Stall Lights

[O So]

As some of you know, I have made O So a new stall. I was wondering if I should have some sort of light in there at night? He has stayed in it for about 2 weeks now with no light, or what light the red light in the birds aviary puts out. Which is not much on O So's stall area. I stood in there tonight and turned the light off and it gets pretty dark in the stall. He does have half the outside door open that the night light comes in, but that's not much either.

Reason I all of a sudden got concerned is because tonight when I went to give him his last feeding and put him in his stall, he was acting kind of anxious. When I first went outside he was standing looking outside the yard. Really looking and listening. When I made noise coming out, he took off running toward me, then turned and ran back to the same spot and looked outside the yard again. I looked to see if there was some type of animal out there or person, and didn't see anything.

Once I got him to come in the stall, I had to almost tackle him to get to the door before he went back out. He was still really anxious. I locked him in the stall with just the top door open to the outside. He would run to the door, look out intently, then run around the stall. Then he would do the same again. I decided to leave the light on in the garage for now, but I was wondering, should I put a night light in there? Or do you guy's think he will be ok with little light that is in there?

Thanks for your help, again!

 

[MyBarakah]

Well... ALL my horses inside & out have some sort of night light... And my horses in the barn always have a radio to listen too... I don't think they like it quiet and don't think they can see if its pitch black.. and if he's all by himself.. horses are "herd" animals.. they don't like being by themselves... They really like having a buddy... so if you can't get him a buddy I sure would find some sort of night light and radio for some sort of music (my guys have the country music going in the back ground)... I think that would calm, help relax him...

 

[bevann]

I think he will be fine without a light.When you first put him in or are going to leave give him some hay to munch on.Most horses especially Minis are fine if they have something to eat.It will distract him for a while and he will become comfortable in there good luck

 

[O So]

Well... ALL my horses inside & out have some sort of night light... And my horses in the barn always have a radio to listen too... I don't think they like it quiet and don't think they can see if its pitch black.. and if he's all by himself.. horses are "herd" animals.. they don't like being by themselves... They really like having a buddy... so if you can't get him a buddy I sure would find some sort of night light and radio for some sort of music (my guys have the country music going in the back ground)... I think that would calm, help relax him...

Yah, I 'm working on the friend part! LOL Trying to talk hubby into getting another mini, that is!

Thanks for the reply, I will go put a night light out there for him. Never thought of a radio. The stable I go to has a radio that plays all the time, I figured it was just because they are locked up for 22 or so hours everyday and get bored in the stalls. I figured O So being able to get out and run everyday and be out with the other animals and such, didn't really need the extra noise. I think I will put a cheap radio out for him, thanks! Hubby is going to think I flipped! LOL He just doesn't get horses!

 

[O So]

I think he will be fine without a light.When you first put him in or are going to leave give him some hay to munch on.Most horses especially Minis are fine if they have something to eat.It will distract him for a while and he will become comfortable in there good luck

I give him his last hay meal when I put him in his stall for the night. That and I give him treats for going into his stall!

He also has his "pumpkins" that have a few treats plus hay in them. I try to keep him from getting to bored over night! Yah, he is spoiled!

Thanks for the reply!!!

 

[O So]

I went to look for an extra night light that I knew i had, but couldn't find it. In the hunt for it, I thought about the bug light that I had just bought a replacement bulb for. So I went out and stuck the new bulb in and plugged it in, it worked!

( I found it while cleaning the garage to make the stall, so wasn't sure if it was just a bad bulb or not, lol) So I decided to hang that up for a night light.

Now hubby won't think I went off the deep end. LOL I was planning on putting a bug light in there this summer, so this works out great. It puts just enough light off so O So can see.

Hubby will think I flipped when he goes out and hears music though! LOL I found an old radio, really, an old one. I think it was made in the 50's or so! LOL It still works so I plugged it in and turned it on for O So. I have it just barely audible. I'm sure O So and my birds can all hear it though. You watch, my birds will be singing country songs before long!

