Turning out 24/7 now but no company at night?

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suej102

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Hi all

Am in a bit of a tizz with this decision so thought I would bring this to you for peace of mind!

My boy has lived out all year round up to last September when he started stable life at night. Is a 17'3 18yo pure ID and enjoyed the stable but always keen to get back out in the morning!

Recently moved to fab farm where he has own stable area, but none of the other horses are out at night. Last night I decided to try him out all night and it seemed to go pretty well - he seemed settled enough and only started whinneying about 6am (is outside my bedroom window and I had hardly slept a wink worrying about him anyway!). He is able to see the other horses from his field, has cattle in the next feilds that are now out all night, but does not have a horse for company at night. His field mate goes out around 9am each day and comes in at 6pm.

So, am I being cruel having him out on his own (although he can see other horse from his field)? I like the idea of him being out for health reasons, much better to potter around at 17'3 (did I mention this - I have a whopper!) - particulary given that he had bone spavin when I first got him.

I feed him twice a day, he has plenty of water, natural shelter and he will be coming in once a day for a check over/brush/ride/fly mask/cream etc etc.

As the other horses stand in their boxes I feel that he has the ultimate situation, but then in the depths of last night I felt that I was evil ..... what to do ladies????

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Thanks for that. He can only see the other horse if he stands over at the gate, the horse needs to be hanging his head over the stable door to be seen. He knows they are there though - does that count?!
 
Im sure he will be fine, he sounds like he is so far anyway
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He will make it obvious to you if hes unhappy Im sure
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Mine's been out alone for the last week. His previous owner said he hated being out at night alone and was liable to panicking, so i just checked him every so often up till midnight. He was fine. He too has cows next door, and although he calls if he hears another horse he doesnt really bother.
 
Thanks for that - really reassuring. In fact, last night was much easier for us both (I even managed to sleep!) and he seemed pretty chilled this morning. Last checked him about midnight and was just snoozing by the gate. Was with him bright and early this morning, fed, brushed etc and off he went grazing again. I think he is quite OK now. It's more us that worry too much perhaps? Sometimes have to remember that he is a horse (not a 'big poof' as my husband likes to call him!). I even left his rug off last night - how liberating!!!
 
My old gelding lived with 4 others and he was the only one living out. When we started stabling them at around Christmas time he would have a mardy for the first couple of nights, but soon settled down, and after about 4/5 days, he didn't even try to follow them out of the field.

I felt like a horrid mummy too, but my boy lived out on the vets' advice, and as was much healthier for it. I'm sure your boy will be too.
 
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