Separation anxiety....

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L&M

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I have owned my new horse for 2 mnths now and he has not put a foot wrong in his ridden work.

However he suffers from severe separation anxiety, especially if I take my other horse out for a ride. He is rising 7yrs and was kept in a large yard prior and kept in a herd, but the way our fields are set up he is just in with my cob. However there are other horses visible in adjacent fields.

I have tried leaving him out as he can see the other horses, but just gallops around in hysterics. If I stable him, he paws at the ground, kicks the door and trashes the bed, but atm is the safer option. I have even put another horse in the stable next to him, but as it is not his 'buddy' has no calming affect.

In an attempt to stop him being so clingy, I have recently sectioned him off from my other horse and he is not fussed as can still see him. However he still can't cope if the cob is removed.

He is fine to hack out alone etc it just seems to be when he can see the cob being taken away.

Any suggestions?
 
My boy is like this. Carlo will shout but stay in his stable if I turn him out, then take Mick away he will charge around. If I am going out for several hours with Mick I either leave him stabled or get OH to turn him out after I've gone, it seems actually seeing us go causes the biggest issue.
When you bring yours in on his own does he have plenty of hay to nibble on? perhaps you could give him a feed just before you take the other away so he is distracted.
 
Thanks for your reply - yes I always leave a net in for him and sometimes he will snatch a bit, but more often than not leaves it. The only thing that seems to distract him for a few minutes is one of those horrid linseed licks (horselyx?) but he ends up covered in it, and being a grey, not ideal! Also they are full of sugar and expensive, and would like him to learn that it is ok to be on his own for a little while, and that his 'beloved' will always return.

I totally get that horses are herd animals but sometimes wonder if it is just attention seeking - he doesn't sweat or try to jump out of his stable, just likes to paw/bang the door/box walk and generally be silly.

Fortunately he is kept at home on my own yard, as scraped a bit of the wall of the stable the other day when left in for an hour - tbh I am finding this 'issue' quite hard to stomach as it is ruining the time I spend with my other horse.

It is a shame as he is a great horse in all other aspects.
 
Perhaps a calmer, I don't know much about them, but I have just started Equifeast's Cool, Calm & Collected to try & deal with Carlo's stress issues. Time will tell if it helps the separation anxiety
 
I had this and had to put a complete grill in as a top door to prevent him jumping out and hurting himself, however, he stays alone fine now with a net. You just need to keep doing it, but it is stressful and gets worse if they're not separated for a bit. I can now hack one out and leave the other with the grill door shut so he can still see out. My 2 live on their own with no other horses too.
 
I have this issue with my new girl so have to tack up where she can see other horses. I have three on my yard so numbers aren't the issue. Good luck I will watch this with interest.
 
I have the same problem except I have 3 horses and whichever one I take away the other two have hysterics! A herd isn't an option for me either as I keep mine at home. I think I will get top door grills, at least they are as safe as possible then and can churn around to their hearts content. I know what you mean about it being stressful, and boring!
 
And expensive in terms of bedding - I think that is what I find the most annoying!!!

Amy may - I would love to put him in with a larger herd and that would be the obviuos solution, but our field sizes/horses with different grazing needs/plus a couple of personality clashes, dictate that he has to be turned out with the cob.

I am going to bring him in and separate him every day from the cob until hopefully he gets used to it (and buy some ear plugs!!!).
 
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