How to resolve the 'needy' horse issue?!

[Stenners]

I've had my mare around 4 months and when I went to see her she was soo quiet on the yard barely moved a muscle. When I got her home she was a bit of a stresshead! I'm on a much busier yard to where she came from with lots of ponies and screaming children! After a couple of months she really wasn't settling at all so we have another quiet part of our yard that i've moved her too which is similar to where she came from and it's changed her soo much! She's now the horse I went to see! Not loads coming and going and no screaming children! However - she has got attached the horse in the field next door!
It's my friends horse so we do help each other out so do a lot with the 2 of them together. When the other horse is on the yard with her - my little mare is sooo quiet and chilled out. If the other mare leaves she starts scremaing, walking round, pawing the ground. She used to bunny hop aswell but as stopped doing that.
She has got a lot better as in the field if the other horse left she would stand at the gate screaming until she returned but now she will happily go back down the other end of the field and graze. It's mainly on the yard that she's a pain. She's not a pain to ride if they are separate (she will shout if out alone) so it's just on the ground on the yard.
I know it's probably a case of keep separating them little and often to get her used to it but anyone have any other ideas! At the moment if I clip or she's shod the other horse comes in as she then stands quietly instead of pacing around! It makes no difference if others are on the yard or not - it's when this horse comes and goes she gets herself in a pickle!

 

[Antw23uk]

I think just keep doing what your doing. She is obviously upset by the move from her original home, to a yard too busy for her and now this quieter area so she has latched on to this companion as a safety blanket, which is totally understandable and natural.

Little and often separation, plenty of work to keep her tired and her mind busy. Maybe look at the TRT method to help with her behaviour on the yard. She needs to understand that her friend will be there as and when and not stress about it. I think time will do you wonders so as long as its getting better then try not to worry

 

[Stenners]

I think just keep doing what your doing. She is obviously upset by the move from her original home, to a yard too busy for her and now this quieter area so she has latched on to this companion as a safety blanket, which is totally understandable and natural.

Little and often separation, plenty of work to keep her tired and her mind busy. Maybe look at the TRT method to help with her behaviour on the yard. She needs to understand that her friend will be there as and when and not stress about it. I think time will do you wonders so as long as its getting better then try not to worry

Thank you! She definately is getting better - when she's tired from work she cares much less but first thing this morning she was being a total baby about the whole situation!

 

[Annagain]

I think you've already got your answer. Just keep stretching her comfort zone a little each time. As Ant says, little and often and repeat, repeat, repeat.

Mine was fine on his own when he arrived, then settled with his field mates and didn't want to leave them but with lots of repetition is fine on his own again now - other than trying to fiddle with anything in sight to entertain himself!

 

[Stenners]

I think you've already got your answer. Just keep stretching her comfort zone a little each time. As Ant says, little and often and repeat, repeat, repeat.

Mine was fine on his own when he arrived, then settled with his field mates and didn't want to leave them but with lots of repetition is fine on his own now - other than trying to fiddle with anything in sight to entertain himself!

Thank you! I need to hack her alone a lot more as well! She's fine but very shouty the whole way and a little more green so I want to get her comfortable hacking alone (and me too!). it's too easy to keep riding with others!

 

[Stenners]

I think you've already got your answer. Just keep stretching her comfort zone a little each time. As Ant says, little and often and repeat, repeat, repeat.

Mine was fine on his own when he arrived, then settled with his field mates and didn't want to leave them but with lots of repetition is fine on his own again now - other than trying to fiddle with anything in sight to entertain himself!

When I look after both of them I do bring her in from the field first, get her ready for bed etc before I get the other one in just to give that separation!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have two very bonded geldings who just have to get in with it when I ride one or the other. I started with little and often separation, never putting one out before the other, jumbling up so they had no routine and while it’s horrible hearing one calling for the other they just have to realise they can’t be together all the time. As long as the one left behind is safe I have become very hard hearted I’m afraid.

 

[stangs]

Is she being turned out with company on on her own?

If it's the later, introducing a few fieldmates to befriend could help reduce reliance on your friend's horse.

 

[Stenners]

Is she being turned out with company on on her own?

If it's the later, introducing a few fieldmates to befriend could help reduce reliance on your friend's horse.

She’s on her own with the other horse right over the taoe next door, its a single paddock field already and the yard is already rammed with horses! I was sharing before when I was round the other side and she did start to get a little bit attached to the one she was in with then. she’s sooo much better in the field now. Once the horse has gone and totally out of right she settles but if she’s knows she’s in the school for example is when she Carrie’s on walking and shouting.