Very worried, please give me your opinion

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juliette

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What would you do in this situation?

I keep my horse at a friends, it's great as it means I get feedback about what he has been doing when I'm not there, as well as being good fun for me!
He is turned out with a 2 year old filly, a feisty 12.2h gelding and a very riggy 14h gelding .

She's been saying on and off for a while that he is not "joining in" with the herd when turned out. I.e. if they all decide to have a bit of a mad canter around he tends to watch rather than join in. He only tends to join in if it is somethig scary as he is a bit of a wimp! Whenever he hears me coming he whinnies and comes to the gate so I don't get to really witness the situation myself.

I've owned him just over 2 years and he has always been at hers since I've owned him. He is a pretty quiet character and very much the bottom of the pack. The 2 year old bosses him around, despite him being put with her when she was 6 months old whilst she was weaned. He is a quiet gentleman, and politely waits to come in last every evening. Never tries to barge past the others or make a fuss! I can bring my friends 3 in, feed and change rugs before i go back for him and he just waits patiently.

So should I be worried? The lady that comes to massage our horses was there today but he was not being done so was turned out. She asked what was wrong with him as he was turned out and being quiet and not joining in. She said she thinks he should have blood tests?

Had the vet this morning for teeth, but as he is a quiet chap I didn't think to mention this. Vet commented on what a nice chap he is when he started to treat him. So is he just one of lifes quiet watchers......... or is he ill???

He hacks out fine, was a bit slow last week but his pollen allergy has kicked in and he had a tight shoulder which the massage lady sorted. Went for a really quick nip round the block on Wednesday and he seemed fine.
 
sounds like a nice sensible chap! As long as he reacts when there is something to worry about it's fine. Some horses are just more nutty than others!

If he's fine in himself and his work I wouldn't worry at all!
 
he just sounds asthough he is a nice sensible boy. My old boy has never been one to run unless he is scared (aslong as he is doing that dont worry). I wouldnt worry aslong as he isnt bullied then its not an issue really.
If you are worried and think it is a sudden change in behaviour then yes get it checked but you know him so if it is his norm dont be worries, his pollen allergy is maybe making him less inclined as the pollen is around. My boy loves being in his own space and would live alone totally happy!!
 
Thanks for the reassuring replies. I do worry about him, he's just such a softie and with his allergy he is quite high maintenance in a very undemanding way! If he was more demanding I probably wouldn't worry so much and I'd feel I knew a bit more about what he was unhappy about.... I seem to attract the laid back animals, my labrador is a bit of a sofa hog!
 
juliette said:
Thanks for the reassuring replies. I do worry about him, he's just such a softie and with his allergy he is quite high maintenance in a very undemanding way! If he was more demanding I probably wouldn't worry so much and I'd feel I knew a bit more about what he was unhappy about.... I seem to attract the laid back animals, my labrador is a bit of a sofa hog!
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Just think of yourself as very lucky to have such laid back animals :)
 
I posted something similar a few months ago, I was quite worried as my horse is always away from the other memebers of the herd.

I've realised now that he just likes being on his own, and I'm quite glad I don't have to worry too much about him being kicked.

Look on the positive side of it :)
 
Please do not worry I was in exactly the same situation!!! My nice , polite gelding was turned out with a boisterous 6 year old and two other geldings and he did not join in at all. The 6 year old was constantly hassling him and chasing him around the field trying to be boss. I am certain your horse is not ill. However I did move my gelding into another field with a 21 yr old and a 28 yr old and he is much happier as they just leave him alone but if he wants a mutual grooming session they are happy to oblige!!! Is it an option for you to move fields? or turn him out with one of those horses next door to the others? You may find one on its own with yours is not half as feisty:)
 
Sounds exactly like my old lady :)
She keeps to herself (although she occasionally has the odd run around!) and is just a very quiet, sweet mare in general. Sounds like he's a similar sort of horse :)
 
PC Steele said:
Please do not worry I was in exactly the same situation!!! My nice , polite gelding was turned out with a boisterous 6 year old and two other geldings and he did not join in at all. The 6 year old was constantly hassling him and chasing him around the field trying to be boss. I am certain your horse is not ill. However I did move my gelding into another field with a 21 yr old and a 28 yr old and he is much happier as they just leave him alone but if he wants a mutual grooming session they are happy to oblige!!! Is it an option for you to move fields? or turn him out with one of those horses next door to the others? You may find one on its own with yours is not half as feisty:)
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Unfortunately he can't be separate, as the herd leading gelding takes down any electric fence if he doesn't want it there! He is extremely clever, if it is electricified he breaks the post with his feet so that he can then carefully walk over the tape!

I am moving my boy up to another friends at Easter for a while so we can rest the grazing. I'm hoping to keep him separate there, so maybe that will show me whether he is happier seeing friends but not having to mix with them if he doesn't want to.

Thank you again for all the helpful comments :)
 
One of my horses never involves herself with the rest, is more happy in her own company, at first i was worried and moved her in with a different group but after being in 3 different groups she is back with the original 2 she was with and they are all a bit the same in they all like their own space and the only time you se them together is when its feeding time and they are lined up at the fence.
But when i take one out to ride my god do the other 2 let all hell break loose so i know they have bonded they are just not in each others space the whole time
 
I wouldn't be worried if I were you. If you've had all the regular checks done recently....and he has always been quiet...

Bruce is a bit of a wimp tbh, really quiet in the stable, quiet to tack and groom. He's got personality, don't get me wrong and is really quirky, but he's not a *loud* horse. He doesn't barge, or bite, or kick and isn't bossy or rude. He's just lovely.

I would be thankful and proud you've managed to get hold of such a lovely boy :)
 
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