I can imagine that it's a very special experience. I even think it's great to go for walks of just some hours with several horses together, because observing how they deal with certain situations as a herd is so interesting. But going away for several days must be absolutely fantastic. If I had a chance to do this, I most certainly would.
Houyhnhnm wrote:
And then I wonder if I have the right to put them through such a commotion every time we leave for a longer trip. I don´t know...
For us I have decided that I can only separate them for a longer time (say, more than just a few hours) as long as there are still at least two of them together in each group - and this just doesn't work with three horses. If it was possible, then personally I wouldn't worry too much about a whole herd being left behind. But then maybe that's just me being not a very sensitive and thoughtful person.
My horses also get stressed when only one leaves and two are left behind, but it's still very different from being completely alone. So I try to minimize the times when I have to leave one alone. But sometimes this just isn't possible, like when I have to bring them to the summer/winter pastures and no adult or older child comes with me. Then I simply don't dare to do a 2.5 hours walk with three horses at once, so I take Summy by bike first and then walk with the other two. Summy likes going by bike, but he really hates being alone in the new pasture and waiting for the others to arrive.
For some strange reason, the horse who leaves never gets scared. Pia sometimes seems to miss the boys a little when we are out alone, but not that much. Titum and Summy never seem to care, as long as we are on our way and they have something to do. Then it also doesn't matter how long it takes. Sometimes I have been out with Titum for seven hours and more, but he never seemed to be very fond of going home.