Separation anxiety.....advice needed

Storminateacup

Storminateacup

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Hi Folks, well my new horsey arrived two days ago and is beautiful and has settled in reasonably with my old cob acting as nanny. Today in anticipation of my cob going out for a ride with my loanee I feed the two horses in seperate fields then, put a headcollar on old cob and moved him out of sight of the youngster. Youngster when into full throttle gallop ground the field bucking and whinneying and galloping flat out at the fence. I waved my arms and said "whoa" and he turned around and went back for a second and third round.

So what would you all advise, he is 15.3hh ISH 4 year old gangly boy - do you think he will jump the fence? and if so should i take the risk of taking cob out today.
(There is another horse in the next field that he could also stand next to, whilst cob is away- I has'en to mention)

Friends I should just go for it and let him gallop round and hope he doesnt jump, but I am more worried about the concequences of him getting out of the field, and having to retrieve him as although fairly good to lead he is a big boy to have prancing around in a state.

Those with youngsters will hopeful have some views or advice to give.

I had forgotten what fun youngsters can be!
 
Just me but personally I wouldn't risk it .
Can you bring the 4 year old into a stable give a feed and a big haynet whislt the cob is out.
I usually put mine into a stable when I ride a field companion l make sure there is a grill on the door to prevent jumpng out .
Then do a short ride extending the time away each time .Mine now look forward to a spell in the stable with a feed and big haynet when one of the others is ridden,
I just wouldn't take the risk with a young horse either jumping out or getting tripped or caught in the fence .As well as the risk of slipping over in the field and doing some leg /tendon damage.They can be out of work for months and worse case do damage that can severely affect their future ridden life.
I wouldn't want to get an avoidable injury on a horse right at the begining of his ridden life.
 
First I wouldn't stand in front of the fence waving my arms. If a horse is going to come over the fence he will do so and you have a big risk of getting injured.

Generally a horse won't go over the fence but it can happen.

I also would put the horse in a stable with a grill but as you don't have one that is not possible.

Your new horse has been through a lot in the last few days and it is not surprising he is anxious when his companion is taken away. Could you borrow a small pony as an additional field companion?

In the meantime I would take your cob out of the field but keep him in eyesight of your youngster. To begin with don't go too far away and slowly extend the distance until you are out of sight.
 
Thanks everyone, I agree totally with what you have said re- having a stable, and working on little stages of separation.
This is what I felt was best any way, but I guess I just wanted to hear it from others, by way of back up.
I ve told loanee that for now she cannot ride Cobby and and that if she wants to come up and groom or do other things thats no problem but safety for all is the most important thing.
 
With my last horse that did this thank fully when I took the mare out of sight he just relaxed and started eating, my gelding now though is a nightmare ,thankfully its him that goes out and not his companion who just whinnies a bit but he is a swine, has to be stabled and tries to climb out of it sweats up and stresses.

practising little by little is good advice and as hes so new he may well settle when hes got more used to his new home :)
 
I have always found that it is better to remove the stressy one first. They concentrate on what they are doing, rather than worrying about being left behind. If you have a stable available I would put him in with some hay and try to leave on the cob without the youngster realising.

ETA sorry I had to leave this post half typed, just before 12.30 and have only just got back. Now I know that you don't have a stable available.
 
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Agree about allowing time to settle in. You could consider separating them by dividing the field up for a few days using temporary electric fencing as a first stage? Then they will become accustomed to being close but not shoulder to shoulder. You could then move on to the next stage and go out of sight for increasingly long periods as confidence grows.
 
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