that acquiring and keeping sheep is not as easy as acquiring and keeping horses. You need a holding number and a herd number and DEFRA get involved with your every move.
 
jemima*askin said:
Not all horses like sheep! Some are pretty aggressive to them. I have kept sheep and horses together, I have not tried keeping a horse with just sheep for company for any length of time, only whilst out for a hack etc.

You also need to be aware that acquiring and keeping sheep is not as easy as acquiring and keeping horses. You need a holding number and a herd number and DEFRA get involved with your every move.
Click to expand...

Ooh gosh, really? I didn't think they'd be so hard to keep! But I suppose they're not exactly "pets".
Thanks :)
 
Yep kept a mare with a ram but it belonged to my neighbour farmer. Might be that you could borrow one maybe. although you would still need the holding number. they got on just fine.
 
My boy lives with alpacas, he was bullied when he lived with other horses and seems really happy. He has bonded with one of them - they share hay and groom each other. He can see other horses though although not touch them.
 
They need their feet trimming - and whilst your farrier will probably do it for you most absolutely hate doing the job and charge highly for doing it. You can do them yourself - but it's definitely not a one person job. They need worming, they need shearing, they need oh so careful checking for flystrike and spraying against it up to every six weeks through the season.

I kept them for years so that my field was under agricultural use not horseyculture and they drove me nuts!
 
putasocinit said:
Whats happened to cookie, it is cookie isnt it, or am i getting you mixed with with another poster
Click to expand...

He's still with me, for now :) not really sure what's going on yet though! I might end up keeping him, but he may end up going back to his old home.

Ah, sheep sound like a pain, ahaha! They look so easy to keep, but I guess not. I was discussing this with Mum actually and joked that they're probably one of these creatures that look soo easy to keep, but are actually VERY difficult and time consuming!
 
I kept my single horse with pet sheep for years. Yes you need holding number (doesn't cost anything) and every year I have to fill out a census of how may sheep I have. Foot trimming no great problem, can be a two man job but mine will just stand while I do it. Wormer you can get from the vet. If you have got a local farmer to help/advice that's great - also useful to get your sheep locally as it saves bringing in anything nasty to the area like sheep scab. You might find someone to shear for you - I have done it myself a couple of times but have to keep the sheep away from any mirrors as they looked a bit of a sight.
The major consideration is whether the horse is happy without other equine companions - mine certainly was.
 
We have sheep in the field and all the horses get on okay with them apart from the Shetland, of course. He used to chase them though fortunately they could escape under the electric tape. He was about 23 before he grew out of chasing them. They've not been too much trouble apart from my friend catching orf off one.
 
They are very difficult to keep, and they are houdinis for escaping! I've only known stallions take a real dislike to sheep. It may be better to ask a local shepherd if he has any sheep he would like to graze in your field. He can then be responsible for sheep proof fencing, worming, foot trimming etc and Ned gets the company.
 
I have to say sheep are a pain in the a**! they are just determined to die on you. they escape like nobodies business when there seems to be no possible way of escape. Trimming hooves, shearing and drenching are all easy to keep on top of but I find if you have 300 sheep you wont really have a problem but if you have 3 they will always be causing you hassle :P

If you did want to get a sheep though Ned might not see it as a companion and either ignore it and get stressed anyway or beat it/get beaten by it! BUT I know someone up the road who keeps a single horse with their flock and it's happy enough.
 
Haha!! Ok...maybe sheep are not the best idea.

I just need something that can be left alone happily and that can be without a shelter (they have natural shelter though)
 
You can borrow Frankie if you want? Hes fine living out and fine being left while the other horse is ridden etc, and I want to turn him away for a few months anyway, so would happily pay you handsomely to have him on an extended holiday while you get sorted
 
^^^ that's a good idea. You could also see if there's anyone local who's looking for grass retirement livery.
 
FrankieCob said:
You can borrow Frankie if you want? Hes fine living out and fine being left while the other horse is ridden etc, and I want to turn him away for a few months anyway, so would happily pay you handsomely to have him on an extended holiday while you get sorted
Click to expand...

I might end up taking you up on that!! I'll let you know...I don't know if I will end up needing something else or not, but it's a possibility!
 
