I apologize if this is in the wrong forum. I am just not sure where this question fits in!

I am planning on getting my first horse in a couple of years. Will a horse be OK living alone if he is used to being with a herd in the field? Will this be something I would need to mention when buying a horse so I can be sure to get one that would be OK being alone?

I wasn't sure if horses were like some dogs or cats who really do better in a pack/pride. I don't want my horse to be sad and lonely if he used to other horses. Yet, we won't be able to afford another horse for a bit after we get our first.

Should I save up until we can get two at once?

Thank you!

My friend just got a young mare that was raised alone and she is clearly uncomfortable among other horses now. She spooks at them and doesn't seem to register that she is one of them. She's also timid and anxious. I don't think of her as a successful example of having a horse alone and I don't know anyone else who has kept a lone horse.

I personally wouldn't keep a lone horse. Unlike cats, horses were made to live in the herd environment...that means social behavior. I think to have normal equine behavior, they should have a companion. I don't think that necessarily means buying another horse. I've seen situations where people have adopted old horses as pasture companions or have adopted minis. My other friend retired her horse to her backyard and found that she was very upset without companions. She ended up having someone rough board their horse on her property. It worked out for both really well. My other friend's old pony grew very depressed when her companion died and they bought a donkey for her. She perked right up with that.

I'd be curious to know if anyone knew of any successfully thriving lone horses.

I have known some horses, when seperated from the heard get very nervous and work themselves into a sweat and run around constantly. Is it in your budget to get 2 horses or maybe even a goat for company?

Thanks so much for the input! If it would be better for my horse, we would just wait a year or so more until we could afford two horses.

We also had tossed around the idea of eventually getting a pony for my kids. Would that count enough for companionship?

I certainly want a well socialized and well adjusted horse. I'll talk to my hubby. Oh, he is going to LOVE this. Two horses!

Yea, a Pony would work or a Mini. That would be cute!

Did you all see the movie Seabiscuit? They had that HUGE horse that kept Seabiscuit company. We had considered already getting a pony for my son. So, maybe a horse and a pony would be the way to go. I guess as long as our horse has some sort of company.

A friend of mine was worried about that. So when she bought her first horse she also bought a couple goats to keep in the pasture together. They got along quite well.

Huntress

As a young girl we had only one horse and she did just fine alone. Of course, I paid attention to her everyday and loved her like a puppy.

How cute would that be? Another friend of mine actually has a few of those small goats (dwarf goats, maybe?) They are so stinkin cute. I just want to be sure my horse will have company, whether it is a second horse or another animal. I plan on spending daily time with him/her, but I would feel better to know he/she wasn't alone much.

I think it would depend upon the horse and the owner, is that right?