Separation Anxiety in a stable - how to work through it?

[ohmissbrittany]

I've had a warmblood mare for a couple of weeks now, and if she doesn't have a particular pony beside her in her stable... she goes BERSERK. She's better in the field for the most part, she's on Regumate and it's not helped much. She's 8, but for 4 years was at a private yard with one other horse. So now she's on a yard with 18 other horses, she has mostly settled into a routine. I don't have much trouble taking her out of the field to long line or do other groundwork (I am restarting her) ....It's just this stable issue.

 

[fredflop]

Ask for her to be stabled permanently next to a different horse

 

[L&M]

As above, or stable mirror may offer a distraction?

 

[AmyMay]

Is she out 24/7?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would try a stable mirror, then you are not dependent on any other particular owner/horse.

 

[AUB]

Time, time and more time. When I moved my mare 2 years ago she developed separation anxiety. Never had that before. I put it down to her actually enjoying her turnout more now, the field is better and I feel that she connects better with the horses she is turned out with than she did at previous yard. She has friends...

Anyway, I’ve had to take her best friend in as well when the farrier was here and tracking up alone in the stable required me to bridle up right away, put a halter on top an cross tie and then groom and saddle up, because I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t just zoom off if I did the bridle last. I’ve actually avoided riding before 5 when horses are in because of all the stress.

And then quite recently, she’s relaxed when brought in alone. The farrier can do all 4 feet with no issues, I can tack up etc. Can’t put a finger on anything different... I guess she’s just settled now and knows that she will see her friends again.

 

[ohmissbrittany]

Time, time and more time. When I moved my mare 2 years ago she developed separation anxiety. Never had that before. I put it down to her actually enjoying her turnout more now, the field is better and I feel that she connects better with the horses she is turned out with than she did at previous yard. She has friends...

Anyway, I’ve had to take her best friend in as well when the farrier was here and tracking up alone in the stable required me to bridle up right away, put a halter on top an cross tie and then groom and saddle up, because I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t just zoom off if I did the bridle last. I’ve actually avoided riding before 5 when horses are in because of all the stress.

And then quite recently, she’s relaxed when brought in alone. The farrier can do all 4 feet with no issues, I can tack up etc. Can’t put a finger on anything different... I guess she’s just settled now and knows that she will see her friends again.

This is a relief, both that i'm not alone and that it will end!! Mine is like... dangerous looking, skidding about, rearing, looking like she will crawl over the door.

ALSO Turns out it's not just that pony... we swapped the horse next to her just to experiment (as the pony is going out competing this weekend and I was stressing out about it) and it's just having someone in a stable. So that's a data point. It makes me worry when i start taking her out though....

 

[milliepops]

i hope yours improves - my anxious one actually hasn't ever got any better in 6 years of trying, she' a product of her past where she was kept alone and now she forms very quick bonds to a particular horse and is a danger to herself if left alone. I have just learned to manage her, she has a top door grill to stop her coming over the top, I used to boot her in the stable because she would shred her legs, and I have 2 horses on the yard so I can control the movements of the paired horse. it's lucky that yours seems to just need any other horse, mine is only interested in whoever she's got attached to. she is BRILLIANT to take out and about though.