| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sunny |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 2:21:15 PM
What do you think? I am having my stables built and have been pondering on the idea of having the internal walls of 3/4 of the stables head height so the horses can see each other. Reason being Sunny hates being in the stable and is very nosey and thought this may calm her should she need to be in. I have seen the grilles you can buy but didn't fancy them? What do you think, has anyone got this at the moment or heard of it or is it a crazy idea. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| marionpack |
Posted - 27 Oct 2010 : 11:51:27 AM
A few years ago Sam had an internal stable with an open grid at the back and hated it, his complete attitude changed (even to the point of biting me which he had never done has hasn't done since) because he likes his own space and felt the other horses where intruding, once he was moved transformed back to his normal self, so I think it depends on the horse |
| Zan |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 6:44:31 PM
My stable partitions are solid up to 4 feet ( I think it's 4 feet or perhaps just a little more) and then open above. All my horses have loved this arangement because they can groom each other over the partitions and when they rest they invariably have their heads right over dozing next to each other. Anything other than this would feel too much like a prison to me, but I do take the point about young stock, or if it was a big yard with an ever changing population, where grills might seem to be necessary. I don't suppose it would work if they disliked their neighbour either, but then, horses who don't like each other shouldn't be stabled next to each other anyway. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 3:17:58 PM
Well I have used two planks as a divider (on sprung bolts into wall) in my field shelter when I used it as stables, without any trouble, but I suppose it would depend on your occupants. Will be doing this again this winter (have had field shelter built with stable doors on front) but the 2 that will be sharing it are very sweetly behaved with eachother. Also the planks would collapse if horse decided to climb over them. Also I make sure that their hay, water and feed are at the furthest corners away from each other to avoid any trouble on that front.
I have also had two sets of internal stables where the dividing partitions were approx 4' 10". Horses very happy in them and noone tried to climb into anyone else's stable. Pony with sense of humour did like dropping his empty buckets over the partition, but others didn't seem to mind
When I had Buzz at livery in Scotland he was in internal stables which had solid lower walls (wood) and metal bars above, a bit like old fashioned zoo bars - they worked absolutely fine. Have also seen ones with breezeblock lower walls (up to about 5 foot) with wooden gappy plank fence type arrangement above (if that makes sense!)
Have also seen full height wooden partitions with metal grill inset so that neighbours can see eachother.
Personally I think they are happier if they can see each other, if you have youngstock, something with a dodgy temper, or have other people's horses then I can understand full height partitions for peace of mind.
|
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 3:06:20 PM
We have walls / partitions and gridmesh on the majority of ours and I've never known a horse to not settle in them.... I have however known plenty of horses hate 4 walls and only the door to look out of.
You do need the grilles though to stop any biting at feed times or ambitious youngsters climbing over the top!
Always wise to have one or two tradtional boxes too in case you need to isolate a sick horse / colt / mare and foal though. |
| Arachnid |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 2:43:31 PM
My last yard had grills which looked a bit prison - y but actually good for the horses because they could see and touch each other without material damage to each other/rugs etc. YO told me a story about a horse she'd seen climb over a part height internal wall with disastrous consequences so I suppose they have to be high enough to discourage this. |
| angelarab |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 2:25:40 PM
The last place Baz was in had the solid breeze block wall partition built up to about 4 1/2feet then had wood planks on wood posts (like a field fence) and that was brill, very sociable for the 11 horses, |
