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What Name?
Posts: 1994
   
| Okay. So I'm facing a small dilemma and I know you ladies can help me make the decision.
I board my horse at Clearview farms in TN. I have since he was 9 months old, when I orginally got him. Now this is a huge facility, and it's be very good for him to be there. Because of it, I think he's matured into a very great horse. With all the constant activities, equipment we have access too and the constant changing. I also have access to an indoor, outdoor, an obstacle course and about 50 acers to ride on. ( also only 20 mins from my house )
My parents have 47 acers. I currently live at home because I'm finishing up my associates and then transferring out of state. Dad is putting the fence back up for me to bring Bug home. ( thats going to be a big change for us both because this boarding facilty has spoiled us both ha ha )
Well I'm going to get a 'shedrow' barn with two stalls a tack room and a run in on it. It's going to cost me less a month than boarding does and my horse will be home. HOWEVER, my gelding will be going from ALWAYS having horses everywhere, to just him.
Here's my question: The decision is made after talking more with dad, that he'll be fine at home. I just want to hear what kind of 'companion animals' you have for you horse. My horse is not particularly herd bound, but he is of course very social. So I'm thinking a mini or a donkey?? I really don't want another horse that I will have to ride full time. So just a companion animal of some sorts.
Just need some feed back ladies. I know if I board one, I'll have to have a very specific agreement to cover my butt. and either they will have to carry insurance or I would right??
ETA: we plan on having round pens, a barn and of course we have the property to ride on. I have friends down the road to ride with as well. J
Edited by americanpride08 2015-04-15 10:14 AM
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I would continue to board him. I've managed a boarding facility and it's a pain. I currently have my horses at home. I LOVE having them at home, but they are on a schedule. We don't go out of town, etc because it's hard to find someone that has the attention to detail that I do when it comes to mine. You would have to have insurance, and honestly it's not worth it. |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| TwistedK - 2015-04-15 8:21 AM I would continue to board him. I've managed a boarding facility and it's a pain. I currently have my horses at home. I LOVE having them at home, but they are on a schedule. We don't go out of town, etc because it's hard to find someone that has the attention to detail that I do when it comes to mine. You would have to have insurance, and honestly it's not worth it.
Okay so lets say I dont board. But I get some sort of companion animal that isn't a horse.
LOL like a cow ( butcher purposes) Who has a horse with animals not of their variety that they are good friends with. I just don't want him to develope herd bound issues because he's alone. It's just... when I go to school he's going to have to stay here for at least a year. My dad is good enough with horses he will feed for me and I have a vet in the family that lives right down the road. as far as FUTURE plans go, I really have to put him at home because I have to limit my amount of money I'm spending because I don't know what kind of money I'll be making in NC.
I'm not sure what the law states based off state to state. But I thought if you had an agreement in writting stating you are not liable for A B and C, if blank this happens ect. Then your butt would be covered? I know a few ppl the rent out pasture and dont even do agreements. But I would never do that but it seems to work for them. |
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Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | Having someone else's horse on your property can be a huge liability. America seems to be so sue happy these days. I would look at a donkey or miniature horse as a companion. A cow works, but horses are social animals and prefer their own species as company. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Continue to board, especially since you are going away. Not only is it better for your horse as you will have a consistent environment and skilled people taking care of him, but you wont be moving him from a very social environment to an isolated environment. Horses are herd animals. Getting a buddy of some kind only complicates matters, in my opinion. Boarding him where he is currently at is best, in my opinion. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Donkeys, minis or even a goat would work fine. Shoot, we had a gelding that had a pet chicken. Every feeding time, the chicken would leave her flock and eat with the gelding. Donkey, however, are supposedly really good at keeping predators away, which is an added bonus if you experience any of that. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I would not board if I had my own place to keep my horse. That's what its all about having horses is taking care of them and spending more time doing what you love with them. And I have a mini horse that is a companion for one of my geldings, they are the best of buds.  |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| ~BINGO~ - 2015-04-15 10:48 AM Donkeys, minis or even a goat would work fine. Shoot, we had a gelding that had a pet chicken. Every feeding time, the chicken would leave her flock and eat with the gelding. Donkey, however, are supposedly really good at keeping predators away, which is an added bonus if you experience any of that.
Hmm. I wonder if I could get a donkey, teach it to be a pack donkey and take him on little trail rides out where I live.. lol bet that keep him from developing anxiety from leaving his friends.
Do you have any donkeys? I've never owned one, but I've heard them and mules are great companions.. but they can be a pain in some instances.. lol like walking through fences for greener grass. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | coming from someone who boards when they are at school and has my horses at home when I'm home.. I MUCH prefer them at home than boarded. Yes, it's way more work on my end to have them at home, but they are so much happier.
