Need advice on allowing access to stalls with 24/7 turnout

[Msjodyvs]

To set the stage here, I have a 20 year old gelding that I’ve owned since his birth and a newly acquired 21 year old mare. I’ve just recently brought my gelding to live with me on my property from Seattle to TX. I picked up the mare locally as a pasture mate.

We have a brand new barn and the daily routine has been to have horses turned out on pasture all day and in stalls at night. My mare came from a place where she was out all the time and wasn’t really doted on. My gelding has been stalled at night his entire life. These two horses are fully integrated and doing well.

My barn is setup so that their stalls open into a paddock which then opens into pastures. They each have specific feed needs which is why I haven’t just kept them out. My mare is a little rotund and my gelding can be a hard keeper and is enormous.

My question is this, would it be wise to just leave their outside stall doors open after their meals and they can come in/out as they please? I’ve hesitated in doing this fearing one will follow the other into the stall and that could be dangerous.

My mare hates coming in at night and it’s becoming a problem to catch her. My goal is to have them out as much as possible.

They’re very attached to each other so it’s difficult to separate them, which is understandable after the giant moves each one just went through. So what one does the other needs the option of doing.

Would love anyone’s thoughts. I’m new to keeping horses on my own property.

[JB]

2 horses in a single area where the only in/out is the size of a stall door, does invite the possibility of a horse running into the side of the opening in a hurry to get in or out, whether it’s chasing or being chased.

But, a lot of people do do that, so it can work. You do need to know their relationship and whether either is likely to get testy, either as an aggressor, or in defense (warranted or not).

[Texarkana]

I did it for years (decades) with no problems…

… until one day I had a problem. A big one out of nowhere. One horse almost killed the other.

[wsmoak]

I would not allow multiple horses access to a stall with a normal 4’ door. I’m even a bit hesitant to allow one horse free access, because if they are running and misjudge it they can hurt a shoulder or hip banging into the door post. I know, they can hurt themselves on anything. At a previous boarding barn, a gorgeous mare came in for stall rest/rehab with radial nerve damage unable to use her front leg and they think this is how she did it. So it has stuck with me.

I really like 12’ minimum for one horse and 24’ for two as run-in sheds, or an open overhang off the barn, rather than using the stalls themselves.

BUT these horses are over 20 years old so that is a point in their favor as far as not doing anything silly.

[Msjodyvs]

My 20 year old gelding is very athletic and can be a bit of a bully. I feel like from all the responses my initial instincts were correct. We are looking to make small corrals for each horse connected to their stalls so they can still have access to their own stall but have more room to roam and still have access to each other.

[clanter]

we two similar horses, the one that needs the feed we use a feed bag for her while fatty gets fed in a feeder

[Willesdon]

Horses are clever, sociable people, smarter than many humans give them credit for. They will always try to tell us what they want but humans can’t always hear. If they are allowed to come and go as they please then most likely they will sort themselves out and quickly establish who goes where, in what order and at what time. There should, however, be space and opportunity for getting out of each others way or staying apart if they wish. Observe their behaviour closely, see who is herd leader, make certain no one is picked on, adjust feed positions as necessary, space hay so they can find their own spot. Being at home they will know the routine and the environment. Should something change or a big disaster suddenly happen then deal with it at the time.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Stalls with individual paddocks seems to work well. Especially since they are attached. If one is locked up while the other is out, the stalled horse can get upset when he can’t see his buddy. If they both have paddock access, they can check on each other as needed. The question is, what will you do when you ride one or the other? We’re in a similar situation because I ride my horse more than our son rides his. My solution is sometimes ponying the other horse along on my rides. Both get exercise that way.

[Msjodyvs]

We are going to be adding a 3rd to the herd to address that very thing this spring. Thankfully these horses are more of retirement age. I’m just really wanting these two to get settled. Mind you, I’ve had my mare here since 3rd week in October and my gelding just got here Nov 1. So still pretty new situation, but they’ve settled in pretty well.

If one needs particular attention, like a vet visit, they both are in the barn. As time goes on and they get more settled, they are less anxious when the other is getting worked with. It’s something I’ve actively had to work with both horses on.

[S1969]

I have that setup and 5 horses currently, 3 standard sized, one 10hh pony and one 33" mini. It works fine; I have 3 stalls and my pony and TB often share a stall; the mini rarely goes into a stall. (She also as a special shed that only she can get into so she has shelter if she wants.)

I’ve used this set-up with a lot of mixed herds and never had any significant issues, but obviously every situation is different and things might not go as well for you.

I think a mare and a gelding will probably be fine - but when you add the 3rd horse you might have issues. Do you know what that horse is already, or are you searching?

[StormyDay]

I allow my horses to go into their stalls during the summertime. I just leave them all open. I’ve never had an issue, but all 4 of the horses that I allow to do this are extremely calm and get along really well with each other. However; I’d be leery to allow it if I knew there was food in the stalls. I find 99% of the fights my horses have are food related. You can’t explain to horses that there is not a hay shortage or that they need to not steal the others’ grain.

[Msjodyvs]

I haven’t started searching quite yet, but I don’t believe it will be a full size horse, most likely a pony or a couple of minis. My gelding is 17.3hh and about 1200lb. He’s herd leader. Mare is not even 15hh, but holds her own. My gelding will push her around on occasion and she’ll Buck at him, but never actually touches him. They don’t leave marks on one another or bite each other. He will nuzzle her back, sometimes she allows it, other times she doesn’t.

[HorseAlter]

I have to laugh about mealtime charades. I feed my horse in their stalls so that each can eat in peace without having to worry about one of the others going for seconds from someone else’s feedtub.

