Pacing when left

[Purdie]

Hi, looking for some advice/ideas. My mare paces the front on the field when her friend in the field next to her is taken in. When I first got her 2 years ago, she'd go absolutely crazy when her friend left, and wouldn't stop until either the horse came back, or she was brought in. I've been working on this over the last 2 years, and she's a lot better, she just paces up and down the fence turning it into a mud bath. Some days, when she's feeling fairly relaxed about life she will settle and go off to graze, and those days are getting more frequent, but she still has some days where she just won't stop pacing. At the moment, becuase she is just walking up and down, and the only damage she's doing is to her field, I'm taking the approach of leave her to get over it. I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas. I feel this has become more a habit than because she is actually upset. I was thinking about giving her a nut ball to play with, so she starts to associate her friend leaving with something nice. Any ideas???

 

[molehill]

I was thinking along those lines as well.Maybe a haynet hung up on the fence,but be careful that she doesnt get caught up in the haynet.

 

[harleyandcopper]

My boy does the same. I throw a large pile of (soaked) hay in his side of the field, it always works.

 

[sammiea]

MY mare does this and always has done. I have tried all sorts to stop her but the only thing that works is bringing her in. If shes chilled she'll jsut walk up and down but most the time she charges up and down

 

[wormhugs]

My boy is the same. My solution is never to leave him by himself. I always explain all his foibles when we look at a new yard to see if they can accomodate him!!

x

 

[Dressagebabe]

If it is happening less frequent then she is starting to improve and for this reason I too would leave her to it! I have a gelding with the same problem, he doesn't come to any harm just trashes the edge of the field in wet weather, I feel its keeping his muscles toned all that walking! If we always make life perfect for them with everything they are not happy with we soon won't get them out of the stable, hack or school them just in case they get a little upset. Horses with tantrums make dangerous horses!