I live in southern California. Despite my personal obsession, this is not horse country. Pasture boarding is pretty much unheard of down here. As my specific barn (which I have now come to terms with the notion that I will stay here until I purchase my own property), we REALLY don't do pasture boarding. But what we do partake in, is 2 or 3 horses living in a very over sized stall. Why am I talking about over sized stalls you may ask? Surely Roxy is too nasty and aggressive to live with anyone else. Oh yes, Roxy would not be a good stall mate, but Nova sure would be.
I think that Nova would really benefit from living with another horse. After owning Roxy; who was raised in a pasture in Washington with other mothers and foals, and then having Nova- who was raised with turn outs with her own mother, and other foals; I see the true difference in having a baby raised in a true pasture. I think that she missed out on many social skills. After selling Blossom, which I am in no hurry to do, my plan is to purchase a very kind large pony to live with Nova, maybe something in the 12 hand range.
When I did research no one mentioned injuries as a concern. I am personally slightly terrified of letting Nova live with a super kind quite little horse, and it gets angry kicks and permanently lames her. Does no one else have this fear? The number one 'con' that I read was your horse will get dirty. Dirty is not my fear. Nova is filthy, I have given up. She gets this filth spot on her hip THROUGH A BLANKET. She wears a sheet 24x7! I never want to own a light colored horse again. I hear that's what all light colored horse owners say though. But back to pasture boarding!
Does anyone know of any good resources about boarding with horses sharing an over sized stall. Personal opinions, and experiences would also be highly valued.
This is the only source that I found, most people here thought it was pretty much fine, however they didn't really give much good information.
I have never really heard of over sized stalls. Shy is on pasture board. They have access to about 15 acres most of the time (sometimes some of it is closed off to preserve grass). The horses travel together and are rarely apart. When she first got in the herd, there was some nipping and kicking, but none of it was overly aggressive. They were just trying to work out the dynamics. There are 10 horses in her herd and there have not been any injuries since Shy has been there.
ReplyDeleteHa! 15 acres would be lovely! My entire facility is 5 acres- including the large track that isn't even part of our actual owned land.
DeleteI've seen this but it's with two shetland ponies so not really horses, they get turned out together and when they come in they go intogether two and there are no problems they seem to love the company, and if one's away they get anxious. They've lived like this for two years, but don't think they did before that so it's not something they've always done. But they've never had any injuries that I know of during this time, but can ask and find out more for you :)
ReplyDeleteWe have always had ponies at my ranch that have lived together. Why put one pony in a big old 24x24, when you can have 3 live together. Blossom was actually supposed to live with another pony, but they didn't get along and my trainer/BM was worried that they would hurt each other.
DeleteI have never heard of an over-sized stall for multiple horses. I am not sure that I would like that idea, but I prefer that my horse not be stalled anyway.
ReplyDeleteI keep my horse on 24/7 turnout and he comes in for meals, but get this: I do not pay a reduced pasture board fee. Go figure. That is New Jersey for you. Everything is expensive.
This pasture thing is just so newfangled and odd to me. Where I keep my horses, they live in their own stall and rarely even get turned out with other horses because they'll kick/bite and injure each other.
DeleteBut I do recognize how stalls seem so odd to other people outside of California.