I had been hoping to rent a 6 acre field behind my local pub, but the new managers want to put their ponies on 2 acres of it and let me rent the remaining 4 acres.
The ADHO has said it is fine from the point of view of the Sole Occupancy Authority, but in practical terms how well do Dexters and ponies get along?
They will be separated by two independent electric fences, but I will have to move them through the ponies area to get them on to the 4 acres I will be using.
I will get the ponies put in their stable whilst I get the Dexters on the field, but can anyone offer any additional advice?
Dexters and Ponies
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bjreroberts
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Broomcroft
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We've got horses and wouldn't mix them with cattle, especially if the horses are shoed. If not shoed, I may consider it if I had to. I had a pony lose an eye a few ears ago when caught by a shoed horse kicking out possibly just in fun, and also a sheep killed by a horse.
But if they're not mixed together I can't see any issues unless there is some diseases I don't know about. Our horses and cattle are next to each other in fields and in the barn as well, but separated, and they just ignore each other.
I could well imagine a calf chasing a pony and getting kicked in the process if together, but people do it, it's a matter of your attitude to risk levels I suppose.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1199791545
But if they're not mixed together I can't see any issues unless there is some diseases I don't know about. Our horses and cattle are next to each other in fields and in the barn as well, but separated, and they just ignore each other.
I could well imagine a calf chasing a pony and getting kicked in the process if together, but people do it, it's a matter of your attitude to risk levels I suppose.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1199791545
Clive
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Joey Baker Cresswell
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We have had Dexters and horses/ponies together for the last ten years and have only had one problem horse who attacked the Dexters. I wouldn't have horses in the field when the Dexters are calving or when the calves are very young just in case but apart from that mine have always mixed very happily but all my fields are fairly large so they can keep out of each others way if they want to. As I own both the Dexters and the ponies if there was a problem I can deal with it which might not be the case if the ponies are not yours.
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Duncan MacIntyre
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We used to have two fell ponies, sadly now only one. They ran and the remaining one does run regulary with Dexters and North Ronaldsays, with no problems at all. On the other hand I have known horses which would hunt down calves in a field and bite them on the back, sometimes breaking the back. Feeding times might present a problem if you are feeding the cattle adjacent to the horses, or trying to carry hay through the horses field etc.
On the diseas front probably not much to worry about. Ringworm can affect both, but not likely to be problem in well managed dexters or horses, and not likely outside. There have been some murmurings that Sarcoids in horses are linked to the viruses which cause warts in cattle, but I think that although there are genetic similarities between papilloma viruses of cattle and virus particles found in sarcoids direct spread or spread through flies for cattle to horses has never been shown to occur.
Most internal parasites are species specific so cattle can hoover horse worms and vice versa. There are a few obscure Trichostrongyle species common to both.
All in all I would expect the most likely problem to be cheeky horses when you are trying to see your cattle.
Duncan
On the diseas front probably not much to worry about. Ringworm can affect both, but not likely to be problem in well managed dexters or horses, and not likely outside. There have been some murmurings that Sarcoids in horses are linked to the viruses which cause warts in cattle, but I think that although there are genetic similarities between papilloma viruses of cattle and virus particles found in sarcoids direct spread or spread through flies for cattle to horses has never been shown to occur.
Most internal parasites are species specific so cattle can hoover horse worms and vice versa. There are a few obscure Trichostrongyle species common to both.
All in all I would expect the most likely problem to be cheeky horses when you are trying to see your cattle.
Duncan
Duncan MacIntyre
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
My horses don't bother the dexters they ignore each other most of the time. The only time i have had a problem was when my horses were in a field with a friends cattle and winter feeding became a problem as the horses wouldn't let the cattle near the hay, but as you have electric fencing in between i don't think there will be a problem.
Regards Ian Hornsby
Regards Ian Hornsby
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welshdexterboy
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We have horses and Dexters which mix-- the problem we have is if you want to feed one or the other, it doesn't work. Also if the horses have been in for the day due to bad weather they tend to be a little dull and run through the dexters for a laugh :D the cattle are used to them and keep out of their way. We haven't had one who has been nasty to any. The other benefits are the cross grazing ( one tidies up after the other) better than sheep and the other is you can go for a ride. Great.
Rob H
Snipesbay 32350
Pembs
Snipesbay 32350
Pembs
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seacon dexters
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