Many a rider has had the dream of keeping his or her horse at home.
This idyllic scene usually envisions the person and horse as a twosome traipsing through the fields.
After the ride, the loved horse is petted and groomed by family and friends.
Then all the people go off to the house for a bite to eat and chat about the events of the day.
But, wait.
Left at the barn, this horse is lonely.
It may pick at its grain or walk restlessly about its stall, trampling the hay that was intended for its meal.
It will probably ignore the cat that is drinking from the watering trough.
It may pace the side of the barn that separates it from the cows next door.
It will certainly gallop across the paddock and attempt to jump the fence to join the neighbor's pony.
Horses are herd animals.
They want to be with other horses most of all.
The best thing you can do for your horse's contentment is to be sure that it can be near another horse or pony.
They love to touch each other.
But just having another within sight in the next field or nearby stall is good.
A donkey or burro will usually be accepted as readily.
But other species often are viewed as foreign and usually won't keep a horse happy.
There are exceptions to this.
If you cannot have a second equine, you can try some other choices.
This works especially if your horse has been used to having the other animals around in joint company with horses in the past.
Examples are cows, lamas, goats, or sheep.
Horses have been known to make friends with dogs and chickens.
But, you can't count on it.
You have to try it out on an individual basis and see if it works.
Be present and alert during a trial run of these different animals being together.
Some horses dislike or are frightened by small animals or birds and will bite or stomp them.
This dangerous interaction can occur even if the horse seems docile with humans.
How will you know you've made the right choice in a companion? This will be evident by your horse's more contented behavior.
It will stop running along the fence line.
It will eat in a more relaxed manner.
It will keep its weight better.
It will have a longer attention span for work when you want to ride seriously.