OK id like a bit of advice on separation anxiety please.........

[Holly27]

history.. new horse 16.3 Cleveland bay gelding aproaching 20 , been with me nearly a 5 wks was previously on his own for 8 months due too old owner , but before that he had company and no probs
well to start with he had my 32 inch mini as company and settled if they were in or out together, he was a bit crazy when i had to get him in first
but now my sisters horse has come gelding as well he is a loon!!

you have to bring him in first as he would jump out of the field to get to him ,but when you bring him in first he runs round and round yelling and pooing like mad and kicking door weaving and sweating up !

the thing is im 8 months pregnant and can lead him in make him wait in his box then take head collar off but my sister shes tiny petite 7 stone 5 foot and he zooms round with her in box and slams her against the door to get out !
he doesn't listen to her at all

as soon as my sisters horse is in his fine , Ive tryed bringing in him and the mini together but he is now just focused on the new horse
I've tryed giving him his dinner to clam him down but he will not settle at all ,
in the field he gets over being left, maybe just 10 mins running around yelling then he starts grazing
so what should we do ? im worried as when i have baby il need a wk of the yard to recover and im worried for my sister who is now becoming scared of my horse
he has no bad in him , just acts like a twit and because of his size and strength is to much for her.. ive tryed a happy halter and bridal he still goes mad when she leads him
help .......... please

ive spoken to his owner and she said when he was much younger he had separation issues but got over them with time
i know its still new to him and it can take a long time for them to settle in , but any ideas would be great

 

[niagaraduval]

Exact same thing happened with my horse yesterday. I walked him all the way back down to the field to show him his mare was still there. Once they sniffed noses he was as good as gold.. some horses.. grrr!

 

[Holly27]

if i did that he would not walk back to yard lol
dont they drive you mad !!

 

[Ashkadog]

My horse is a bit like this, There are more horses on the yard but he is turned out with just one other gelding. I just had to turn out and bring in together. Luckily they are very good boys as mine is 16'1 and the other is 16'3. Unfortunately, today the other horse is leaving so I have no idea what is going to happen so all the advise you get i'll take on board as well.

 

[Shilasdair]

As a short term safety solution, have you tried bringing them both in together? Or is that not possible?
For a longer term solution, can you try splitting them up gradually, so maybe grazing him in hand just outside the field where his friend is, for a few minutes, then gradually increasing the distance?
I sympathise..I have a related problem with my 19yo who can't be in a field on her own. She is perhaps easier in some ways, in that she doesn't care who is with her...and she'll happily go hacking or be stabled alone so it isn't really separation anxiety, but it was still very inconvenient before I had another couple of horses to keep her company.
Maybe you could feed your gelding initially just outside the field gate at night, then extend the distance from his friend a bit every night, until you reach the stable? It is difficult to make suggestions without knowing the set up of your yard.
S

 

[Holly27]

thanks
i could bring them in together but sister refuses to as she says she cant do the gate holding them both and panics , im going to try to do it tonight to show her it can be done

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
thanks
i could bring them in together but sister refuses to as she says she cant do the gate holding them both and panics , im going to try to do it tonight to show her it can be done

[/ QUOTE ]

Could you do an electric fence enclosure as a 'holding pen' for them both til she goes back and fasten the gate?
I hope it works out.
S

 

[Holly27]

shilasdair, thanks im willing to try anything

good idea , its my yard so i can do anything i suppose , its not like theres anything in the field after she has them but she panics , dont blame her she is so tiny and my horse puts his head up and looks about 18hh when his mucking about hes so busy looking around he treads on your feet and backs into you

thanks again

 

[DuckToller]

I am sure the separation thing will get easier, as I had a new horse who bonded like superglue to my horse and panicked if he went out of sight, but a few months on and he is now fine.

It is probably worse for your boy as he was on his own for 8 months, which is unnatural for a horse, and minis don't quite cut the mustard as real friends as far as big guys are concerned, so he is so ecstatic to have a friend, he is going overboard now!

In the meantime, how far is the field from the stables? I am lucky in that it is only a short distance at my yard so I put the feeds in, open the field gate and they all come in (sometimes quite quickly!) and it means I don't have to bring them in with a headcollar. But this might not be practical for your set up. Just a thought.