Keep Your Horse Happy with Companionship
A horse without a companion can be a very unhappy horse.
As herd animals, horses typically feel safer when they have more of their own kind to live with and to interact with on a daily basis. In the wild, for example, horses tend to live in small herds with an actual social ladder where every horse has a place within the herd. If you have only one horse and you have noticed that it is chewing on wood, walking the stalls or engaging in other abnormal repetitive behaviors, it may be a sign that you need to find a companion.
If you cannot afford to buy another horse to be a companion to your horse, you may want to consider the following options:
- Offer Boarding: If you have the space and time to take care of another horse, you may want to consider offering boarding. Not only is this a great way to give your horse a companion, but it can also help you to generate a little extra income too! Just be sure to choose carefully and to ensure that the two horses will get along.
- Get a Companion Horse: You may be able to obtain a free companion horse by simply contacting a horse rescue or looking around in the classifieds or within the horse community. The companion horse may be older or otherwise one that cannot be ridden, but it can still serve as a good companion to your horse. Before taking on a companion horse, be sure to find out about any special needs that it may have.
- Consider Other Types of Companions: If these two options don’t work, perhaps a miniature horse or even a donkey, goat, alpaca or llama may serve as a proper companion for your horse.
Whichever route you choose to go, your horse will be sure to be happy to have a companion to enjoy!