Would this be safe?

[now_loves_mares]

I have 2 mares that are very strongly bonded. I can't leave either of them alone in the field to ride the other, so have to take them in to their stables. Due to the distance between field and stables, this is a bit of a long-winded farce every day, and as it is I have to box up to go to a school. So I was thinking that, if I could leave the unridden one in the field shelter, I could collect the one being ridden at the field with the trailer. I reckon it could save me an hour every evening, even if I did this 3 times during the week, it would make riding more-fun-less-chore

My field shelter is properly built, with kicking boards to half-height, and has 2 openings at either side of the front, each the width of a normal stable door. It doesn't have doors though, so I was thinking about attaching a stall guard to each entrance, the ones that are about 18 inches deep, not the single chains. Neither of my horses really thrash about while in the stable on their own; but I'm worried that the stall guard might not be enough of a detterent. One in particular is likely to gallop around at full racehorse speed if she was loose in the field; the other one has been known to jump a five bar gate to get to her friend

So am I mad to consider it, or am I destined to be a slave to their getting-to-be-rather-tedious requirements for the rest of my life?

 

[Embob1]

I can see how it might seem a chore, but can you not take them both in at the same time? Seeing as you have to go down to the field to get one and walk it back to ride it anyway.

Or am I missing the point

lol

 

[now_loves_mares]

I do take them both in at the same time, I have to- but it adds 40 minutes to take them in and turn them out afterwards, and I'm then just boxing up from the yard. Whereas if I just took the trailer straight to the field, it would save that time plus the mucking out of the stable afterwards!

 

[QUICKFIRE]

we have 2 mares that are clingy, when one is ridden we tend to put the other in stable and close top door, as have witnessed it trying to jump over stable door this is the safest option IMO and just know a stable guard would not stop her.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Hmmm - but neither of mine really stress while in the stable alone. They scream yes, and one of them box walks, but they don't throw themselves against the door or anything. They are just nuts if left loose in the field.

It's very confusing

 

[Jorgi]

Why don't you get someone to take one away and wait in the field to see how the other reacts when shut in the field shelter before you actually box the other one away?

 

[Ali2]

Could you not have doors and top grids fitted to the shelter and then have them safely fastened back when you didn't need to keep the mare in? A relatively expensive option but likely to be far safer than stall guards.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Tuckbox and Ali2 - thank you for both having such sensible suggestions! All I can see is "problem" not "solution" these days.

Fingers crossed that when Dad built the shelter he made the gaps standard size, so I don't need custom made ones!