Separation Anxiety

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horses99

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My gelding current lives out 24/7 with 2 mates and has for 2 years one of which he has grown particularly fond of. She was ridden last year and although he didn’t love it he only called and did not escalate his behaviour. However now after she has not been ridden for several months he doesn’t like her leaving and has even jumped out his field.

He is fine when he is ridden but not when he is left in the field with the other mare. I have now decided her leaving permanently would be the safest and best option, has anyone had similar circumstances and can recommend the best way of doing this?

currently I was planning on putting him in his stable (with his other mare with him) so he cannot injure himself/ follow/ escape and then after a few hours putting him in a a small paddock and monitoring him. Alternatively I could ride him and she could go whilst he is ridden so he would be none the wiser and will come back and she won’t be there.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome just want the most peaceful and least stressful way forward for my boy thank you
 
I don’t have any suggestions as I’ve never been able to resolve my boy’s separation anxiety (like yours, he’s fine if he’s the one leaving but he won’t be left) and he just becomes a danger to himself, so I just micromanage his life! But I wish you luck and hope you can get it resolved as it’s really annoying!
 
I would ride him while she goes then when he comes back she will just be gone, I find them worse when they see them leave I had a mare that was fine as long as my gelding didn't leave while she could see, I then would stable him rather than leave him in the field alone, I have 2 at home and I never just leave 1 out they both always come in together and then there fine being left alone.
 
If you're rehoming the mare, I'd put the other two in the stable, let her leave and then put the remaining two out in their usual field and monitor. With seperation anxiety it's normally seeing a horse leave them that's the problem.

I feel your pain though seperation anxiety is a right pain! You'll see me moan on about it on here. I will say though I seem to have cracked it with my mare that I honestly thought would never happen...just to give people some hope!
 
He’s fine being on his own ridden/ travelling to shows etc I believe he’s fixed on this particular mare, the other companion isn’t ridden so she will never be taken away from him unlike the other mare who is, thank you for the advice going to ride him and then have her leave while he’s not there fingers crossed!
 
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