Mare with server separation anxiety - Giving her time off and brought her home due to going crazy!

[Autumn30]

Hi,
Long shot but wondering if anyone has experienced this before. Mare, 16.3hh Selle Francais

5 years ago I brought my mare who for about 1 year was absolutely fabulous, no separation anxiety, never napped or had any faults.
After this year in my yard decided to put her into a heard as she's so gentle (giant) 16.3hh built like a bulldozer Selle Francias- anyway within a week she was like a completely different horse, wouldnt really be able to bring her in unless at least one of her field friends came in.. Sometimes you could, others she would just get half way to her stable go crazy and run back. So I worked with her, tacked her up in the field and she was usually fine.
I ended up moving yards about 2 years on, which they were individually turned out.. She was fine for a short amount of time, but would chose a horse to bond with (wasn't ever the horse she was turned out or stabled next to) Just one she liked the look of. I kind of gave up a little bit because riding became very difficult and the facilities weren't the best.
I then moved her again to a yard with great trainers and facilities to get the help and it was one minute fine the next couldn't be ridden- like she would go into this mode where if she wasn't by a horse she bonded with she couldn't be sane.

I have had vet checks and she went to regumate and no issues at all.

Which brings me to about 3 months ago where I was just going to sell her or fully loan her to someone with a lot of time (due to falling pregnant) but she went so crazy at the yard they could just about handle her, bare in mind they are a competition and stud so deal with all sorts. The yard advised me to turn her away/retire her. But she is only 13 and she is great to ride/fun when she's normal!

I have now brought her home, and I have got her a friend who isnt actually that fond of her but shes obsessed. She is a lot more sane and happier in her little routine, coming in at night and being turned out with her friend. I walk her friend out the stable before her and she does have a little panic but then as soon as I open the stable to bring her out she's ok. I know not ideal getting one companion but I'm not in any position to really have anymore at the moment with a baby due in March!

When I am no longer pregnant and ready to ride again perhaps I could ride the two of them out together or ride one and lead the other?
Has anyone had any sort of similar situation with this? Is her behaviour changeable?
I've been advised to get a horse medium.. I'm open to anything.

Thanks,
Autumn x

 

[Exasperated]

Hi,
Long shot but wondering if anyone has experienced this before. Mare, 16.3hh Selle Francais

5 years ago I brought my mare who for about 1 year was absolutely fabulous, no separation anxiety, never napped or had any faults.
After this year in my yard decided to put her into a heard as she's so gentle (giant) 16.3hh built like a bulldozer Selle Francias- anyway within a week she was like a completely different horse, wouldnt really be able to bring her in unless at least one of her field friends came in.. Sometimes you could, others she would just get half way to her stable go crazy and run back. So I worked with her, tacked her up in the field and she was usually fine.
I ended up moving yards about 2 years on, which they were individually turned out.. She was fine for a short amount of time, but would chose a horse to bond with (wasn't ever the horse she was turned out or stabled next to) Just one she liked the look of. I kind of gave up a little bit because riding became very difficult and the facilities weren't the best.
I then moved her again to a yard with great trainers and facilities to get the help and it was one minute fine the next couldn't be ridden- like she would go into this mode where if she wasn't by a horse she bonded with she couldn't be sane.

I have had vet checks and she went to regumate and no issues at all.

Which brings me to about 3 months ago where I was just going to sell her or fully loan her to someone with a lot of time (due to falling pregnant) but she went so crazy at the yard they could just about handle her, bare in mind they are a competition and stud so deal with all sorts. The yard advised me to turn her away/retire her. But she is only 13 and she is great to ride/fun when she's normal!

I have now brought her home, and I have got her a friend who isnt actually that fond of her but shes obsessed. She is a lot more sane and happier in her little routine, coming in at night and being turned out with her friend. I walk her friend out the stable before her and she does have a little panic but then as soon as I open the stable to bring her out she's ok. I know not ideal getting one companion but I'm not in any position to really have anymore at the moment with a baby due in March!

When I am no longer pregnant and ready to ride again perhaps I could ride the two of them out together or ride one and lead the other?
Has anyone had any sort of similar situation with this? Is her behaviour changeable?
I've been advised to get a horse medium.. I'm open to anything.

Thanks,
Autumn x

So when you kept her for the first year at home, she was the only horse there? Were there any other grazing creatures (sheep, cattle, similar) there to keep her occupied then?
Now you’ve got the friend, and unlikely to do much with either of them separately before spring, probable they’ll BOTH get quite clingy, but if the companion is calm being left in field or stable, then it will be a lot easier to start taking the mare off to do other things, bit by bit.
Often, horses do not like being the one that is ‘left’, although happier to go and do something, safe in knowledge there’s a sidekick to come back to. I had one like this, wall of death if the elderly friend went so much as into the other barn, yet would merrily leave her to go on trailer trips, hacking, hunting, driving, overnight event - whatever. Equine version of coercive control....
Ride and lead is fine if they get on well, have similar paces, although doesn’t solve the separation issue, and will limit what you can do. Check your insurance and put fluorescent gear on the pair of them - new mothers need to keep safe! Good luck.

 

[maya2008]

I read the first part and thought - worst case have a little friend and ride and lead! A well trained ride and lead friend is basically not there - they look after themselves and you ride as normal. Just need to allow space for them beside you.

The behaviour you describe, in an otherwise healthy horse, is often an indicator of being kept alone for a period of time previously. When reintroduced to other horses they can become beyond desperate not to be alone again. I have seen that wear off with time and reassurance and always having friends, but it can take years.

 

[tatty_v]

One of ours was like that - he had been kept alone for several years before we got him and once he joined our little herd, he was adamant he wasn’t leaving it on his own. That has worn off with time and persistence - he’ll never love solo hacking but he gets on with it now and can leave the others without fussing. We took it slowly as I felt sorry for him - it made sense that he wouldn’t want to leave his new friends having spent a long time in just his own company!