Can be horses so attached it actually makes them unhappy?

J

Jesstickle

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Sorry, that isn't a very good title but I couldn't work out how to paraphrase properly.

My two horses absolutely adore each other (mare and gelding). When they're kept together removing either results in the other screaming and worrying until they are returned (despite repetition and 'getting them used to it')

Mare went away on schooling livery and was incredibly settled there. Came back after six weeks and they went straight back to bellowing and worrying about each other despite the fact that whilst she was away all sorts had been coming and going.

Gelding has gone out on trial for a month. He has settled incredibly well at his new yard ( I literally can not believe how quiet he is) and mare is absolutely fine with her new field mate coming and going.

It's almost like when they're properly separated they can both relax? Is this usual?
 
I don't really know the answer, I had a mare and gelding together, totally in love and inseparable even when another gelding went out with them, they both ignored him and would worry to death if separated, our gelding has now gone and my mare screamed a bit as he left but his now a much happier horse in herself now that he has gone for good? Strange I think. I think they know when their friend is going for good, and just get over it I suppose
 
Yes I think they can be. My yearling was fine to be alone in a field when I bought her and contined to be until recently (she has been left at least 5 times a week since I bought her in July). Now she is totally obsessed with the other welsh pony and I can't understand why she started it but it's really annoying!! She is barely interested in the third horse.
 
absolutely!! my gelding is obsessed with my big girl, he gets so stressed when i take her out , he's got himself into an awful sweat on more than one occasion:rolleyes: and he calls and yells for her the whole while i am out, and i know because i can hear him half way to the next village:o
But for the short while the mare went up to a friends (3 months) they were both fine, he settled within a day and she wasn't fussed at all as there was a new gelding to make eyes at!
 
My lad did that. He was always the bottom of the herd, but also the alpha mares boyfriend.

Whenever either was removed from the field, the other would pace the fence line, sweat up and scream continually. It was always worse if they were removed from the other in the field, whereas they seemed more settled if both in the stables but would still scream until they were reunited.

The mare got sold, and after a day of screaming, my lad completely settled. The mare settled in her new home immediately as well.

Interestingly, my lad also now bosses the herd around :p
 
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I would get anxious too if somebody I was with 24 hrs a day suddenly left without the uncertainty of whether they will come back. Put yourself in a horses mind set.
 
My boy gets so stressed when he is turned out with others. He is the boss of the others and i think he finds that job very stressful.
When hes on his own hes much more relaxed and happy.
 
absolutely the best thing i ever did for their sanity was seperatey boy and girl! i took my mare home for 2 months then moved her to the yard i moves my boy to, they are in different stable blocks and hardly see each other and both so chilled!
 
I had 2 mares that were the same, they both got totally stressed when I tried to ride the other! my mare that I still have wasn't so bad if she was left with another horse the field! but the other mare would gallop about the whole time even when she was in company!

it got so bad that she was completely lame for about 4 months through stressing! I had her on loan so had to give her up!

I know have a young gelding and him and my mare get on really well but she doesn't make any fussy if I take him out! and he doesn't really when I take her out! but they get on really well when they are together!
 
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