Horse napping and sleep deprivation?

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AmyJoy99

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Hi all,
I'll try to make this as least confusing as possible - because I'm so lost at the moment as to whats going on.
So the problem at hand is that horse has suddenly become extremely nappy, doesn't want to leave the yard and we've managed to get him on the roads he keeps trying to turn around. He doesn't do bad spinning or any rearing/bolting etc. but he will turn his head in the opposite direction with all his force and demand to go back.

This is quite frustrating as a week ago we were hacking out alone very happily indeed with no problems.

SO here is what has changed recently etc:

1. Because of various uncontrollable circumstances he was being kept in a field on his own (he's out 24/7) with no horses he could actually interact with, but with a couple within seeing and hearing distance. He was quite happy like this, and it really made him seek friendship in us and he'd come running down to the gate to be caught and loved going out for hacks .
- a week ago another pony came to the yard and he was put right next door to ours (separated by electric fencing).
-ours was very happy to have a mate and cantered around excitedly on the first day.
-however even though they don't seem to be 'buddies' whenever I take mine out of the field and the new pony can't see him - new pony begins whining and becoming anxious and this of course sets my boy off.
-this went on for a couple of days and he seemed to settle and we managed to do a few good hacks.
COULD HIS NAPPING BE DUE TO WANTING TO GET BACK TO HIS NEW FIELD MATE?

2. He has always been a very calm horse, and from when we first got him he would occasionally doze off in late afternoon when grooming or being stroked but nothing major.
At the moment however, when he is tied up being groomed and tacked up he is very very dozy- eyes close, head lowered and sometimes i have to pinch him or clap to make sure he doesn't fall over.
So it could be narcolepsy (sp?) but he has never showed signs during being ridden.

Could this just be bad sleep deprivation because he doesn't feel comfortable enough to lay down in his field?
If so, what would the solution be to this, and could this be affecting his napping behaviour because he's simply too tired to go for a ride?

3. possibly saddle needs looking at again as he has gained a bit of needed weight since we got him - it's been about 5 weeks since it was fitted.

So my question is - anyone have any ideas why the very sudden onset of nappy behaviour. It did seem to begin when the new pony came , is this is viable reason and if so what can be done about it?

Thank you and sorry for all the details .. !
 
You have answered your own questions, yes he is probably unsettled so clinging to his only friend who is also probably unhappy at being alone when you take yours out, he is also unlikely to feel relaxed enough to sleep in the field so takes the chance to nod off when in the yard, I don't think it is narcolepsy just simply lack of sleep.

He may have appeared happy alone but he obviously isn't, not many horses are, seeking human company may make the human feel good but it is not healthy for the horse to be reliant on a person as their only companion, I think if he could have another actually in with him he would relax more, which would allow him to sleep but it may mean he still naps if the friend starts calling, is it possible to bring the pony in while you ride?
 
be positive said:
You have answered your own questions, yes he is probably unsettled so clinging to his only friend who is also probably unhappy at being alone when you take yours out, he is also unlikely to feel relaxed enough to sleep in the field so takes the chance to nod off when in the yard, I don't think it is narcolepsy just simply lack of sleep.

He may have appeared happy alone but he obviously isn't, not many horses are, seeking human company may make the human feel good but it is not healthy for the horse to be reliant on a person as their only companion, I think if he could have another actually in with him he would relax more, which would allow him to sleep but it may mean he still naps if the friend starts calling, is it possible to bring the pony in while you ride?
Click to expand...

The new pony him self is a very restless and anxious little guy, so I doubt my boy feels comfortable to sleep around him as you say.

Unfortunately no we can't bring in the new pony as he apparently can't be stabled..
so would you say the most likely reason for the napping is the new horse?
If so is it just a case of incrementally taking him out - would this be on foot first ( he seems fine when I just walk him out , quite compliant) and then progress to riding? I feel like even if I walked him out on foot for a while, as soon as I start riding him he'll begin napping again. So any suggestions on how to go about this effectively? Thanks for your help :)
 
When your horse was on his own he was he was probably in a state of learned helplessness. This is not the same as him being happy (far from it in fact). He finally has a friend now and quite sensibly (in the eyes of a herd animal) doesn't want to leave the friend and be without equine company again.

I also think that the pony is probably an anxious chap because he has no equine company in his field with him.

How to sort this. Well the obvious answer is to find herd turnout for both of them. Let their minds recover/unwind and then do some training to get him to realise that his friends will always be there when he returns to the field.
 
I agree with Faracat, the way they are being kept is not good for either equine and I would want to deal with this rather than find ways to work round it, in the long term it is not being fair on them to be kept almost isolated, mine are usually in pairs but can always see others close by and most are happy to be left or move in with a different one short term if required, they are not clingy to one individual friend as they know they will always have something nearby.
 
if you watch horses in a small herd you often find that they will lay down in groups with 1 or 2 standing and then when a couple get up the ones that were standing will lay down. this gives them all a chance to sleep or rest but they know that there is someone on guard. your horse could be missing out on the feeling of security so it could be all the things you mentioned in the post
 
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