pasture mates---how do you do it?

crittermom · 04-21-2006, 10:08 AM

I'm trying to get some information on how other people separate or don't separate their horses in the field (pasture). I have 5 horses (4 geldings and a mare). At present time, my old gelding (30) is by himself in the backyard. One gelding (he was gelded at 4 1/2) and does have offspring, is by himself in a partitioned pasture and I have one gelding and one mare together (the gelding is very possessive of her). The newest gelding is not here yet, but we are partitioning him off, as well (he's only about 14.1 hands)---the others are much larger. I am getting ready to send the mare off for training and was wondering if this would be a good time to put my two large geldings (maybe even the little one) together and keep the mare separated when she comes back in a few months----one of the reasons I'm considering this is due to the fact the mare was kicked really hard (splitting the skin) by her present pasture mate ( they've been together 4 years without a major issue up to this point.)The two geldings snip back and forth across the fence (but I believe that is because of the mare). We have put them all together out in the big field and they run and snort for a while, but then calm down and graze. We leave them together for only a few hours. Any thoughts on this or suggestions on how you all handle mares and geldings?

**beth55051** · 04-21-2006, 10:18 AM

I currently have 14 horses.
I keep the mares and foals by themselves until the foals are older.
In pasture two I have a gelding, mare and two yearling geldings. They all get grain so they are kept seperate from those who don't.
In pasture three I have old cranky Mustang gelding, two year old gelding and three year old stud (for now, could change at a moments notice

)

As soon as the grass grows up a bit more the two yearling geldings will be going out into the big pasture with the other geldings.

Normally the three mares (currently with foals at side) would be out in the big pasture also but since there is a stud out there I DON'T want them bred to the will not be until they are checked back in foals.

Quilting1 · 04-24-2006, 10:39 AM

I'm dealing with similar issues myself. I have a medium sized pasture across the road, a really small area by that pasture, part of the back yard that's fenced and a pasture at our neighbor's house to use. I put a horse in the really small area by the pasture and in the back yard just to keep the grass ate down while we're around home. I have an Appy that I've had for a year who bites and rears up with my QH and pony, but doesn't seem to bother the older Arabian I got 3 weeks ago. In fact, he seems a bit better since I got the Arabian. But I need to separate the Appy from my QH and pony and hope he doesn't start in on the Arabian when I do. The farrier thinks he's trying to establish pecking order but after a year with my QH and 6 months with the pony, I think he's playing and just getting too rough.

How big of an area should a horse have to be able to get enough exercise, etc.? The pasture I have has very little grass left now but is large enough for them to run around in easily. The neighbor's pasture is larger but not enough for them all summer. I do have a 3.5 acre hay field by my pasture but I need that for hay for my horses, otherwise would reseed it to a good grass pasture when the hay is done.

How do other's handle these issues? I need to separate them but also feel guilty for keeping them in a pasture with very little grass left.

**beth55051** · 04-24-2006, 08:56 PM

I for the time being have limited access to grass. I have about 10 acres split into one larger pasture and two smaller paddocks about 2 acres a piece. I keep the majority of my horses in the larger pasture. I currently have three mares, two with foal in one paddock and four soon to be two in the second paddock. This way all have some grass to munch on even if it's not much they can still graze and the horses in the larger pasture which are also my easy keepers have a bit more grass so I can strech their round bale out a bit longer. I prefer to have my horses in the largest area I can. In the two acre paddocks they can still get up to a good lope and strech their legs. I wouldn't keep a horse in a smaller area unless I had no other choice.
I also have a neighbor that lets me put up hot wire in the fall after he's done haying off his field. We exchange fertilizer for grazing until the first snow fall. That is about a 15 acre field and then I put as many of my horses on it as I can put together in one herd. Last year it was all but my then three year old filly and a weanling colt we had bought from the sales barn.

04-21-2006, 10:08 AM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,692	pasture mates---how do you do it? I'm trying to get some information on how other people separate or don't separate their horses in the field (pasture). I have 5 horses (4 geldings and a mare). At present time, my old gelding (30) is by himself in the backyard. One gelding (he was gelded at 4 1/2) and does have offspring, is by himself in a partitioned pasture and I have one gelding and one mare together (the gelding is very possessive of her). The newest gelding is not here yet, but we are partitioning him off, as well (he's only about 14.1 hands)---the others are much larger. I am getting ready to send the mare off for training and was wondering if this would be a good time to put my two large geldings (maybe even the little one) together and keep the mare separated when she comes back in a few months----one of the reasons I'm considering this is due to the fact the mare was kicked really hard (splitting the skin) by her present pasture mate ( they've been together 4 years without a major issue up to this point.)The two geldings snip back and forth across the fence (but I believe that is because of the mare). We have put them all together out in the big field and they run and snort for a while, but then calm down and graze. We leave them together for only a few hours. Any thoughts on this or suggestions on how you all handle mares and geldings? __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

04-21-2006, 10:18 AM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	I currently have 14 horses. I keep the mares and foals by themselves until the foals are older. In pasture two I have a gelding, mare and two yearling geldings. They all get grain so they are kept seperate from those who don't. In pasture three I have old cranky Mustang gelding, two year old gelding and three year old stud (for now, could change at a moments notice ) As soon as the grass grows up a bit more the two yearling geldings will be going out into the big pasture with the other geldings. Normally the three mares (currently with foals at side) would be out in the big pasture also but since there is a stud out there I DON'T want them bred to the will not be until they are checked back in foals. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

04-24-2006, 10:39 AM
Quilting1 Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atalissa, IA Posts: 646	I'm dealing with similar issues myself. I have a medium sized pasture across the road, a really small area by that pasture, part of the back yard that's fenced and a pasture at our neighbor's house to use. I put a horse in the really small area by the pasture and in the back yard just to keep the grass ate down while we're around home. I have an Appy that I've had for a year who bites and rears up with my QH and pony, but doesn't seem to bother the older Arabian I got 3 weeks ago. In fact, he seems a bit better since I got the Arabian. But I need to separate the Appy from my QH and pony and hope he doesn't start in on the Arabian when I do. The farrier thinks he's trying to establish pecking order but after a year with my QH and 6 months with the pony, I think he's playing and just getting too rough. How big of an area should a horse have to be able to get enough exercise, etc.? The pasture I have has very little grass left now but is large enough for them to run around in easily. The neighbor's pasture is larger but not enough for them all summer. I do have a 3.5 acre hay field by my pasture but I need that for hay for my horses, otherwise would reseed it to a good grass pasture when the hay is done. How do other's handle these issues? I need to separate them but also feel guilty for keeping them in a pasture with very little grass left. __________________ \"Acknowledge Him in all thy ways and He shall direct thy path.\" Proverbs 3:6

04-24-2006, 08:56 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	I for the time being have limited access to grass. I have about 10 acres split into one larger pasture and two smaller paddocks about 2 acres a piece. I keep the majority of my horses in the larger pasture. I currently have three mares, two with foal in one paddock and four soon to be two in the second paddock. This way all have some grass to munch on even if it's not much they can still graze and the horses in the larger pasture which are also my easy keepers have a bit more grass so I can strech their round bale out a bit longer. I prefer to have my horses in the largest area I can. In the two acre paddocks they can still get up to a good lope and strech their legs. I wouldn't keep a horse in a smaller area unless I had no other choice. I also have a neighbor that lets me put up hot wire in the fall after he's done haying off his field. We exchange fertilizer for grazing until the first snow fall. That is about a 15 acre field and then I put as many of my horses on it as I can put together in one herd. Last year it was all but my then three year old filly and a weanling colt we had bought from the sales barn. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.