Separation Anxiety help!

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Irishsportgirl

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Hi all!

I have a mare who has long term ‘separation anxiety’ when away from other horses.. She has always been in with a small herd or had a companion pony and when in a steady routine is absolutely fine away on the yard/out without them..

However…. I’m currently looking into livery opportunities for her (current place has sadly gone downhill and not providing the care I’m paying for). I have seen a great yard in the midlands who have offered grazing with incredible facilities but instead of being in a field with others, she would be surrounded by horses 24/7 in the field directly next to her….
….My only worry is that if I go through the faff of moving her she will then not like the fact there’s a fence in between her and the other horses despite having full view of them 24/7- is this likely to happen? Anyone else been through this or have any suggestions? Or am I just being a baby! 😂

Thanks x
 
All horses are different. I had one that came on loan from a busy yard with individual turn out - he was being rehomed as he was "dangerous". He ploughed several fields /postage stamps pacing up and down the fences.

I have small (4 horses) private yard in close nit herd with very little coming / going and no farm yard mixed in nor loud music playing all the time.

He became not dangerous in weeks. Other horses were totally fine in that set up.

It's almost impossible to know unless you try. Horses are herd animals and they often need someone 'on watch' to really relax and mine spend so much time physically in contact with each other I can't imagine keeping them on their own.
 
My NF mare was on loan for a while when I first moved to Devon. She had an old companion but this pony sadly died. My mare was used to having company and did not do well with just another pony next door. She managed the situation herself by jumping in with him each day!!
However, she was a clever old stick and was careful not to hurt herself, it is not a situation you want to find your horse in I am sure.
 
One of my mares was very bad. Happy to hack alone or stable within sight but she would not graze the other side of a fence. In morning she d be dripping and mud everywhere, pacing and neighing. No better at 30 . I tried different things but learned to live with it.
 
She sounds like the mare I had and she would not stay in any kind of turnout alone she would just gallop about screaming then jump out, I think its highly unlikely your horse will be OK with individual turnout I wouldn't do it, chances are it will make her worse if you now try and turn her out alone I would look for a yard with herd turnout.
 
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