Single horse kept alone

My mare is alone at the moment. Her companion was put to sleep. I was very worried about keeping her alone. Another horse was put in her field but this one was far too dominant. My girl couldn't settle with her. She has two boys in the ajorning field and neighbours the other side and she seems happy to be friends over the fence.
 
I separated Rose and Fatty because Rose started to get very upset if Fatty ran to the gate or overtook her if she was being led. Mainly it was because Rose didn't want to be out too long and sees herself as top dog. Now the grass is better and the weather has improved I've moved them into a different paddock and put them together again. she waits near the gate for Fatty to be turned out but generally ignores him completely except when she comes into season when she will touch noses, screech and strike out at him then march off with her nose in the air. It's tricky isn't it tbh I try to do what will keep me safe and if that's keeping a horse on their own as long as they have another horse adjacent to them, then that's what I do.
 
My boy has been out in a pair, herd and individual (when he was a colt and waiting to be gelded - he was too boisterous for the oldies next to him!) and to be honest he’s not too fussed as long as there is food.

He did however get a bit bullied by one mare when he was in a herd. She wasn’t a dominant mare in that she was almost bottom of the pecking order and wanted to prove her point and put him beneath her. He couldn’t care less and wanted to be friends either way so often didn’t get the message. They had a squabble one day (another livery saw) and apparently he did retaliate but he only will if pushed so far. He’s generally a bit dim!
Interestingly this mare had, with the previous owner, kept alone as apparently she got bullied herself. Maybe this was true and she was defensive in a herd because she’d had bad experiences, although I’m more likely to go with she was kept alone BECAUSE she was handy with her back feet.

My boy is now out with one other (an older mare) but all around there are other horses in separate fields. After the initial finding their feet stage (of which he always has to be told a few times that he’s too up close and personal/not everyone wants to play/be your friend) they have mutual respect for each other now and graze/groom quite happily. If she gets taken out to be ridden he doesn’t kick off and neither does she - so I wouldn’t say they were bonded as such.
I’d never deliberately keep him isolated (unless for medical/rehab purposes say) and if I had my own land I’d most certainly get a companion because he does like socialising and grooming with a friend and I wouldn’t deprive him of that. But I’m sure, if forced, as long as there was food, he’d settle for just human company but that would be only purely selfish from my point of view.
 
My mare has individual turnout in the day but can see and touch other horses over the fence. However at night time she is stabled alone and cannot see other horses (she can hear them). She seems perfectly happy and more settled than she was when there was a horse in the stable next door. She puts herself to bed of an evening all by herself (no headcollar needed). I feel if she really wasn't happy being stabled alone she wouldnt come in and trundle off into her stable so happily.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top