Where are all my Hidalgo fans? Reminisce with me, over that scene where all the horses run wild and free at the end of the movie. I think a part of anyone falls in love with the horse in response to that scene. When we think about horses, we think about herds. However, this isn’t the reality for all horses. They may survive in bands out in the wild, but many horse owners throughout the world have just one horse. Maybe another horse passed away or the owner could only afford to support one horse. Maybe she had no need of more than one horse. Situations like these raise the question: is it bad for the horse to live alone?
What’s Natural?
As with many questions in the equine world, I’d like to turn this question back on myself and the human race in general. But, in this particular situation, I don’t think it would be fair to the horse to project ourselves onto them. They were built to be a herd animal. When looking at their most natural state, we see that the horse is undoubtedly not meant to live alone. This only happens in the lives of young colts following their exile from the herd. After they have fought and lost to the standing patriarch, they must leave. They experience this brief stage of solitude; in time, an exiled colt will find another and stick with him briefly or discover a herd with a weaker head stallion whom they can successfully challenge.
Goats, Minis, and Cats – Oh My!
How does this translate to modern day horse ownership? What is one to do when she can only afford one horse or simply has no need of more than one? I would recommend getting your horse a companion animal. Some people get goats, mini horses, even cats (like this sweet story)! When my mom was younger, she owned a lone horse and bought a mini horse named “Rocky” for $50 at an auction. She has a picture that’s been stuck to the filing cabinet in the office for the years that screams “punk” and “dork” simultaneously. She’s standing over a wildly fuzzy pony with both feet on the ground, because Rocky only made it to a whopping 3 feet tall. Her happy and no-longer-lonely gelding “Chester” stands in the background. Every time I see it, it makes me think of Chester finally having a friend. Mini horses are a neat option because they can be trained to pull a cart, which is a fun alternative for horse lovers who don’t ride.
My mom also bought a goat and named it “Edison” when she was younger for another horse she had that was living alone. Goats are fantastic companion animals for those who just want another life out in the pasture to keep their horses company. Goats have more flexible dietary requirements than horses, so you won’t have to be as meticulous with their feed as you are with your horse’s. For those who aren’t familiar with goats, they often compared to dogs for their gregarious and typically goofy personalities.
Find Fancy a Four-Footed Friend
Some people believe that if they spend enough time with their individually kept horses, this will make up for the solitude. I would have to argue against this, only because that still leaves the horse alone for a long time. Even if someone could give two hours a day to his horse, that leaves 22 hours alone. Having a pasture mate for your horse provides continuous company. I would also argue that an animal can offer more to a horse in companionship than a human.
Less Talk, More Research…
Wanting to learn more about equine mental health and its relationship with solitary confinement, I looked into some research on this topic. I found an in-depth study on housing horses in groups and alone and how these arrangements play into the horse’s welfare (you can find it here [PDF]). The point is made that each horse reacts differently to being kept alone. Those who were raised in herd settings have a greater chance of struggling with this, sometimes showing signs of depression. Others that have been alone since the day they were weaned would have a much easier time with this arrangement. Genetics, temperament, and other past experiences also play a role in how well your horse would handle the solitude. Some horses are overly aggressive with others and need to be kept alone. An example of this might be the result of a neglectful owner who was not consistent with the feedings or failed to give his horses enough food. Some are too submissive – or just at the bottom of the herd’s totem pole – and would never find a spot at the feeder if they were with a group. Some horses eat slowly and need to be kept alone in front of food constantly to ensure they get enough. If this is the case for your horse, you might need to find other ways to socialize him outside of feeding times.
Mother Knows Best
In the end, only you can know what is best for your horse. What is his personality like? When he’s in a herd setting, is he in the middle of the excitement or alone off to the side? Has he been boarded alone or with other horses for most of his life? If you’ve been able to observe him in both settings, when does he seem most content? If you feel as though you need to get a companion animal for your horse, look at your options. What kind of space can you offer? What is your budget? When looking for a companion animal, one option is to look on FaceBook Marketplace/Craigslist/local classifieds to see if someone is giving an animal away for free to a good home. Local livestock auctions are also good places to pick up a friend for your horse. Just make sure it’s up to date on shots and vaccinations.
If you’re on this journey, I commend you for looking out for your horse’s mental and emotional well-being. If you have a fun story about your horse’s companion or any advice you’d like to pass along, please feel free to leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you.
