Clingy horses - grr!!!

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sfward

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Well we've had Lily with us for a week now as a companion for Missie, and I'm wondering now if having tried to do the best thing for Missie by getting her a friend, I've just caused more problems for myself!
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Lily hates being left on her own, I have to bring her in while I ride Missie so she can't gallop round the field like a loon, and even then she box walks and ignores her hay completely. While Missie spends the entire hack whinnying for Lily and getting herself in a tizz
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Yesterday was particularly unpleasant as we also came across 2 crows flapping around in a larson trap which nearly gave her heart failure! Not a very relaxing ride all in all, particularly when you're 4 months pregnant
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Does anyone have any tips for dealing with clingy horses when you want to ride one and leave the other behind? The two of them are driving me nuts but I don't really want to give up riding altogether just yet... Help!
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My horse and his friend are in love too
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We have exactly the same problem but I think the only way to resolve it is to get another friend
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We are hopefully getting a wee welsh pony in the next week or so
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The only problem with this is, what happens when we both go out riding and leave the welsh???? I can feel another pony coming on hahaha...
 
I don't think getting another horse is an option unfortunately!! It just gets ridiculous, you need a companion for the companion...! I've had two before but they were never this much trouble
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Perhaps I would've been better just keeping her on her own...!
 
Goats sometimes work as companions. Goats don't normally get distressed when left and the horse is normally happy to leave the goat but form a good companionship.
I worked in a raceing yard years ago which used a pigmey goat as a companion for a horse that did not like to be in a stable alone.
We also took in a rescue that lived with a goat.
We bought a Pigmey goat as a companion for a Stallion we took in until we could get him gelded, but the Stallion preferred his own company.
We still have a lovely little goat!
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Ok. Was hoping they'd improve with time, but I hacked out on Monday and Missie was fine, went yesterday and she was a nightmare so seems to be getting worse...?!! I'll try tonight and see what happens. If it's going to be like this every time I may be giving up riding sooner than planned...!
 
Oh yikes - wot a nightmare
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Sounds like it depends on their personalities too and if they are stressy by nature I suppose. Some horses would be fine but I guess you have got 2 that arent
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Perhaps give it a week longer and see if it gets better
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Oh - how about putting a stable mirror up to help the pony thats left behind?
 
I reckon it's probably give her another reason to get in a state and have a paddy!! She's a bit loony bless her...
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I put hay in for her but she can't calm down long enough to even manage one mouthful!!
 
It can take ages to settle, however in my experience some horses (especially mares) are just ridiculously clingy!! I got a pony as a companion for my mare years ago and they became a real issue, mare more than pony. She then went onto a yard where she was turned out with 1 other mare but horses either side of their field. She once jumped out of her stable because her pair bond was 3 doors down and the top door had swung open so they couldn't see each other!! She jumped out, went straight to the other mare, and planted herself, refused to move! She has been better since she has been in a field of 4 instead of 2, but still charges around if left alone despite horses either side, and if taken out of the field alone just fidgets constantly on the yard and yells at her companions!! Thankfully her pair bond is now my gelding who couldn't give two figs about where she is, which does help. When it was two clingy mares it was a nightmare!!
Not sure this is inspiring you with confidence though sorry! Have to say though hacking out she did get better with time and will now leave the yard fine, just occasionally whinnies back at her friends. So maybe if you persevere they will improve, but equally maybe rather risky if you are pregnant....
 
Lol, oh dear...
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I've had two geldings together and they were fine, I could even have one in and one out at night. Didn't realise mares would be so much worse!! I'll persevere for a bit and see if they get better. If not perhaps I won't bother riding, not worth the stress in my condition!!
I did wonder if this would happen, but I just thought it was unfair to Missie for her to be on her own all the time.
 
My boy gets really really clingy to other horses, whether its his best friend or one he met 10 mins ago! Recently his best friend moved stable to the other side of the yard (he's now left the yard completely) and him and Mo would just shout to each other all the time! But after a few weeks they settled and i don't think Mo even noticed when his friend wasnt around anymore! Maybe different with mares tho. Give them a few weeks to settle. They'll soon get used to the idea that they can't be together every minute of the day.

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Hopefully things will settle down. My gelding stresses (neighs and box walks or runs up and down the fence line) even if the yard/field is full of people and other horses if I take my mare out, he doesn't stress about leaving her whilst we're riding or her being ridden if I stay behind with him. My mare couldn't care less
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