Turnout - alone or in company?

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snurse

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Just curious really. Who prefers their horse turned out alone? And does the horse mind the lack of company? I'm curious because our yard adopts the opposite policy - they are out in small groups and quite happy about it. There is no major fighting, just a bit of jostling if a new horse is introduced. Even the stallion has company - one of his pregnant mares. We never leave a horse out alone - if there are only two in the field, and you want one of them, you bring both in.
 
I think the majority of horses want and need company. There are always the exception though. I think I would rehome my boy, who I love to bits if I could only keep him on his own.
 
Mine are separated by electric fence. One likes his own space, the other one delights in winding him up to have a scrap then lands a whopping great kick and makes him lame for a week. Eventually enough became enough and they got separated. Bully boy (who isn't really at all) is also a greedy pig and has to have restricted grazing. They groom each other over the fence and also talk to the ponies in the adjoining fields. I'd rather they could go in together, but it doesn't work for them. They are quite fond of each other really, but it's rather a case of boys will be boys with them.
 
We have a rule on our yard that horses must not be left on their own in the field. Someone onnce left my mare in the field on her own and brought her fieldmate in and she jumped out in front of a transit van as the field was on the lane to the saddlery shop on site, luckily she was OK but very very worrying.
 
alone for the first time since i bought Daisy 18 months ago and I much prefer it. I can finally restrict her grazing which is essential for health reasons, I can make sure the field is poo picked regularly so better for worms and no-one is refusing to speak to me on the yard because Daisy was over excited when they tried to take their horse out of the field. I think that on livery where people have very different needs for their horses it is a preferable solution. She can see the others over a fence and will interact with them. I feel a bit bad for her that she has no-one to run around and play with but apart from that it is so much better for her
 
Always together. Although saying that, my shetland and 13.2hh veteran are on their own during the day - at night I put them together. My other 2 are always out together. But I do leave the other on his own if I ride or whatever but its no problem as all horses can see each other at all times (just a fence between them) so no panicking happens. I used to have mine all out together but sadly the shetland is lame and needs very restriced grass, whereas the pony needs more grass but not as much as the other 2! I have considered buying another shetland to be as company to my current sheltie but she's got a history of beating them up!

But I always make sure they have a pal for at least half of a 24 hour period (ie. overnight).
 
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