Counting sheep

[Starda01]

At the barn where I board, there is a sheep craze going on. First there was one as a companion to a stallion. There another 2 for other horses, but one died. Then a goat, who runs around getting into everything. Then this past weekend, 5 or 6 more. Each one for a boarder’s horse companion.

Is it just me, or is this a bit excessive? I mean, I don’t mind the odd sheep or goat, and I’m not cleaning up after them. But does a horse need a sheep? I know the owners think they’re so adorable, and I can see that. But they are animals with their own needs apart from that of the horse.

Anyway, just wondering what experiences others might have had with companion animals for their horses?

[roseymare]

My Dads old mare really started to like hanging with the cows in her twilight years.

[cheerio280]

I agree, that seems a little excessive. I think goats can make decent companions if no other equines are available, but that’s not really the case when you’re at a boarding barn.

And FYI- the copper levels in horse feed are toxic to sheep, and can actually kill them. Might be worth mentioning to the owners who think they’re so adorable…

[rustbreeches]

I get having one or two calming companion animals, but if every horse needs a sheep, then there is a problem. Are the sheep living in the stall with each horse? How is this working? When you do paddock checks on the horses and sheep and do a head count, do you fall asleep?

[ozjb]

We used to have 2 pet sheep. I can’t imagine using the silly things as companions! And I like sheep!!

Our horses were OK with them, but they (the sheep) weren’t safe in the same paddock with one of the young horses as he spent a lot of time chasing them around!

[HorsesinHaiti]

Sheep are very flock-bound by nature. Are they all out together during turnout hours?

[maunder]

I love sheep, and have four of them as pets, and I know they wouldn’t appreciate being given to my horses as companions individually. I second the concerns with copper and safety.

Mine are also not stabled or turned out with my horses.

[Chall]

Sounds like those horses would be happier in 24 hour turnout in compatible groups.

I once saw a visiting stall. Every stall had two Dutch doors, one inner and one to the outside. They opened the outside one and put up a 14 foot fence that allowed the horse to walk out and over to his neighbors stall and visit over that stalls closed half door.

The horses were friends but I think the one with the walkway was on rehab stall rest.

[x]

Problem with horses and sheep is that some horses think it is fun to pull the wool out of their backs.

[Starda01]

Ah, so it isn’t just me, then. I have to test to see if it’s me that’s crazy or the people around me!

The sheep are stalled individually with their respective horses. There isn’t 24 hour turnout, it’s turnout in individual paddocks for 2 or 3 hours (sometimes longer). A few pairs are out together. The paddocks are sand so there’s nothing for them to do once they roll and run around a bit. But that’s what most barns in this area are like, there just isn’t much pasture available. The sheep go out with their horses, and can roam around the property because they can just go under the paddock fence, but a lot of the time they will just go back and hang out in the stall because that seems to be where they feel safe. They call, and all that bleating must be confusing for them since they can’t see each other.

Other than the hay for the horse, I don’t know what they are feeding the sheep. I don’t think they get any grain. The ones that have been there for a longer time (the one with the stallion has been with them for at least 2 years and is an adult now, and fat!) seem pretty attached to their horse. Now the mare in the stall next to my gelding has a sheep, which she stepped on and broke its leg. My horse and that horse are very buddied up, and personally I think she gets more upset when he’s gone than she does over the sheep. And sometimes when that mare is out and I’m doing things with my horse, so the stall door is open, it will come into his stall and he baby sits it. He’ll even lick it! And, no, I’m NOT going to get him a sheep!

So what does one do with that sheep if you sell the horse? Or move to another barn? Just seems to me like a bad idea, this situation. People think they are saving this cute things from being slaughtered, only to use them as toys for their horses. I have no objection to the companion animal concept, but shouldn’t sheep be allowed to live as sheep, and horses as horses?

[maunder]

I think they may find that the sheep cost as much or more with veterinary costs as their horse does. I’m only sort of kidding here, as I just had the doctor out for my oldest ewe.

