Separation anxiety

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Hi everyone,

I moved two of my horses last weekend, and they seem to have settled in well. They have always been very good friends, and usually hack out together. However, I'll need to get Saffron (my Welsh D) out of the field by herself to school her, and tried this for the first time this afternoon.

She wasn't happy. I realise this is all new to her, and she doesn't want to leave her friend, but I tied her up at the yard and she was really stressed, pulling at the leadrope, fidgeting, neighing etc. Once I got her tack on (eventually) she was pretty much fine to ride, so not worried about that, but need a way of calming her down whilst she's tied up. She's normally a good girl to handle, so knows how to behave, but she's genuinely upset at leaving her friend and is a big girl to be throwing her weight around (I'm only 5'5 8 stone).

Any tips or ideas greatly appreciated, though I would think repetition is key.

 

[Cocorules]

Not sure if this will help you but I have 2 who are very good friends. Neither like being left but both happy to leave the other. I put this down to food as each one taken out also gets grazed in hand which they each love. It might help if you take out graze in hand briefly and allow her to pick at a hay net while tied up as a distraction, ride and then allow to graze again before turning out. As you say repetition is key but a distraction while you are establishing this might help.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

though I would think repetition is key

^ This. I think that she should improve with time.

 

[stargirl88]

Had similar problems before but they did disappear over time. It's probably the new environment etc. Would also stick up a haynet for distraction

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Thanks everyone, will persevere and use a haynet, though poor thing was inconsolable I'll try to bring her up to the yard daily and maybe give her her feed there, needs to become normal

 

[cream-honeysuckle]

How does the one left behind behave? I have a similar problem in that I have two and can ride either one out without a problem but it's the one left behind who goes mental and I'm terrified they'll injure themselves.

 

[mturnbull]

I found that when my gelding started to stress often when others left him at competitions if we were sharing a lorry etc, I would keep him occupied such as asking him to move back or I taught him to lift his front leg like 'paw' for a reward or find his itchy bit. Just anything to occupy is mind so he didnt have time to worry! I also agree with the others above that time and routine will help.