Misconceptions around horses reactions to things

PollyP99

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So I've been guilty in the past of reeling out such things as;

My horse would hate to be stabled in the daytime (she's in she loves it)

My horse would freak if she was in on her own in stable block( she now is occasionally - hasn't noticed)

She will stress when others are taken off her adjoining paddock( she barely looked up)

She is a pain out hacking on her own ( been out everyday on her own. Was a pain first time - now fine)

I feel like a twit, was it all me, or has her new routine changed her stress reactions. She is now stabled daytime, in a pen night time so is essentially turned out alone with others either side. Has this broken the herd connection and made her more independent?

I am very happy with this chilled out mare but on the other hand I like her having some company so will be returning her to her friends once the grass is under more control, will she revert? Can some horses cope better with separation if have more 'alone time'?
 

Moomin1

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Very hard to say, because each horse is different. But my mare, who really does/did have terrible separation anxiety to the point of being unable to take another horse out of the electric fence boundary without her going hysterical for hours (literally) and working into a complete lather, shaking all over, is now alone in her field (she does have others in sight, but often they are taken away out of sight completely) after her old field mate was moved. It has done her the world of good - she doesn't panic, she is happy to continue grazing with no more than a quick trot about and a shout or two for five minutes. She generally becomes a calmer horse all round than when she develops a close bond with a field mate. I know (from past experience) if/when (not decided on whether I will have her with another in the field again) another goes in with her at any point, she will develop that ridiculous bond with them, and the stresses all will start again. It's a tough balance, because of course it's nice for her to have a pal, and I do stress over her not having a bond with another, but I personally think with her, the benefits to her being alone (with others just in sight) far outweigh her having one in with her, as she is generally a more balanced and happy horse when she doesn't have the panic of her pal being taken away each day to be ridden etc etc.
 

Spring Feather

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I have to say I must be very lucky with all of my horses because they are really well adjusted horses and not a lot bothers them. I often don't even think about situations I put them in, I just do it and they're always fine. I believe I've raised them well so that they just accept whatever situation I, or their future owners, put them in.
 

Moomin1

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I have to say I must be very lucky with all of my horses because they are really well adjusted horses and not a lot bothers them. I often don't even think about situations I put them in, I just do it and they're always fine. I believe I've raised them well so that they just accept whatever situation I, or their future owners, put them in.

If only all horses were raised like this. :-(
 

Ibblebibble

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i hold my hand up to being wrong about how my mare would react to being on box rest, I was told when i got her that she didn't like being stabled for long periods, and indeed she weaved and was a bit full of herself when she was in during the floods in winter(had previously lived out 24/7 on other yard) when she was on box rest i kept one of the others in next to her for company and she was stressy whenever they went out,weaved when i arrived and at food time. one day i left her alone on the yard and she was totally chilled! no weaving when i arrived, no calling for the others! thats how she did the rest of her box rest and she was an angel! it seems having others on the yard is for some reason more stressful than being alone.

oh i also misjudged how she would react to her new fieldmate! usually she's a bossy moo and pushes the others around quite forcefully, tried her in with my shetland and not even a laid back ear let alone any of the usual threats to bite!!
i rather like the fact that even after 6 years she can still surprise me lol
 

windand rain

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I have to say I must be very lucky with all of my horses because they are really well adjusted horses and not a lot bothers them. I often don't even think about situations I put them in, I just do it and they're always fine. I believe I've raised them well so that they just accept whatever situation I, or their future owners, put them in.
Mine too you can do pretty much anything you want with them and all can be left they may make a slight fuss for a minute but soon settle and are happy on their own
 

dogatemysalad

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I have to say I must be very lucky with all of my horses because they are really well adjusted horses and not a lot bothers them. I often don't even think about situations I put them in, I just do it and they're always fine. I believe I've raised them well so that they just accept whatever situation I, or their future owners, put them in.

This has been my experience too. The horses I've had from very young have all been very easy. The horse's I bought when they were older have all had quirks and stress reactions to ordinary events. They come good once they feel secure and know that they'll always be ok.
 

PollyP99

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Very hard to say, because each horse is different. But my mare, who really does/did have terrible separation anxiety to the point of being unable to take another horse out of the electric fence boundary without her going hysterical for hours (literally) and working into a complete lather, shaking all over, is now alone in her field (she does have others in sight, but often they are taken away out of sight completely) after her old field mate was moved. It has done her the world of good - she doesn't panic, she is happy to continue grazing with no more than a quick trot about and a shout or two for five minutes. She generally becomes a calmer horse all round than when she develops a close bond with a field mate. I know (from past experience) if/when (not decided on whether I will have her with another in the field again) another goes in with her at any point, she will develop that ridiculous bond with them, and the stresses all will start again. It's a tough balance, because of course it's nice for her to have a pal, and I do stress over her not having a bond with another, but I personally think with her, the benefits to her being alone (with others just in sight) far outweigh her having one in with her, as she is generally a more balanced and happy horse when she doesn't have the panic of her pal being taken away each day to be ridden etc etc.

Thanks for the replies, the above sounds like my experience, she really did have a hissy fit when her mate was taken away, she also neighed endlessly, now that the bond is broken, even though they are still together across a single strand of tape, she has changed!

Her management has changed too in answer to this question above the reason she is alone is for weight management, her pal is a skinny Arab who needs no restriction,she is on reduced grass and fully soaked hay so maybe for her sugar reduction is also helping her stress less??

Thanks for the replies all really interesting.

It's also true that a well socialised will handled youngster will not act the way she does/did, her field mate is just such a creature and is cool with whatever you do with her. If this helps her along that path then some level of separation maybe in order for her for the long term think as she seems much happier, weirdly. She was flat asleep in her paddock this morning, never seen her do this when with a herd, only in her stable.
 
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