It's been a month since we put our elderly Belgian Draft Horse, Bear down. When Bear left us we moved Gus into the pasture with Bob our Quarter Horse and Poco our Appaloosa.
Feeding time has required us to drop hay out in the pasture for Gus while Bob and Poco share the feeder in the loafing shed. Initially Bob would immediately come over and push Gus off of his hay. But Gus being the resourceful guy he is, would merely go to the feeder that Bob had just vacated and pick up where he left off with his meal. All the while Poco paid no mind of who was standing next to him. Eventually Bob realized that there was nothing special about Gus's hay and now leaves him alone.
As the last month has progressed things have settled down pretty nicely. Everybody is getting enough food and nobody has gotten hurt. All three horses now graze and nap together.
They even share the loafing shed in rain storms.
There is nothing as comforting as hearing a storm rage outside at night and knowing your horses are dry and safe. This set up worked great when we had two horses at home and boarded the third. But this year we have three horses at home.
I'm concerned that someone is going to be left outside in our winter weather. In addition, I don't want to drop hay outside for the "left out" horse and have it fly away, get soaked (or both). I want everybody eating in the safety of a dry loafing shed and to have the option of seeking its shelter.
Could be that someone has to live alone but I hate that thought as much as someone standing forlornly outside in the middle of a storm. This is my current dilemma of which I've found no solution. Ugh! I don't have many days left to figure it out! Stay tuned.
I didnt realize Bear had to be put down. I am sorry for your loss. Your horses are all beautiful. We had stalls in our barn that we fed our horses in during the winter months then they would go out in the fields during the day to get fresh air and exersize then we put them to bed at night in their stalls. Hope you can figure something out for your horses. Wonderful photos. Have a good eve.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling with the same thing. It has been 6 years since we introduced a new horse to the herd and the one we lost, was the herd boss. The dynamics have changed or are changing. She was very nervous leaving her corraled alone. I thought my mare would do okay with her and she was a pistol! So I put her with the low mare and that didn't work out, so now she is with our only gelding. They have found a truce of sorts, but at some point, they will all need put together. May not happen until spring. I hate this part of horsekeeping!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everyone seems to be settling in fine with the new herd arrangements. As far as the smaller barn can you put up round pen panel dividers to make little stalls/runs so they have a barrier? I've done that before and the dominant horse won't go out into the weather to chase the submissive horse out of the barn. I hope this helps or you find another solution because it is very sad to look outside and see one horse hanging halfway out of the barn or standing out in the weather because of the dominant horse being a butt. Good luck!!
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