Hello, I have just got a youngster - literally brought him home yesterday. He's an 8 month old Anglo-Arab X Spotted and I am very pleased with him.
I have a question to ask! Today and yesterday I have been stabling him at night. We have a field and a stable in the field.
At his old home, he was turned out 24/7. I thought, from personal experience, it would be better for him to have a routine and also to be warm and dry and cosy at night in his big straw & shavings bed with his bulging haynet. So last night and tonight I have stabled him. This morning he was a little sprightly, but fine, he didn't sweat or seem distressed, just excited to get to the others! He soon calmed down, he was initially keen to get out and explore and meet the others (understandably). Tonight, he went in easily and was eating etc but didnt seem 100% content (obviously as hes not used to it and also as today he has made extremely great friends with my minis! They stay out)
I plan to keep him stabled at night for the first few days anyway, to keep him out of mischief but going forward, I'm having a think about whether to stay with my initial plan of building a routine and stabling him at night or whether I should let him stay out with the minis and just keep the stable door open so they can go in and out as they please (this is what I did with the minis).
Any thoughts/advice is appreciated!
Anna