Joined at the hip - and hysterical when parted.....what to do? LONG!

[Chunky_Monkey]

Hi all

I wonder if I could pick the combined brains of the forum?

My cob, Archie, is a laid back type 95% of the time, but he has his 'moments' like most horses. He can be quite an insecure chap, and has, on occasions, developed strong attachments to his field mates.

I moved him to a new yard in January, and he's in a paddock with a mare and her 2 year old son. He is totally in love with the mare, besotted with her, and he seems to have taken on a 'wise old uncle' role with the youngster. It's very sweet, he even lets the youngster take hay from his mouth.....Archie's a real greedy-guts and is very dominant around food, so this is really amazing for me to see.

Anyway, due to a change in my personal circumstances, Archie has been sold (I just don't have time to spend with him and enjoy him, and am very much just 'going-through-the-motions' with him on a daily basis

). He's going to his new owner in just over a week.

Here lies my problem......Archie can get pretty upset when he's separated from his new mates. When hacking out with other horses, he constantly calls back to his friends. He'll be lead away from them with not so much as a backwards glance, but he wants to be back with them after about half an hour........barging the stable door, box walking, calling constantly. I know that's not particularly 'hysterical' compared to some horses, but that's pretty extreme behaviour for him!

If I was keeping him, I'd have the luxury of time to work on overcoming this problem (and I know it can be overcome). Unfortunately, not only is he going to his new owner in a matter of days, but also I don't have time to do any work with him between now and when he leaves.

My big worry is travelling him to his new home. He loads really well, but I am really worried about how he'll travel. Obviously, I don't want him panicking in the lorry.

I have been advised by the vet to travel him mildly sedated, just to take the 'edge' off the stress. Has anyone done this, and did the horse cope with it ok?

Before he goes, I have the possibility of moving Archie into a paddock next-door to his friends. Do you think that would break the bond a little bit? I'm not sure if it would make him even more hysterical. He could still see them over the fence, but wouldn't be able to touch them cos of the electric fence.

I just don't know whether to just leave things as they are, and accept the fact that this attachment is natural, and of course he's going to miss his friends, or take some steps to get this sorted in the limited time I have available with Archie.

Any ideas or thoughts?

Tracey x

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I guess this won't be easy for Archie CM but as long as he has company in his new home he will eventually settle. But I'd be very cautious about sedating him to travel as if it wears offpart way through the journey you could have a seriously insane horse on the back of the lorry. Just a thought but would it be possible to bring one of the horses from the new yard over to his existing yard for a day or 2 and then travel them back together?

 

[DuckToller]

Alas, poor Archie, he has found true love and you are selling him! So sad...

I would probably not move him in the next few days, just in case he injured himself trying to get to his mare and adopted son. You don't need a vet's bill at this stage. Not sure about sedating, as you need to get the dose right - too much and he might not find it easy to stand up. Did vet recommend a dosage?

 

[Nosey]

I have done the sedation to travel thing on vets advice. Get him to advise on dosage. I have also had a horse jabbed to travel one in vein and one in muscle to be longer lasting. No probs at all. I am sure your vet can advise.

 

[Chunky_Monkey]

Hi all

Thanks for the replies. I am a bit concerned about travelling him sedated, I have to admit. I've heard all of the horror stories.

Archie will have company at his new home, there are 3 other horses there (small private place), but unfortunately it's not possible to bring one of them over to get to know him before he moves.

I did consider asking the owner of the youngser if he could go in the lorry as Archie's 'escort', and then he could travel back home to his mommy alone when Archie has been dropped off at his new home (all good learning experiences for a youngster), but, for practical reasons, that would be difficult.

Tracey x