Grieving horse?

[Charlie_Boy]

We had our 24 yr old ex racer put down on friday as he was very ill. Now our 8 yr old ID X TB is very difficult to handle. He unfortunately didnt see the body and so he is running around screaming, looking for him. He has mares in the field next to him but he had lived with him for 3 yrs and was very attached to him. Before this he was kept alone and abused. he is fine in the field and yard but I tried to load him today and he reared of the ramp and was throwing himself around, he is 18 hh so a little to big to do this. Is this normal and is there anyway to help him calm down? (he does chill out but only when i'm there).

 

[Sarah Sum1]

Sorry to hear about your horse having to be put down. It sounds as though your horse is looking for his friend rather than grieving, but I am by no means an expert!

Maybe an animal communicator person may be able to help. Think some people on here have had experiences with them, so may help.

Sorry not much help, hope he calms down soon.

 

[illy89]

I had the same problem with my mare. My sisters very old pony passed away a few winters ago and my mare became incredibly difficult to handle, she was absolutely distraught. My other horse was away at school with me and although there are two ponies in the next field she would not settle. We brought her two shetland ponies and turned them out with her - she was back to her normal self within a week. I think she just missed having a companion in her field.

Really sorry to hear about your horse being pts.

 

[Cazza525]

Sounds like he needs a companion....if he was abused when he was last on his own the he is associating that with being on his own again.

Call a mate and see if you can borrow some company for him....or companion shetland/aged anything really.

Alternatively,your horse WILL calm down if you choose to leave on his own.....may take a while though.

 

[Alexart]

Sorry about your old horse. Ditto that I'd get a buddy for him to help calm him down and give him something else to focus on - horses really do grieve and it can be very difficult if they don't see the body, which I know is not always possible. We've always left dead horses in the field until they have all come to terms with it - bit gross I know but it helps the herd, one of our old mares was pts last winter and her best buddy a TB mare took 3 days before we could bury the old mare, we even had to feed the TB mare out next to her as she wouldn't come in, and even after she was buried she stayed not far from her grave for another couple of days, after that though she was fine and back to normal and buddied up with another mare. Your guy will get over it but just give him time and maybe don't ask to much of him for a few days.