Separation Anxiety

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TwoStroke

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I have two horses, a 5yo WBx and a 10yo TB, which I keep together on a small private yard, just the two of them. The 5yo is a nervy, stressy sort - always has been (I bought him unhandled straight from the stud when he was a 2.5yo).

However, over the last 18 months he's become increasingly attached to my TB. It's now reached the point that I can't take the TB out for a hack (or anywhere else) without 5yo becoming very stressed. If I leave him in a stable, he'll have bits of his face missing when I get back. If I leave him in the field I have to bathe him, as he'll be completely plastered in sweat.

This has become a problem since moving from a busy livery yard with group turnout to a small place of my own. I moved initially last June, and he became a bit stressier, but I could still take TB out without sweating or injury. I tried him there with a companion - a horse my two knew from the big livery yard they were on before - but it made no difference.

Then I moved again this June, and despite the them settling very well (they were both flat out fast asleep in the field the morning after moving) the separation anxiety has become worse.

My head is telling me that the solution is to move back onto a big livery yard, but I LOVE it at my little place, and as I've only just moved there, I'd feel dreadful moving so quickly, especially as I said at the time that I was planning on staying long term. It's a great place - you can hack to top class trainers, a busy comp centre and plenty of local hunt meets.

I have to resolve this issue somehow, though, as it's not fair letting 5yo get so stressed. Any ideas welcome, and sorry for the essay!
 
They do become more clingy when just two together all the time and often rather than accept the other horse goes out and comes back they stress even more each time so going back to a yard, getting another companion or possibly someone else with another horse to share the yard would be the options.
A mirror in the stable would be the easy solution if it works, I know one real stress head that loves his mirror and can be left in his stable now he has one so definitely worth a try before more drastic measures.
 
Not tried it myself but how about a mirror?

I'm sure you've probably tried a haynet or something to keep him busy?
 
I've tried a companion previously, but he's not interested - it's all about the TB. He won't touch hay or feed when I take TB away. I will try a mirror, but pretty sure he won't stop long enough to even look at it.
 
How long did you try with the companion? Could you maybe put your TB in a separate field and leave the WB with his companion until he settles. Although potentially that will only make the WB just as attached to the new companion.
 
He had the companion for about 6 months. Realistically, although I have a spare stable, the land they're on now is not really enough to support another horse. :(
 
Hmmm, it's tricky then, it appears maybe trying a mirror in his stable is the next step, otherwise a busier yard may be the only solution. Although sometimes these things take time, one of ours used to be awful without company, and we persevered as we had to because he was on box rest, he stressed for a few weeks but now he loves his own stable and is much more settled in general.
 
could you get a mini Shetland? I am in the same position as you, private yard, with my old mare (28) and my 3yr old, but I got a mini so that when I take one out the other doesn't get upset! my stables are hidden from the field, so if I take the girl away the youngster can't see her! he has a bit of a trot around and calls her occasionally but will go and stand next to the mini and wait!

good suggestion about putting your youngster with the other horse and leaving your tb in a bit on her own! then he can bond with the new horse as might be ok when you take the tb out! sorry I've referred to the tb as a mare, not sure what it is haha
 
Tbh the idea of a mini fills me with dread, as I see myself signing up to a whole raft of new issues such as restricted grazing etc. plus a companion didn't help before... And 5yo is quite large and can be agro in the field - I have images of Shetland pancakes!

I will try a mirror. Or maybe a poster of the TB lol, as it seems to be specifically him that the 5yo wants. It's been over a year now though, so I don't think more time will help in this case :(.
 
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