I'll be devils advocate and just get a second horse :P. |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| casualdust07 - 2015-04-15 11:25 AM coming from someone who boards when they are at school and has my horses at home when I'm home.. I MUCH prefer them at home than boarded. Yes, it's way more work on my end to have them at home, but they are so much happier. I'll be devils advocate and just get a second horse :P.
When I mentioned getting one or two more horse, even looking into getting a pony possibly. lol my dad was like " If you leave me with a herd of horses when you go to school, you're going to come back to an omish buggy team" lol dont know how that will go over with my gelding Bug! |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | Donkeys are good about keeping dogs out of their pasture. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | Donkeys are good for keeping dogs/coyotes out of the pasture and I think are generally easy keepers.
Goats (if you have a good goat proof fence) are nice because they are browsers and will eat more of brushy/weedy plants, so that helps the pasture.
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | I've found, and could be very wrong, but sometimes what I've thought would work as companion animals terribly failed, and vice versa. I LOVE having my horses at home, there is so much more to horse keeping for me than riding and I enjoy all of it and knowing exactly how they are acting that day, etc.
He might be ok alone.
I was concerned about my gelding when we weaned him, because we had 2 other horses - one being his mom. I thought he would be upset, so we got 2 pygmy goats for company. I am not a huge fan of goats anyway, but he did NOT care for them either! In retrospect, he probably would have been ok just slowly weaning him like we did without the effort of a 'companion animal'.
I bought a mare that was 12, boarded at a particular barn - stalled at night, on a strict schedule, etc. Came to my house which is on a schedule - but more like eating am and pm, and pastured 24/7. Shortly after she came my colt went out for training and she was alone. I was worried, but I think she preferred it! About a month later we put 2 calves in with her. Honestly though, she was more chill alone then when my gelding returned and didn't care for the cows at all.
I feel like 2 horses is almost worse than 1 when it comes to herd bound - they think all they have is each other and frets when the other is gone. It certainly depends on the horses though! |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | As long as you have someone that can care for your horse while you're away then I would say move him home...but it will be a pain in the butt if nobody is home to feed/hay/water for you.
When I first moved my gelding to my place it was his first time ever to not have another horse on the property. He adjusted fine (there were also chickens in a coop just next to his pen and he liked to go and sniff out their area). My lab, however, decided that he didn't like being the only outside dog... so he moved himself to the barn and made his new bed in the hay. It made me feel better about my gelding being "alone". Then, a few months later the gelding got hurt and I moved a retired gelding over to stay with him while he was on stall rest... and now I don't have the heart to move him back to my parents where he was living. I would get him a companion animal before I'd offer to have someone else board on your place. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| What about an old brood mare or a pasture ornament horse if you don't want another one to ride. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | he is young.. Id get a companion.. and your leaving at some point for school he will be really lonely.. think about a retired pasture horse someone to buddy up with and groom and that horse stuff.. when your gone he wont get much attention..and hes only 3? |
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Location: Texas | I may have missed it, but how old is he? Who is going to break or train him while your in school for the next 2 years? |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| EqualRanch - 2015-04-15 3:06 PM I may have missed it, but how old is he? Who is going to break or train him while your in school for the next 2 years?
Hes 3. broke and I ride him 5 times a week. He's a pretty solid broke horse. My friend is going to ride him for me while I'm gone, if my brother doesnt get comfortable with him and ride him. =) Though I'll miss him like crazy.
IF I get the internship at the zoo in NC and they have a barn for their petting zoo area, they may let me board him there as part of my internship. But I'm waiting to hear back about that.
Regardless we're putting the fence back up. Dads also plans on getting a couple of calves for butcher and some lambs I think. But if I take him with me, and I have a companion animals then he'll either have to go or I'll have to have two. BUUUT at the same time, when I just had my mare and gelding previously. I always felt bad taking my gelding on trails and leaving her behind. So I'll probably get two pasture pets anyways. Hmmm... I have lots to think on now. Why can't anything like this be easy.
Also, I should mention. The property he's going on is a gift from my family, 28 acers. So when I graduate NCSU it's mine to do with what I will. Which is one of the reasons why I want to get the fence fixed and work towards that now rather than later.
LOL we're turning into a regular ol' farm.
Edited by americanpride08 2015-04-15 3:56 PM
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| Bibliafarm - 2015-04-15 12:55 PM he is young.. Id get a companion.. and your leaving at some point for school he will be really lonely.. think about a retired pasture horse someone to buddy up with and groom and that horse stuff.. when your gone he wont get much attention..and hes only 3?
yea. He's 3. He has to stay ridden, I have a friend right down the road who said she'd feed for me and ride him a few times a week for me. My little brother will of course be taking him on trails during the spring and fall. But I wont be leaving until next summer. So I've got a bit more planning to do. =) |
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Location: Texas | Calves are expensive; you could buy a herd of donkeys for the price of a calf. |
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