Separation anxiety.

A

AnnyB

New User
Joined
21 August 2011
Messages
5
Visit site
I have two ponies, a 20 yr old Welsh Cob mare and an 18 yr old Arab/ Welsh gelding. I have had the mare for 16 years and the gelding for 11 years, so they have been living together for 11 years.
2 months ago I bought a six month old Irish Draught colt. He is a great laid back character and has confidently made friends with the others - it took a while with the mare but they are fine now.
My problem is that I can't take any of them out alone without the older one that is left behind going bananas. I had great hopes that having 3 would mean that there was always 2 to leave behind and life would be calm and restful... but it is just the opposite. The separation anxiety is far worse for the older ones than it was before the foal came - I used to be able to take one and leave one although I always had to shut the gelding in the stable. The foal doesn't mind if either of the others go out.
I wondered if anyone had experienced a similar situation and what their advice would be. I am hoping that it is just a question of time and understanding that I have turned the older ones comfortable world upside down by introducing a new horse.
Your advice welcome!
 
Mine used to be very bad when other went into arena to be ridden and he got left in his stable, no matter what other horses were next to him. My instructor told me to stand next to him but outside the stable dorr with lunge whip, and every time he ran around the stable, reared, bucked, or kicked to wave the whip in his face, over time gradually moving further and further away til you can leave him on his own, it took a good few months of doign this daily but it works and he is no longer next to his field mate in the stable block and doesn't give a care in the world:) Not sure if this will work with you as you are probably the one taking the other horse(s) out. Hope it helps a little bit though, Good luck :)
 
Hi, been having the same sort of issue with my new 9 year old ish. He gets extremely agitated and stressy if he is brought in without the others.

What I have been doing is switching up his turnout routine slightly just to keep him guessing. For instance today instead of turning him out with the other 2 horses I decided to leave him in the school for a few hours. He got quite upset and threatened to jump the gate a few times but eventually calmed down and munched his hay. After 3 hours or so i returned him to his buddies.
I know horses need routine however sometimes I believe it really does do them some good to guess.
 
First of all, I'd like to say that the method of RhennyRocky sounds barbaric to a horse that is suffering stress and anxiety. The poor horse.

I have a mare that has the most horrendous separation anxiety. If left in the field, she paws the ground, walks the fence line (till there is a ditch), stress rolls and sweats.

If left in the stable, she paws, sweats, spins round, rears - you don't really want to be in the stable when she's really having a paddy.

The vet has suggested Zylkene which I haven't tried yet as she's being treated for gastric ulcers which may also attribute to her behavior, but it is easy to buy on the internet. It is a natural product and helps horses cope when the situation changes.

It might be that after one or two treatments you are able to alter the behavior pattern enough to not need to use it too often.
 
Anny B I had a similar situation.

I have 3 ponies, two geldings and a mare in their late teens, and they have been together for 12 years. I rehomed a 6 year old mare in October (heart ruled my head). It took about 3 weeks for her to settle first of all before I could start to integrate her to the others. As yo ucan imagine the 3 original friends were all excited about the new 'kid on the block' ! All was going well but the new mare took a dislike to the small mare.

I have to keep the small mare on her own but in a paddock next to the others. I make sure one gelding keeps her company for a few days at a time. I can integrate her later on - there is no rush.

The herd dynamics have been changing all the time, it was challenging to start with as the two geldings wouldn't be parted from the mare at first. if I took one gelding to the stable for a check up and light grooming he wouldn't stand still at all I couldn't pick out any feet and I was fighting a losing battle. I did think at one stage that I had messed it all up and rocked the boat. It took another two months before the novelty of the new mare wore off so to speak. The geldings are fine - they will leave the field without any fuss at all.

I had issues when taking my gelding out for a ride; the new mare would fret a little despite having the company of the remaining gelding. So I would leave hay and some food for them both and she eventually settles down to eat after making a bit of a fuss.

I have to add during this time I have been spending much time with them all in the field, being near them as they eat thieir hay and just gentle brushing. I would also catch one gelding and walk him to the gate within site of the others.

I would say 2 months is too short a time they will settle
 
Thanks Texel, that's really encouraging. I forgot to add that they are in a lovely big field that someone has let me use for the winter and therefore there is nowhere I can shut them in while I take one out. It's also too far from home for me to safely lead 3 round altogether though maybe next winter I'll be able to manage that.

I thought that perhaps I just need to give them loads of time to settle down and once I bring them back home in a couple of weeks I can start taking one out at a time and leaving the others in their stables able to see each other and feel secure in their own surroundings. I think you are right - it's time that counts and spending time with them as well.

I keep reminding myself that I had written this winter off as far as riding goes as I did think they would need plenty of time to really settle down together. It is lovely to see them as a herd and my desire to get on and ride has to take second place at the moment. There is after all plenty you can do on the ground while they are in the same field together - even if just grooming, picking up the youngster's feet etc.

Thanks again.
 
No expert but when I have had this happen I usually get a friend to loiter around and only take the one out for a short time so that the seperation is kept to a minimum. Also my spy friend can keep an eye on the stressed one to see what happens ie usually after running round like a headless thing calms down but might call the whole time. I sort of find taking it in turns with them being left they just have to get use to it. i do leave something nice ie I have also given some pony nuts/hay to whoever is left behind to make it enjoyable to be left and something to look forward to. I have if alone shoved the feed bowl under the fence prior to departure so I have enough time to escape.Scattered a few carrots around etc. I too have thought they would jump out but they did get use to it. But it is stressful to hear them calling from a long way away! Wouldnt whip them etc
 
THANK YOU Indie - that fits in with what I was thinking last night - give them something nice to make being separated a pleasant experience. I will wait till I get them home though as the last thing I want is the field I have been loaned to be cut up with anxious hoof prints! Hopefully then they will invite me to use the fields again next winter and by then we will be sorted...

Thanks again, don't worry I definitely would NOT go down the whip route.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top