The sheep will need deworming, hoof care, special minerals and diet just like a horse would (but specialized for the sheep, of course). When kept out of a more natural pasture-like environment even more attention to detail is needed, because the smaller the area of confinement the more problems you will have.

If they are not a hair sheep, meaning that they naturally shed their fleece, then they will need to be sheared at least once per year.

I hope that the folks that own these sheep realize that you just can’t get a sheep and then not do the same things for it as they’d do for their horses. It’s also really handy to have a ovine specialist as a doctor, and that’s sometimes hard to find. Keeping the sheep separated from each other isn’t the kindest thing.

[Murphy_s_Mom]

I have three pet sheep. They live with my mini and two ponies. The Suffolk ewe is bigger than my mini. They all get along just fine. I need to shear them this weekend though.

[maunder]

I love the big Suffolks, Murphy’s Mom. I have a big Icelandic wether, two Border Leicester ewes and a Jacob ewe.

[Starda01]

I was mistaken, there’s 8 of them in total. They get the same hay as the horse gets, and only one who’s horse stepped on it when it was introduced, is getting some horse feed, not much, but the lady they got them from said it was ok to give the just a little. I sure hope we don’t have an outbreak of sheep hoof and mouth disease! ???

[maunder]

Ooo. Not the best idea to give the horse feed. Copper is pretty serious for a sheep. The sheep might be OK but then it might not. Sheep can be pretty sensitive, especially about food and minerals. The minerals are pretty important. The barn owner can get special sheep minerals at the feed store. They should not have access to a salt block that the horses use, if it’s a mineral block. I think another poster may have said this above and I’m sorry if it’s a repeat.

If the sheep were from a closed flock and not from auction then you might be OK with infectious things.

Sheep are very stoic about illness too. That’s why often folks don’t know they are ill until they drop dead. My oldest ewe was seen today for illness and when the vet came out she did a grand impression of being the healthiest sheep on the farm. She’s quite ill with possible ovine progressive pneumonia, but don’t tell her that.

[Starda01]

Maunder, so sorry she’s ill. Hope she’ll recover soon.

[emipou]

Not that I’ve had a lot of experience with sheep, but from what I do know about them is that they are dumb as dirt and love to just die. Why would you want an animal that if knocked down or gets a small cut, stops having the will to live,… living as a companion animal?

[maunder]

Oh, Emipou… sheep are lovely serene creatures and not dumb as dirt. I know that’s a common idea though. I think it may come from the fact that they will act like a single entity when in a large flock. They’ll all swerve together and if one panics all will. I just love my gentle, sweet sheep. My Icelandic wether has a definite sense of humor. Honest!

As my ewe proved today, being ill with pneumonia did not stop her from acting completely normal for the doctor. She, nor any of mine, will lay down to die when ill. Kind of opposite, actually.

[HorsesinHaiti]

Murphy’s mom, same setup here. My sheep do share a pen with ponies but as a group, and only when a human can supervise and intervene if there is any question of pony agression. Even that is temporary until the ponies get along or get rehomed. I’d prefer for the sheep to have a ‘safe place’ to themselves where they can let down their guard completely. A big pasture would help everyone get along, but sheep do want to be with a flock of sheep to feel safest and play sheep games safely.

[roseymare]

[QUOTE=maunder;8141564]
Oh, Emipou… sheep are lovely serene creatures and not dumb as dirt. I know that’s a common idea though. I think it may come from the fact that they will act like a single entity when in a large flock. They’ll all swerve together and if one panics all will. I just love my gentle, sweet sheep. My Icelandic wether has a definite sense of humor. Honest!

As my ewe proved today, being ill with pneumonia did not stop her from acting completely normal for the doctor. She, nor any of mine, will lay down to die when ill. Kind of opposite, actually.[/QUOTE]

Well I think that is where it comes from the “sick sheep=dead sheep” saying. Many people don’t easily recognize a sick sheep as they do hide illness well, so when it becomes noticeable they are EXTREMELY SICK and often do not pull through.
I have met some smart sheep. And some not so bright ones- just like the rest of the animal kingdom