cobon
New User
Hi there! 
I'm new to this forum (long time lurker) and just wondered if I could pick your brains over my gelding's separation anxiety.
He's been out of work for eight or nine months due to other commitments, but now thankfully I am bringing him back in again. He's always been happier with other horses around (eg hacking out) but is fine to travel to shows alone. However, we've moved to our own yard, and he has forged a very close pair bond with my other elderly cob. This hasn't been a problem until recently because when the elderly cob is being ridden, the other is happy to stay in his stable and munch, and elderly cob doesn't care if he's around or not!
However, now if I try and take said gelding away from the others (we have four in total, including him, though the stallion is kept separately) he will kick up a fuss - he doesn't do anything bad, as such, but is very spooky and nervous.. And very loud! He bellows to high heaven even though he gets no response. I've been long reining him out every day (he's lost all of his topline from being out of work and I'm trying to build him up before getting on him again) but he doesn't seem to be improving and getting more confident in himself like he used to when we were on a busier yard with more horses around (he used to hack out alone, with me, quite happily).
Any advice? Or is this just a case of persevering? Thanks, sorry this got a little long.
There's a lot of experienced people on here!
I'm new to this forum (long time lurker) and just wondered if I could pick your brains over my gelding's separation anxiety.
He's been out of work for eight or nine months due to other commitments, but now thankfully I am bringing him back in again. He's always been happier with other horses around (eg hacking out) but is fine to travel to shows alone. However, we've moved to our own yard, and he has forged a very close pair bond with my other elderly cob. This hasn't been a problem until recently because when the elderly cob is being ridden, the other is happy to stay in his stable and munch, and elderly cob doesn't care if he's around or not!
However, now if I try and take said gelding away from the others (we have four in total, including him, though the stallion is kept separately) he will kick up a fuss - he doesn't do anything bad, as such, but is very spooky and nervous.. And very loud! He bellows to high heaven even though he gets no response. I've been long reining him out every day (he's lost all of his topline from being out of work and I'm trying to build him up before getting on him again) but he doesn't seem to be improving and getting more confident in himself like he used to when we were on a busier yard with more horses around (he used to hack out alone, with me, quite happily).
Any advice? Or is this just a case of persevering? Thanks, sorry this got a little long.
There's a lot of experienced people on here!