Separating

[Groom Mum]

My two boys came together and lived together in previous home. they are quite close (although they fight sometimes too).

My worry is that if one of them became lame or had to go into the stable or even to hospital for treatment I'm not sure how the other one would be. They do not like to be out of each other's sight for more than a minute.
So my question is should I perhaps get another one? OR does anyone have any experience of dealing with this?
thanks.

 

[be positive]

Having a third would solve some problems but create yet another set unless it is already well handled and uncomplicated to deal with, you need to work on the two you currently have so they are more easy to handle generally, I would start to bring them in each day, together initially, until they are both totally happy to be shut in and you can do what you want with them then gradually start to separate them, how you do this will depend on your facilities.
I would start to leave one shut in while I take the other outside but still within sight, once they are happy with this for a short time, build up from just a moment to a few minutes over a period of time building up as you can without either getting too upset, you should then be able to pop one in another stable as long as they can both see each other or have one shut in and the other in an adjoining pen so still within sight but not actually together, how long it takes will depend on many things, not least how well you deal with them and how they cope, don't push it if either you or they are not confident as you will go back several steps.

If one did need to come in very soon then just bring both in, going to hospital is not that common in ponies that are doing nothing so I would cross that bridge if it happened possibly in an emergency just send them both and let the vets deal with it when they can sedate if required to keep them safe, keep working on them and consider getting another one in the spring if you have no option.

 

[Groom Mum]

Thank you ,
they will stand in their shelter together. But because one of them is quite dominant and can be a little aggressive , I'm not sure how they will react to both being shut in and being shut in together.
Im going to be working on getting them used to being in the stables over the next few weeks. They are just so much happier in the field. Although they do also like standing around in their shelter too.