One of my horses, who happens to be the herd boss, has to pin his ears and send snarky looks to the horse next to him, as if that horse is going to somehow come through the wall to steal his food. lol.

@StormyDay

I allow my horses to go into their stalls during the summertime. I just leave them all open. I’ve never had an issue, but all 4 of the horses that I allow to do this are extremely calm and get along really well with each other. However; I’d be leery to allow it if I knew there was food in the stalls. I find 99% of the fights my horses have are food related. You can’t explain to horses that there is not a hay shortage or that they need to not steal the others’ grain.

[Mango20]

My two horses and one pony have access to the end of the barn with stalls thorough the big sliding door at the end. They can go in the aisle or into any of the four stalls. What usually happens is my two mares (the horses) come in and the pony gelding is left just outside the door. Occasionally I find two in one stall. What happens then, if I’m coming to feed, is that the less dominant one will hang way back at the back of the stall and be afraid to leave. If I walk in there and escort them out, they are able to get past the more dominant one with no issues. I have not had any injuries, but would prefer if I had a second exit through one or more of the stalls.

[StormyDay]

That sounds like my gelding! He glares at my other gelding through the stall bars if he deems him too close to ‘his’ hay. The worst part is my other gelding is a total pushover and so just forlornly stands there not eating. His hay has to be placed on the other side of the stall.

Horses are so funny.

[trubandloki]

I know this would not work with my herd. Your mileage might be different but to me it is not worth the risk.

I have paddocks outside their stalls so when separated they have access to both their stalls and their paddocks. When together the paddocks are closed so no access to stalls. There is a very open shelter in the group area.

[McGurk]

I have two stalls that have doors to the paddock and doors to the barn aisle. I leave both doors open and let the horses have access to the stalls and barn aisle when turned out. This works well, there isn’t a pinch point - the less dominant horse can’t be pinned in a stall, but they all have access to shelter, and I can easily shut them up to feed.

There’s a third stall with no outside door, and I do not use that one as a run in shed for the fear of someone getting blocked in.

This works pretty well for me, and has for a variety of horses over the years. I would be very reluctant to use any setup where a horse could be trapped in a stall or run in shed by a more dominant horse; too risky.

[Bluey]

I have a setup where the 80’ long barn has a large overhang.
Half of it, 40’, is three larger stalls with their own individual runs.
The other half is 40’ open front and side, matted, where we fed alfalfa flakes.
The pen in front is open and has the 6’ open communal water trough and on two sides larger pens and then pastures.
We have kept up to five geldings that get along there, but we prefer to keep it to three now.
Seems that our horses have been fine there not fussing or injuries, but once, when introducing a young horse, he was across the fence several days, all seemed ok, when turned in with three other, two older horses, he settled to eat with them.
A bit later, seemingly out of the blue, he ran across the pen, almost knocking another horse down and attacked the softest, meekest horse, that didn’t see him coming.
He knocked that horse down, kneed on his neck and shoulder, had grabbed him by the top of his neck and was shaking the daylights out of him!
I had my manure cart with a feed tub with hay flakes I had been feeding and launched said black rubber tub at him and ran with the cart as a weapon and got him off the other horse and sorted into a pen by himself again.

Old horse was shaken, had some bites on his neck, seemed ok otherwise, thank goodness.
It is so scary to watch horses when they show serious aggression like that.
Have seen horses being ugly, thankfully that was the only time seeing that, scary to remember.

[lenapesadie]

I don’t do the group access to stalls thing either. My two at home get on well enough, but a horse pinned in a stall during a disagreement is the stuff of my nightmares. I’m a strong proponent of social living situations for horses, but shared stalls is a little too social for my tastes lol.

I’ve seen set ups where the stalls either have multiple doors or full 12’ gates instead of a traditional wall and that seems like it would be a lot less risky.

One old barn I admire as I drive by is a shed row with overhangs on both sides and stall doors on both sides. The people tie/latch all the stall doors back and the horses have access to the whole shebang. Looks like it works nicely as a good run in shelter for a herd of horses.

[2DogsFarm]

@HorseAlter

pin his ears and send snarky looks to the horse next to him, as if that horse is going to somehow come through the wall to steal his food.

Same here, but it’s my 2nd in Command Hackney Pony making Nastyface & kicking the wall between him & his neighbor the 16h Boss.
Lucky for him, Boss ignores him 99.99% of the time.
But I have seen Boss exit his stall, evict pony from his - never with any violence - & after showing him who owns all the hay, allow pony to go back in his stall.

I’ve kept 3 different pairs geldings & now a 3rd mini as you & @willesdon describe.
16h horse, 52" pony & 34" mini.
No problems for the past 17yrs.
Current 3 have been together a total of 6yrs, with mini added in 2016.

Stalls have Dutch doors at the back, kept open year-round (unless they need to be in for vet or shoer).
Stalls open to my drylot, that in turn, opens to pastures at each side.
Pastures can be closed off with gates as needed.

I often find all 3 in one stall & mini routinely shares hay with the horse.
I do confine mini to his stall when I feed grain, as he is on TC Sr, horse & pony get oats.
But as soon as horse finishes grain, mini is released & immediately joins the horse.

Turned out, pony will occasionally lay his ears at the mini, or feign chasing him. Mini will feint-kick at pony.
But then they’ll graze side by side
Horse does not interfere with his minions

Back door to mini’s stall was made so only he would fit.
At 5’2", I have to stoop to go through it.
Recently I went to do my 10P nightcheck, flipped on lights & pony was in mini’s stall
I was worried he’d scramble to get out, but nope.
He just took one last mouthful of hay & neatly limboed back out.
Pony routinely does a Downward Dog stretch in his stall, so…