I'm new *waves* also: seperation anxiety help.

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BeFunky

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I've been a lurker for years, very fortunate to never have to really post for help but I am at a loss.

Firstly 'hi everyone' *waves* my name is Befunky which is my horses show name. I have one horse who is a spritely Arab and we do mainly SJ, her name is petchula (I didn't name her!)

Advice please :)
I am on a very very small livery yard, only 4 of us. Initially the herd was very settled but recently one of the liveries has moved on and my horse isn't coping very well. She's very highly strung at the best of times but in the space of a week she's trashed her stable twice, cut her face, cut her neck, Obliterated a rug and is now lame which I am assuming is probably from the same thing... Seperation anxiety.

The other two horses belong to one owner who doesn't always put them out or bring them in at the same time, this means I have to try and second guess when she is doing it. She won't bring mine in at the same time which I fully appreciate as i wouldn't want to handle someone else's horse either but it means there are times, normally no longer than an hour, where my horse is in and hers are out or vice versa. I was due to be at a qualifying show this weekend and her lameness has stopped this happening.

Will this subside? Will she calm down and realise being on her own for a little bit is ok or do I have to start thinking about moving to a bigger yard where she will never be on her own.

Thanks in advance everyone.
 
She may settle in time but possibly with the lack of routine she may get worse.
I dont think it is fair of the other owner to leave your horse getting stressed when she has no set times so you cannot fit your visits in with hers.

Many yards will have a rule about not leaving a horse alone in a field so at least it would only be the stable that was an issue, a mirror may help with that. If there is no way of getting her to either come at much the same time each day or to bring yours in, unless a new horse arrives soon I would look at moving before she really hurts herself, it could be worse in winter left alone in the dark.
 
Just wanted to say hi and welcome and dont be nervous!

My horse is often left turned out alone (with others in view in neighbouring fields) because he doesnt mind but I agree with the others, this normally shouldnt happen unless agreed beforehand.
 
I had this issue with my mare when I was on a small yard!!! She had to be first out and last in otherwise she would panic that she was being left. Then when she was in the field she would fret until the others were out. She smashed the back wall of her stable down 3 times and the final straw was when she was left in and sweated through her medium weight stable rug and I found her in the corner of her stable shacking.

I perserverred for a year and in the end I moved to a bigger yard. The difference was instant!!! even had blood tests taken by vet as I thought she was ill where she was so quiet lol.
 
I totally agree with you all- on other larger yards the policy was the same as others have mentioned but this yard doesn't have such a policy.

Her personality suggests she wont settle and I am a ball of stress every morning and evening until I know she's ok.
I genuinely sobbed last night when I realised she was lame.
 
I'm going to start looking I think, I'm not sleeping properly for fear of missing an alarm or not getting up there in time etc. such a shame as it is a lovely yard.
 
Are you friendly with the other owner?

If her horses are good to handle, I wonder if it might be worth suggesting that you turn her horses out with yours, and then bring them in for her when you bring yours in? We had to do this for a time at our yard when it was just my gelding and a friends horse (friend started work much earlier than me so I turned out and she brought in). Worked well as neither could be turned out alone.

She may even apprieciate the help. Just a thought, even if it's just in the meantime while you're looking for another yard to stop your mare getting stressed :(
 
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