Turning out 24/7

[mandy4727]

My horse is 3 years old and hass never stayed out in the field overnight. Never had need to as either she was a baby at stud or we were trying to save the grass to last all summer. We have now moved her to another yard. She is out with a little 12.2 pony who for some reason she has fallen in love with. Tonight when we brought ours in she was really stressy at being separated (pony stays out all night) and mine can see the field the pony is in from the stable and was neighing, box walking and weaving. very upset at leaving it. Even though she has left if for the last 2 weeks overnight. After last weeks episode of colic with mine we have been regulating the grass intake and was okay over the weeknd with 6 hours per day. So another reason to bring her in at night. But she really was stressy. Wondering if say next weekend it would be okay to leave her out 24/7. She is a very accident prone horse and don't really want to causing havoc out at night when her belly is full and she is looking for mischief. There will be other horses around her out overnight in fact she is the only 1 in but that hasn't bothered her for the last 2 weeks just tonight. Any ideas or suggestions appreciated please. I am a neurotic owner!!! by the way.

 

[nikkiportia]

Personally, I'd at least try leaving her out. Perhaps increase the hrs over a few nights if you're really worried. May require a few late night checks from you to convince yourself she's ok. But I bet you'll find she's much happier out at this time of year. Obviously monitor her grass intake if you're concerned about that.

 

[TGM]

If she was mine she would be out 24/7, I'd be more worried about her getting injured or colicky from getting stressed by being left in on her own.

 

[nelliefinellie]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a neurotic owner!!! by the way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there any other kind?!


My only worry would be you will be reinforcing the bond between your young horse and the pony and that this may cause problems later when you need to separate them eg when you want to start work with your youngster.

 

[suej102]

I feel for your dilemma. I moved this year and my horse became fixated on his field mate - was stressy if he couldn't see him and whinnied all the way out of the farm when I took him out. I became really stressed about it but during the past month or so things have really settled down - he knows where he is now and feels safe that he will return/see his mate. I have since had him out all night alone (his field mate comes in at night) and after one upsetting night (more for me than him!) he soon got used to it. I am even able to have him in now where he can't see either of the other horses and he will be calm. I think it is just a case of your youngster gaining confidence in his surroundings. Might there be an option of having him in during the day and out at night? Failing that - I would go with the out 24/7 option and make sure that the field is as safe as can be to prevent any harmful mischief!!

Good luck!

 

[_jetset_]

Hi Mandy...

You may remember that Grace was exactly the same whenever Hannah was out of the yard when I first got her. I started trying to keep them together more to avoid the stress, but I soon realised that I was not helping situations at all.

I bought Grace a stable mirror and left her stressing... when she calmed down I would bring Hannah in and the behaviour gradually improved (but much more quickly once she had her mirror friend

). The only thing I would be worried about with Calli is that she would become even more attached to the other horse, and then you might have issues when you want to bring her in to ride etc once backed.

In your situation, I would keep bringing her in for a while until she starts to settle about coming in on her own... it is just a little insecurity of being in on her own, and perhaps a mirror would help out too!