Separation Issues.

[Janeysherborne]

We have a quarter horse, aged 10 & an ISH aged 6. They are new to us, we got them in February. Generally we ride them together & all is well. However, the minute one is separated from the other, there is chaos. One will leave the other happily to hack out, but the one remaining goes berserk. I bring him in, as the stable is safer than the field, especially as my ISH is 16.3 & would easily jump out of the field. Last night, the ISH jumped out of the stable, over a high door, cutting all legs and belly, then steeple chased around the gardens, clearing the perimeter hedge which is massive, fortunately I was just about home with the other one. I am so worried about how to proceed.Any advice?

 

[be positive]

If they are both as bad as each other to be left I would find a small companion, that you know will be alright to leave if both go out hacking or to a show, so they never need to be alone, having 3 will make life easier allround, they will be far less attached to each other, the only other option is a stable mirror, top door to shut if required and spend hours working on the issue but some will never cope being left alone.

 

[4x4]

I will be shot down in flames for this I know, I have one who is 16.2 he used to go mental and jump out, I fixed 2 lines of electric tape just inside the door, he got a couple of whacks off it years ago, now I don't even turn it on -he can still see out but it stops him getting his forelegs over. Worth a try? It also works if you are in there with the door open, just duck under the tape and they don't try to wander out!