Poll: Companion Animals
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15 Responses
Over the years I’ve had a horse that had a chicken that shared his stall with him, and my horses live with emus and cattle.
My mini donkey, two dwarfs, a nubian and a la mancha goat were great friends, herd mates and playmates with my three quarter horses/paint. The goats helped bombproof the horses with random fun chasing one another in and out of their stall, jumping up on their napping table, standing on their hind legs and/or headbutting! This often got our dogs interested in playing alongside them on
the opposite side of the fence — lots of barking and sprinting together, and always understood by the horses to be just playful activity. Often they would all nap near one another in the barnyard in the shade with my big orange cat as well! A very happy family, good buddies, and everyone had their own space and safe havens ;D
Wife
We have a cat that is constantly out in the pasture with them if that counts, otherwise we have a 7 horse herd, so I never thought about getting a companion animal.
My horses companion was a dwarf Nubian weathered. He was terrible. He would go to the bathroom on the horses hay and stand up and steal the grain. I started using food bags and the goat would bite it and pull, disturbing the horse. Goats and sheep also chew the pasture shorted and the horses don’t get that short grass in smaller turnout pastures.
I’ve had 3 horses that claimed dogs as their friend and one that preferred cats. And I’ve always kept goats with my horses, but I’d call that more of a love-hate relationship!
I have two goats-Nubians-and my oldest horse has her favorite gelding who loves and guards her, but my wether has also taken a friendship up with her. He’s like a big dog and loves everybody and wants ALL the attention. Nubians are great!
Pony
My apaloosa simgled out one sheep as a buddy when i ahisted him on a farm for a year. Then when he became blind at 24 I borrowed a donkey as a companion to help him in the paddock. He was very happy with both friends!
Sheep and cattle
My donkeys make excellent companions to the one horse who has to stay back in the yard, cutting down on stress behavior.
Many sheep goats and donkeys with my horses over the years. It is also a great way to get a more even graze on the pasture and the sheep/goats break the parasite cycle.
llama
Guinea hen
another horse/pony