If sheep had a mission statement it would be, "Escape and Die". The paperwork isn't too difficult but you have to keep on top of it.
Much easier to borrow a few from a local farmer for the grazing, if you can.
 
pfft daughters ponies had no choice :) found young lamb dying on moors and brought it home to die quietly. IT LIVED. Annie the lamb grew up confused. Was it pony or dog? ponies just accepted her as part of family amd she played with daughter and dogs. Even down to following daughter over jumps :)
 
babymare said:
pfft daughters ponies had no choice :) found young lamb dying on moors and brought it home to die quietly. IT LIVED. Annie the lamb grew up confused. Was it pony or dog? ponies just accepted her as part of family amd she played with daughter and dogs. Even down to following daughter over jumps :)
Click to expand...

AWW!! Now THAT'S a cute story :D Love it!
 
Sheep are excellent companions to horses - they are also fantastic for your grazing - they eat the rough grass that horses will not eat and are an excellent worm controller too. Only down side is that they can chew tails but a tail bag would sort that issue out pronto - personally would not be put off because of defra - just keep your paperwork up to date!
 
Sheep are a pain!! OH has a small flock of pedigree Texels, everytime he goes to a sale the bank balance takes a nose dive (you think horses are expensive)!! And woe betide me if one of the horses chases his beloved woolly Sunday lunches ;-)
Do you have any local studs/breeders who would let you borrow a horse or pony to keep Ned company? I have done that before and it has worked out well.
 
Trust me chan lol so many stories about Annie the lamb and bueatiful photos. she seriously was confused as she grazed with ponies but played with dogs and daughter. Think a sheep chasing a ball lol shearing her was fun lol. And her reaction when she saw sheep!!! She ran to dogs for safety lol. Bless her
she came home to die but heck she was a determined young thing and livid a good age :)
 
Chan, get an advert up NOW for someone to share your field! It's a total no-brainer, given your lack of funds and need for a companion... Why BUY more animals and then pay to keep them when you could just get someone else to bring an animal and PAY YOU for the privilege!! Lol
 
AprilBlossom said:
Chan, get an advert up NOW for someone to share your field! It's a total no-brainer, given your lack of funds and need for a companion... Why BUY more animals and then pay to keep them when you could just get someone else to bring an animal and PAY YOU for the privilege!! Lol
Click to expand...

This is a good idea, sorry to read you are in the position of not knowing what is happening go Cookie.

Surprised that rescues have said you must have a shelter, when you seem from your photos to have such good natural shelter! Blue cross encouraged me not to keep my two in or rugged, which has worked really well for me.
 
mcnaughty said:
Sheep are excellent companions to horses - they are also fantastic for your grazing - they eat the rough grass that horses will not eat and are an excellent worm controller too. Only down side is that they can chew tails but a tail bag would sort that issue out pronto - personally would not be put off because of defra - just keep your paperwork up to date!
Click to expand...
This - plus you can get Easycare sheep that shed their wool naturally and don't need shearing! Honest - our yard owner has them.
 
Digger66 said:
If sheep had a mission statement it would be, "Escape and Die". The paperwork isn't too difficult but you have to keep on top of it.
Much easier to borrow a few from a local farmer for the grazing, if you can.
Click to expand...

This is true, but it can depend on the breed, some are more hardy than others. Generally they always need something doing to them - feet, wormer, injections. Some horses like them- don't some racehorses have a sheep friend? - but others pick them up by the wool and shake them! You wouldn't really know until they were out together.

I honestly think that another pony is the best answer, one that doesn't mind if it is left alone when you go out, or shut it in somewhere. A perfect companion isn't that easy to find, but there are plenty of ponies looking for a home so you should be able to find something.
 
AprilBlossom said:
Chan, get an advert up NOW for someone to share your field! It's a total no-brainer, given your lack of funds and need for a companion... Why BUY more animals and then pay to keep them when you could just get someone else to bring an animal and PAY YOU for the privilege!! Lol
Click to expand...

I don't feel I can advertise yet. I don't know what's happening with Cookie. He might be with me for another 6 months for all I know! Friend would never just take him away and leave me stranded, but she might not be able to have him back yet either. I wish it was simple, but it's not, hence why I'm trying to think of something now, I'm exploring all options.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top