 

[AnnaC]

Frpm what you are saying it sounds as though something inside his stall has worried him? Was just thinking about your birds - obviously he knows they are there, but could something have bothered THEM during the night and caused them to 'flutter' about in their cages, thus producing a noise that Oso wasn't quite sure about? I had a similar problem the other evening but with a cat! Our horses are perfectly used to our cats, happy to find a cat asleep in the corner of their stable or to have one suddenly jump over a door, but this particular evening our youngest cat decided to zoom up one of the wooden uprights and on to the beam above - all heck broke out LOL!! Wizzing horses, snorting, huffing and puffing etc etc! I stood there calmly explaining that it was just a cat, called the cat down and made a fuss of it as it walked along the partitions and door tops - everyone relaxed looking a little embassassed at having been caught out. But it was simply a cat doing something different/unexpected that caused them a problem - which is what made me think of your birds. Perhaps you could do an 'official' introduction between them and Oso - has he been able to get close to them to 'inspect' them and realise that they could be great companions for him if he would relax and treat them as friends!

I'm probably quite wrong with this but just thought I would throw it into the mix as a possibility?

Anna

 

[Sue_C.]

I found an old radio, really, an old one. I think it was made in the 50's or so! LOL It still works so I plugged it in and turned it on

Sorry, but I am SUCH a worry-wort, and this put up a red flag for me. I worry constantly about things left on in the barn, that the thoughts of an old radio over-heating would scare me to death. The insides are very likely full of old dirt/dust...may I suggest a newer radio?

 

[targetsmom]

There might have been some sort of animal outside that O So was concerned about. What you might want to consider is a motion sensor light that will light up OUTSIDE if there is something out there. I have found lights will deter some predators and would certainly help him - and you - see if there is something out there.

 

[SampleMM]

You could try putting up white Christmas lights as they put off a nice, softer type of lighting. For safety, I always leave some sort of light on in the barn if their stall doors are open and they are going in and out. Also, a radio is nice during the day but I turn it off at night so they can sleep.

 

[O So]

Sorry, but I am SUCH a worry-wort, and this put up a red flag for me. I worry constantly about things left on in the barn, that the thoughts of an old radio over-heating would scare me to death. The insides are very likely full of old dirt/dust...may I suggest a newer radio?

Yah, I thought of that too today! I turned it off this morning and am going to find a newer model! It also freaked me out when I first went out there this morning, someone was talking! LOL

 

[O So]

Frpm what you are saying it sounds as though something inside his stall has worried him? Was just thinking about your birds - obviously he knows they are there, but could something have bothered THEM during the night and caused them to 'flutter' about in their cages, thus producing a noise that Oso wasn't quite sure about? I had a similar problem the other evening but with a cat! Our horses are perfectly used to our cats, happy to find a cat asleep in the corner of their stable or to have one suddenly jump over a door, but this particular evening our youngest cat decided to zoom up one of the wooden uprights and on to the beam above - all heck broke out LOL!! Wizzing horses, snorting, huffing and puffing etc etc! I stood there calmly explaining that it was just a cat, called the cat down and made a fuss of it as it walked along the partitions and door tops - everyone relaxed looking a little embassassed at having been caught out. But it was simply a cat doing something different/unexpected that caused them a problem - which is what made me think of your birds. Perhaps you could do an 'official' introduction between them and Oso - has he been able to get close to them to 'inspect' them and realise that they could be great companions for him if he would relax and treat them as friends!

I'm probably quite wrong with this but just thought I would throw it into the mix as a possibility?

Anna

It wasn't the birds. He was freaked out from something outside the yard. He was doing it again today. I haven't check yet tonight to see if he is still looking in the same area yet, but if he is,, I have a good idea of what it may be. I have 2 motorcycles that he can now see because I moved the garbage can last night. So I am thinking the shape of them is freaking him out. Reason I think that is because that is the way I lead him out to the bus today. He was really hesitant about going by them. After some patient coaxing we go past them.

He actually has met the birds. They have outdoor aviaries that are attached to the indoor ones. So O So can see them all the time. Course I am not saying if they went off, it wouldn't startle him. They can be very loud.