Separation Anxiety

[Nellyharv]

Wondered if any one could share advice as to how best manage my situation….

I recently lost my old horse at 26 he had been kept as a companion for the last decade, I completely underestimated the job he did.
I’m now left with 2 horses; one which I compete and the other is recovering from a check ligament injury. The injured horse is literally box walking from the minute I leave my yard until we return. This is not what I want as she is still on restricted exercise.
I really do not plan on buying another horse, however purchased a sheep in the hope this would give her some company.
With no luck.

Resorted to administering sedalin but she needs a hefty dosage to have any significant impact …..then there is the worry of her eating whilst dopy?

Has anyone got any suggestions of tried and tested techniques?
Any would be much appreciated.

 

[coblets]

Could you foster a rescue pony or loan another horse to keep her company for the time she needs it? Think you’ll be hard pressed to train out the natural instinct of seeking companionship.

 

[milliepops]

yes I'm afraid that in the interests of not aggravating a rehabbing injury I'd be looking for a companion PDQ.

If the horse wasn't injured I'd be more in favour of trying to teach it that the other one will return. But the last thing you want at the moment is the injured one scrabbling round the stable.

If its a fairly level headed type then you can probably teach it that the other horse will return but that will take time, and there are no guarantees, and you'd have to put your competition plans on hold for now.

 

[Melandmary]

Another vote I am afraid for getting a 3rd. I started down the route of trying to work on it with professional advice but in the end I just got another companion. Problem solved. ?

 

[milliepops]

yeah I've got one that I attempted to train to accept being left but she's just too anxious about it and there's no hope whatsoever, if i ever have to leave her (rare) then she has a grill above the stable door to stop her climbing out and I have to boot her all round and just leave her to it.

I have others that shout a bit but can be distracted by treat balls/yummy licks etc and settle fairly fast, the problem is that you need to put a bit of time in to work out which category a horse falls into.

 

[brighteyes]

Blue Cross have loads of small things up for grabs, if you could manage one, and WHW have bigger companions also up for loan.