Hi everyone!
I just bought my first horse back in Dec. 2019. I grew up around horses and supported myself through high school and college by working with and caring for race and show horses. I did not own or lease any of these horses! I only mention this back history because I do know how to functionally care for a horse but I am inexperienced/not confident with the daily details of owning MY OWN horse.
My pony (11.5 hands) Magic is in her mid 20s. I know she's old but she's perfect for my lifestyle, my property, and I'm the perfect owner for her golden years. I bought her last Dec 2019. I've owned her about 1.5 months. My property is fully fenced and split in half by fencing. The barn and her stable are located in the back pasture. The front pasture is also attached to my back yard and my back deck which runs the full length of the house. I have french doors leading from my bedroom and dining room onto the back deck. Due to the floor plan when you stand at one set, the french doors on the back deck you can see into the dining room, kitchen, and living room. This leads into my problem.
Magic is on a regular feeding schedule. Out of the stable and breakfast in the front pasture between 5-7am. Lunch on my back deck between 12-2. Finally I feed her dinner in her stable between 5-7pm and she remains in her stable overnight. She has had no issue with this routine until about 3 days ago. She will not go to her stable at night unless I lead her out there. This is unusual because since I purchased her I have been able to get her to do everything I want with voice commands or hand gestures. I have had no reason to use a lead for anything. There is one other change in her behavior she used to explore the front pasture during the day or "graze" in between feedings. Now she just stands on my back deck looking in through my french doors watching me work or falls asleep blocking the french doors from opening. I would say she does most of her sleeping on my back deck.
She appears sad when its time to go to her stable for the night. She is NOT nervous and her stable shows no signs of stress. In the morning she is very happy to see me but does not push her way out. She waits until I am ready and then follows me to her breakfast.
She is the only horse I own and I do not have neighbors that own horses. I purchased her from a family that kept her as the only horse for the year they owned her and she was sold to them originally because she could be kept as an only horse and was safe for children. I purchased her because I was looking for a companion, I work from home and also have a hobby farm so I am outside or coming and going from my shop to house through out the day or I am working in one of the pastures. She is not just a lawn ornament, I groom her daily and I randomly take breaks to spend time with her. She will be seen by a farrier this week (first time since I have owned her) and then I plan on long lining her for exercise. I have been waiting to do this because I and my vet wanted to see her gain more weight. Just because she is old does not mean that I am not going to be an hands off owner. She also has toys but does not play with them. My property is very interesting to explore but she seems to have settled on my back deck as the perfect spot to spend the day.
I can see multiple reasons why this is happening but I can't figure out which is the right reason or what I should do.
1) Maybe this is just her personality now that she is settled in to her new home and I have nothing to worry about?
2) Maybe this is because she's finally getting the amount of supplemental food she needs (not just pasture)?
3) Maybe she is lonely?
-note: If this is it I can afford/have the time/have the space (stable, pasture) for a second horse. I do not want to get a second horse and then have both of them on my back deck sleeping/staring at me all day.
4) Health issue?
5) Something I am overlooking?
6) The weather?
I was going to leave her out last night (blanketed) but my husband doesn't feel its safe. I don't know why, he just strongly feels that it is less stress to stable her at night and is safer for her. We don't live in an area where I need to worry about large predators.
I just bought my first horse back in Dec. 2019. I grew up around horses and supported myself through high school and college by working with and caring for race and show horses. I did not own or lease any of these horses! I only mention this back history because I do know how to functionally care for a horse but I am inexperienced/not confident with the daily details of owning MY OWN horse.
My pony (11.5 hands) Magic is in her mid 20s. I know she's old but she's perfect for my lifestyle, my property, and I'm the perfect owner for her golden years. I bought her last Dec 2019. I've owned her about 1.5 months. My property is fully fenced and split in half by fencing. The barn and her stable are located in the back pasture. The front pasture is also attached to my back yard and my back deck which runs the full length of the house. I have french doors leading from my bedroom and dining room onto the back deck. Due to the floor plan when you stand at one set, the french doors on the back deck you can see into the dining room, kitchen, and living room. This leads into my problem.
Magic is on a regular feeding schedule. Out of the stable and breakfast in the front pasture between 5-7am. Lunch on my back deck between 12-2. Finally I feed her dinner in her stable between 5-7pm and she remains in her stable overnight. She has had no issue with this routine until about 3 days ago. She will not go to her stable at night unless I lead her out there. This is unusual because since I purchased her I have been able to get her to do everything I want with voice commands or hand gestures. I have had no reason to use a lead for anything. There is one other change in her behavior she used to explore the front pasture during the day or "graze" in between feedings. Now she just stands on my back deck looking in through my french doors watching me work or falls asleep blocking the french doors from opening. I would say she does most of her sleeping on my back deck.
She appears sad when its time to go to her stable for the night. She is NOT nervous and her stable shows no signs of stress. In the morning she is very happy to see me but does not push her way out. She waits until I am ready and then follows me to her breakfast.
She is the only horse I own and I do not have neighbors that own horses. I purchased her from a family that kept her as the only horse for the year they owned her and she was sold to them originally because she could be kept as an only horse and was safe for children. I purchased her because I was looking for a companion, I work from home and also have a hobby farm so I am outside or coming and going from my shop to house through out the day or I am working in one of the pastures. She is not just a lawn ornament, I groom her daily and I randomly take breaks to spend time with her. She will be seen by a farrier this week (first time since I have owned her) and then I plan on long lining her for exercise. I have been waiting to do this because I and my vet wanted to see her gain more weight. Just because she is old does not mean that I am not going to be an hands off owner. She also has toys but does not play with them. My property is very interesting to explore but she seems to have settled on my back deck as the perfect spot to spend the day.
I can see multiple reasons why this is happening but I can't figure out which is the right reason or what I should do.
1) Maybe this is just her personality now that she is settled in to her new home and I have nothing to worry about?
2) Maybe this is because she's finally getting the amount of supplemental food she needs (not just pasture)?
3) Maybe she is lonely?
-note: If this is it I can afford/have the time/have the space (stable, pasture) for a second horse. I do not want to get a second horse and then have both of them on my back deck sleeping/staring at me all day.
4) Health issue?
5) Something I am overlooking?
6) The weather?
I was going to leave her out last night (blanketed) but my husband doesn't feel its safe. I don't know why, he just strongly feels that it is less stress to stable her at night and is safer for her. We don't live in an area where I need to worry about large predators.