Winter dry lot vs small pasture

Chic · 10-25-2009, 12:09 PM

Hi all!

We have a mini jack and a mini jenny... They spent the summer with my 2 horses in a large summer pasture. My son's gelding pony and our yearling spent the summer at home in a smaller pasture. (The pony can't have much grass and the yearling needed ground work)

Here's the problem.... the pony and the mini jack don't get along. We just brought the ones in summer pasture home yesterday. The pony and the jack took off fighting right away. Today I tried to break up a huge knock out/ drag out fight and only managed to do so when I went to get the garden hose. I have temporarily put the pony in the round pen. In past years, they have managed to call a truce eventually with only the occasional fight. But I worry that the pony is getting older AND that the pony is now launching preemptive strikes. When we brought the donkeys home yesterday I had gotten about 3 ft into the pasture with the mini jack and the pony lunged at the donkey with teeth and hooves flying. I somehow managed not to get hurt while making the pony back off and keeping the donk from retaliating. (It's a good thing he is so small)

What I was thinking of doing is making a 20ft x 80ft run for the donkeys attached to the barn at one end so that they have stall access for the winter. Do you think this is too small of space for a couple of mini donks? I could just put the jack in there and not the jenny but I think they are happier together.

Thanks for any input!

dunamovin · 10-25-2009, 02:46 PM

Considering the climate where you live, they probably won't stay outside long if it's cold and snowy so that seems like plenty of room. Long enough for a good run and wide enough to get out of each others way. Absolutely keep them together. They need company and can share body heat.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hay/feed vs. Pasture grazing	Dustygirl	Health & Nutrition	6	12-08-2008 05:15 PM
Common Feeding Misconception	seerfarm	Health & Nutrition	5	05-08-2008 10:53 PM
Salt and Mineral blocks in the winter?	BlackMumba	Health & Nutrition	19	01-30-2008 05:43 AM

10-25-2009, 12:09 PM
Chic Coming two Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,580	Winter dry lot vs small pasture Hi all! We have a mini jack and a mini jenny... They spent the summer with my 2 horses in a large summer pasture. My son's gelding pony and our yearling spent the summer at home in a smaller pasture. (The pony can't have much grass and the yearling needed ground work) Here's the problem.... the pony and the mini jack don't get along. We just brought the ones in summer pasture home yesterday. The pony and the jack took off fighting right away. Today I tried to break up a huge knock out/ drag out fight and only managed to do so when I went to get the garden hose. I have temporarily put the pony in the round pen. In past years, they have managed to call a truce eventually with only the occasional fight. But I worry that the pony is getting older AND that the pony is now launching preemptive strikes. When we brought the donkeys home yesterday I had gotten about 3 ft into the pasture with the mini jack and the pony lunged at the donkey with teeth and hooves flying. I somehow managed not to get hurt while making the pony back off and keeping the donk from retaliating. (It's a good thing he is so small) What I was thinking of doing is making a 20ft x 80ft run for the donkeys attached to the barn at one end so that they have stall access for the winter. Do you think this is too small of space for a couple of mini donks? I could just put the jack in there and not the jenny but I think they are happier together. Thanks for any input! __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

10-25-2009, 02:46 PM
dunamovin Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: where the blacktop ends Posts: 181	Considering the climate where you live, they probably won't stay outside long if it's cold and snowy so that seems like plenty of room. Long enough for a good run and wide enough to get out of each others way. Absolutely keep them together. They need company and can share body heat.