Fencing Walking problem

[Topstripe]

Good afternoon

If any of you read my previous thread about my big boys injured shoulder following a nasty kick last night from his field companion, this is a follow on thread regarding his behavioural problem.
I have had him since september and at first everything was grand, he was out in a seperate paddock but white taped off from a mare (only mare on yard) and he was settled and fine. Then the mare was moved to another field the other side of the yard and my boy started fence walking, to the point where he is undermining the fence posts! He would come in all sweaty (and since he is allergic to sweat) not very good. He can loose condition, literally in a day, following a fence walking episode!

To combat this the mare was moved back into his field but both together, they were getting on ok, little spats going on but nothign too bad. Last night they had a big spat and she kicked him in the shoulder - hence vet coming tonight!!!

Anyway the owner of the mare has now decided to move her back to the other field thus my boy, when eventually fit enough to go back out, will have no companion and thus back to square one with the fence walking problem.

I cant put another horse with him as they all have their own fields so I am stuck! The owner of the mare has told me to try putting him on ANXIKALM to try and calm him down when he is going out! I could move him to another yard over the hill but would prefer to stay put as I really like the yard etc.

ANY IDEAS OR TIPS WOULD BE GRATEFULYL APPRECIATED

 

[Tickles]

Will there be other horses next to him? Some just don't cope that well with trying not to be the herd animals they are.

 

[Elsbells]

My mare will fence walk and to beat this I put her out late and bring her in early at 2.30 every day. Most days I will ride her or I'll groom her and do a few jobs until the others come in too.

That's Ok if you don't work full-time like me of course.

 

[Topstripe]

Thanks for replying. There is always 2 horses in the next field but unfortunately there is a large and dense bush as the boundary and he cant really see them especially when they are over the other side of the field (it is a 6 acre field)!

My friend has mentioned Anxikalm to try and calm him down - do you think this would be a good idea???

 

[Elsbells]

To be honest, they really do need to see and touch other horses if they can't otherwise interact and play and if not other horses, spend time with us. As was already said, they are by nature herd animals and will suffer stress if isolated. OK, some horses can cope but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Unfortunatly,I don't know this product(Anixkalm) but I do give my stressy mare mag ox which does help her somewhat.

Probably, the best course you could take would be good horse management.

If you have to move him to another yard where he will be happier, then sadly that's what you'll have to do. Personally, I would only house my mare on a yard where she'd be happy to live. I'm just a visitor, regardless of it's facilities.

After a while, you will know him inside out and will know by instinct what does and does not suit him. Get this right, keep him happy and secure and you'll enjoy a nicer horse so, so much more. The plus side to owning a horse like this is that the quirky ones are so much fun and will form a deep trusting bond with you that others will envy.

Good luck with him and don't worry to much, you'll get there.