Inseparable ponies

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Groom Mum

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I was about to embark on getting two rescues. I found two lovely little ponies. But they can't be separated. They are half brothers around 2 & 3 years old and have been together since foals. Am I taking on a big problem here ? Regarding it being almost impossible to separate them ? There may well be a time when they have to be separated. Is this a mammoth task ? Or should I go for it ? Any suggestions how to try to separate which will help me make my decision. Thanks.
 
The rescuers are doing ponies like this no favours by not trying to start doing some work towards separating them, by saying they are inseparable they are reducing the chances of rehoming and having a useful working life in the future, if you have other ponies then it should be possible to gradually start to get them doing things independently leaving the one you are not working with with another pony.
I think it should be easy enough over time to treat them as individuals rather than a "pair" it will take time and effort but there is no reason most will not accept proper handling and become confident going alone, I would let them settle, ideally get them out with at least one other then take it step by step once you have had time to assess them yourself, there is usually a "leader" who may be the most bold that you can begin to work with, don't expect them both to progress at the same rate they may be a pair but they are individuals treat them as such and you should end up with 2 confident ponies rather than a pair of needy ones.
 
I would like the challenge but am afraid it may be more than I can cope with. They even go in the same stable. One is bolder and ones a bit timid. They have been on this rescue site for months and months and it makes you wonder how many people would be prepared to embark on trying to separate them. I think they would make lovely in hand show ponies but if I only wanted to take one and we have this separation dilemma it's gonna be a nightmare. So sad really as they are little poppets and deserve a living safe home I have waiting for a pony(s)
 
It is a shame if you feel they may be too much for you, even more so that the rescue has had them so long and is doing nothing to help them become individuals, this is where I feel most rescues are lacking they take on these ponies then do very little other than build them up physically, most will take very well to being apart, they enjoy the stimulation of doing something interesting and should come round to going it alone.
If the rescue would start the process by putting them in boxes next to each other so they can see and touch but are not together it would be easier to go onto the next stage, they are the professionals so really need to look at the best interests of the ponies not take the easy option and then struggle to rehome them, it is partly why so many charities are full they don't do enough to prepare them for a useful future, as a pair they will be no more than a pair of companions which not many people want, as individuals they may be far more easy to home, horses naturally live in herds not pairs.
 
Once they are settled in for a week or two.
You need safe premises and put one in one stable and one in the other, nothing that they can harm themselves.
It might be easier if you have them in one stable and starve them of hay for 5 hours then separate them, with ad lib hay they will settle quicker.
You may never have them unpaired but give them the best opportunity.
Agree with others that the charity should have worked with them, I trust it is not one of these "rescue centres" that run as a business under the guise of the charity banner [there are lots of advantages to being a charity]
 
I knew a pair of larger horses that were much like this, brother and sister who had been together from a foal and couldn't be separated. They were never able to be separated for turnout (would go through any fencing and injure themselves) and could never share with another horse as they would turn on it. However, they did go out separately with no fuss for work and led useful working lives at a riding school. They were also driven very successfully as a pair.
 
I have had strongly bonded horses and I found that the key was getting them to understand that the separation was not permanent. I just started by having one eat one side of the gate and the other eat the other side of the gate and then put them back together (switch which one comes out of the field so that they both learn). Then I started to take the one that was out of the field for a 30 second walk before returning it to the field. Then a one minute walk etc...

It was a slow process, but in the end one could be hacked for an hour or so with only calling as I left and calling as I returned. No running about in a panic.
 
I have a pair of stallions who came together from Beaulieu Road sales as foals. They are very close in the field, but go out hacking separately and without issues. The greeting they give each other on return is delightful. Sometimes if they're ridden alongside each other, they'll take a moment (whilst walking on) to blow into each other's noses with contentment. It's a shame they're too different to drive as a pair.

As others have said, if you set your expectations and get them used to being separated for work, it shouldn't be a problem, and there is something very nice about owning horses who are close friends.
 
Faracat said:
I have had strongly bonded horses and I found that the key was getting them to understand that the separation was not permanent. I just started by having one eat one side of the gate and the other eat the other side of the gate and then put them back together (switch which one comes out of the field so that they both learn). Then I started to take the one that was out of the field for a 30 second walk before returning it to the field. Then a one minute walk etc...

It was a slow process, but in the end one could be hacked for an hour or so with only calling as I left and calling as I returned. No running about in a panic.
Click to expand...

This ^^

I have 2 shetlands. They were born on the same day at that same stud and have always been best buds. They go in the same stable, same fields etc. This has never been a problem for me as they always stay together anyway. When I took them to shows one would wait on*the lorry while the other was shown, a bit of calling to start with but nothing more. But if I did want to separate for any time (I.e. to bath one while the other was in the field) then the one left in the field would go nuts as they were in their own field.

I moved to a new yard this spring along with my other horse, so now 3 in total but its just us. They are independant from each other in that I can take one to a show and leave the other 2 happily behind. If anything, its my other horse that gets upset when one leaves!!

The only problem is stabling, they get upset if left alone in the stable. Would be fine with a full door but as they have a half door now it could be a bit dangerous. If I ever have to stable them separately for any reason, I would make a hole in the wall though so they could see each other.

It is do-able but you need a lot of patience and other horses around.
 
I helped to take a mare and foal from a home that didn't want them. The mare had been bought in foal five years ago and turned out never to be looked at again. So the foal, a four year old mare, was unhandled and never been away from mum. She was a total nightmare for two days while we tried to figure out what to do, but on day three mum was taken away off the property to livery at someone else's. The mare was very stressed but after a few days settled and halter broke and went on to show in hand that summer.

Sometimes they rely on their buddies too much.
 
I'll also add that they then met again at a shoe and did not get on at all - ears pinned and swiping. No interest in each other!
 
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