tonitot
Well-Known Member
My horse is currently kept alone and isn't happy at all. She looks happy enough to people who don't know her inside out like I do so I can tell she isn't. She isn't completely isolated, she has other horses in field surrounding hers but can't touch any over the fence. She relies on two pairs of mares in the fields opposite her and when one pair comes in she starts to stress, pacing up and down and calling. Sometimes she goes mental, and charges round the field full pelt bucking and snorting. I think she's worried that once one pair is brought in that the other will be and she'll be left alone, although my friends always bring her in before they get their horses in (they own one of the pairs of mares) I really want her to go out with other horses but everyone else on the yard has their own two or more horses and keeps them together in their own fields and there isn't room in them field for her to join. She did have one other mare go out with her every now and then but this horse is a trotting racehorse and very valuble to the owners, after Ethel kicked her the other day they don't want to put her back out with her
She is in no way nasty to other horses, just she is the boss and will let the others know it when they first meet and then she's fine. I'm reluctant to move yards as the yard is very friendly despite having pretty much no facilities and I like it there, plus I've worked at/helped out at pretty much every yard in the area whilst growing up and know that I don't want to take her to any of them (all sorts of reasons)
The YO doesn't want anymore liveries until the spring. I could buy another horse/pony but then theres more problems. I can't really afford to keep another big horse and the only stable we have free is tiny so thats that pretty much out. A pony would fit in the stable and be cheaper to keep (you'd hope!) but its still another £90 a month for livery plus feed, hay, straw, insurance, vet bills, farrier etc which all adds up. Plus the fencing is awful, the YO is meant to be fixing it but so far hasn't touched it and so I'm very lucky Ethel respects fences, one who didn't could easily get out.
I put hay out for her and she munches on that but when the others come in and she doesn't she still stands my the gate and stares at the yard, calling for a bit, then goes back to her hay, then stands by the gate etc. When theres no hay she paces up and down, calling constantly.
I'm not sure what to do, it makes me feel awful thats she not happy and can never totally relax as she should when turned out
Does anyone have any ideas?
Also, I'm sorry if this makes no sense .. I kept forgetting bits, then remebering other bits and tried to keep it all together but I think it ended up a bit jumbled .. sorry
She is in no way nasty to other horses, just she is the boss and will let the others know it when they first meet and then she's fine. I'm reluctant to move yards as the yard is very friendly despite having pretty much no facilities and I like it there, plus I've worked at/helped out at pretty much every yard in the area whilst growing up and know that I don't want to take her to any of them (all sorts of reasons)
The YO doesn't want anymore liveries until the spring. I could buy another horse/pony but then theres more problems. I can't really afford to keep another big horse and the only stable we have free is tiny so thats that pretty much out. A pony would fit in the stable and be cheaper to keep (you'd hope!) but its still another £90 a month for livery plus feed, hay, straw, insurance, vet bills, farrier etc which all adds up. Plus the fencing is awful, the YO is meant to be fixing it but so far hasn't touched it and so I'm very lucky Ethel respects fences, one who didn't could easily get out.
I put hay out for her and she munches on that but when the others come in and she doesn't she still stands my the gate and stares at the yard, calling for a bit, then goes back to her hay, then stands by the gate etc. When theres no hay she paces up and down, calling constantly.
I'm not sure what to do, it makes me feel awful thats she not happy and can never totally relax as she should when turned out
Also, I'm sorry if this makes no sense .. I kept forgetting bits, then remebering other bits and tried to keep it all together but I think it ended up a bit jumbled .. sorry