stabling horse on his own? advice?

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maisie1988

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Hey,

ive just started on this site, and realised how great it is for advice!!

so my new horse, ive had him two weeks. he is turned out with my auntys 4 horses. we have 3 stables ( one if storage) and my aunty doesnt stable her horses as she doesnt like to split her 4 up.. but i would like to stable my boy at night. the stable block is a min or two walk from al the paddocks, in on a farm yard, there are cows opposite but he couldn't see any horses if i stable him alone?

is this cruel? the fields are boggy and wet and feel it would be nice to have him in a clean, warm stable with nice dry hay etc but then worried to leave him on his own?

i have left him a few hours in on his own during the day and he doesnt seem to worried. on the one day he was calling to the others as it was super windy and think he was a little worried? but the other times he just doesnt seem to care, but i dont really know?

on friday i put him in for 2 hours, it was mild so i left him with no rug, when i got back him was calm etc but has two wet patches on his bum, and whilst i was there i saw him nor at it, not sore or hurt but soggy where is has norred at it lol. is this a sign of him being distressed whilst i left him in there alone? or just having an itch? he seemed fine other wise?

so should i put him in on his own or leave him out? i would put him out during the day tho.

we got a quote today for 3 more stables and my aunty says she will then stable hers... but that doesnt help for now?

any advice or simular stories be great!! thank you!! xx
 
Personally, I wouldn't stable unless necessary, I.e losing weight, mud fever, laminitic reasons etc.. Where diet needs to be more carefully controlled. I would prefer my horse to be out with others, as its natural to be outside and in a herd environment however this is personal opinion.

Also I do not think its cruel but I wouldn't stable unless my horse could see the others, again personal preference
 
I keep my horse on a farm. Although he is in a field on his own he can see other horses. Its not ideal but TBH he doesn't care. Even when he is in on his own he is not bothered. As long as there is food he is happy.

We have a stable block of 5 stables and there is only my horse and one other. Again he doesn't bother only the occasional neigh if his neighbour goes out first.

His routine suits me and him. So long story etc.... no I don't think you are being cruel.
 
My boy is stabled round the back of the stable block: he can probably hear the others stamping around on the other side but he IS totally on his own basically, and is quite happy with it. But he is the sort of horse that is quite happy to be on his own anyway, as long as he's got a full belly, he's OK with wherever he finds himself. But currently is out with "his" mare during the day, so IMO its good to split them up for the night (when they're all in) so as to avoid pairbonding and all that mallarky.

One of the things I did was to put up a stable mirror; but also we've got cats who are always around in the barns and stables (they quite often straddle themselves across the horses' water buckets and drink from it - looks hilarious), sometimes will also curl up in the corner of the stables, so I think that helps.

Other people I've heard have kept chickens who roost up in the rafters at night, with the horses underneath.

So just some ideas basically.
 
Nothing wrong with bringing yours in on his own if he's not worried, which it sounds like he's not. He'll get used to his 'coming in on his own and going out with his friends' routine, and tbh it drives me mad when you find a horse you can't do anything with on its own without it freaking out to get back to its friends, so good practice for your boy imo.
 
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