Separation issues

[Lynette McKeown]

Hi all,

I have a 4yr old who had severe separation issues when he was first broken at 2. He'd run at walls and through gates to get back to his stable mate. I purchased him from the breeder, who I rode for and turned him away till he was 3. He was moved to a different yard and turned out with multiple ponies. When brought back into work I moved him home where there was only 1 other horse. If that horse was removed from the stables when buddy was in he would charge the stable door until he unhinged it. We put up a grid and then he'd pace and shoulder charge the walls. If I went into the stable with him he'd flatten me against the wall or try to barge by me on entry. If tacked up and Rode out himself he'd shout for a while and then concentrate on his job. He'd jump the gate if left in the field when the pony was brought in or Rode in the neighbouring paddock. If I take him to an event he is very difficult to handle on the ground and once on he will charge to make sure he is close to the other horses and rear if held behind. I tried keeping him on his own and this made him very easy to handle and ride at home but heightened the problems when we went to ride in company. I have now stabled another gelding with him and we are back to square one. I tacked them both up, my daugter mounted the gelding first and Buddy started trying to barge through the stable walls. I went in to get him and he almost flattened me 3 times before I managed to tighten the girth and bring him out of the stable. Once on board he was settled and manageable. Where do I start to let him know he will not be left behind?

 

[be positive]

This sounds like serious separation anxiety, not issues, that has been compounded by being expected to fit in and kept with only one other for too much of his short life with very little done to help him or understand why he is behaving the way he does, if he is to get better he needs a lot of time put in with everything being set up so he is never alone apart from when he is being worked with, for a few moments at a time building up very gradually, there is no quick fix.

He will not understand he will not be left alone because he has been previously, has been so distressed he has jumped out/ taken doors down, yet is still expected to cope when he is left, he would probably benefit from being kept with at least two others rather than one that is his only friend, it will take months, possibly years, of careful work and it is likely he will never be fully relaxed if left alone but it should be possible to gain his confidence and make him a happier horse that is easier to deal with if you give him a chance, the first step is to accept he is not going to learn if you do not alter the way you are keeping and managing him.

 

[Lynette McKeown]

I really appreciate your advice. I should add he summers out with 5 other horses, we ride 4 times a week with 3-4 horses, the field next to him has horses too and he goes for regular training (2 weeks every 3 months or so) in a local yard by a professional rider where there are approximately 20 horses. In this yard after a few days the behaviour stops entirely. The trainer believes I am not dominant enough with him.

 

[Lynette McKeown]

Oh and he is a docile loving horse who I adore - when stabled, in the field and when working, regardless of horses being around or not. This behaviour is only when he feels he is being removed from the herd or any member of the herd is removed from him. My vet was riding with me the other day and has suggested a hormone test to rule out a rig.

 

[L&M]

Tbh if his issues are that bad, maybe it would be better to accept that he cannot cope on his own, and always ride in/turn out in company to have an easy life.

I bought one similar - he would physically shake if left on the yard on his own, did the wall of death in the stable if his neighbours got turned out, and tried to jump over the breast bar numerous times if travelled alone. To ride he became dangerous as was always trying to go back to the yard, and as he got worse, was worried he may blind bolt. But in company he was a different character, a lovely horse and totally relaxed. I have no idea what made him like this, very sad really.

I tried stable mirrors, removing horses gradually, calmers and even resorted to the old fashioned method of tying him up on his own and 'letting him get over himself' - this resulted in him having a 5 hr meltdown and trying to dig up the yard (something I hugely regret but was getting desperate).

However as I needed an 'independent' horse as went a lot of places alone I sold him on to a family who would always ride out and travel as a group. They loved him and still have him now and he is back to his 'happy place'.

Other than that, all I can think of is getting some professional help......I feel for you as severe separation anxiety is a major pita.

 

[Lynette McKeown]

He really does not come across as upset or nervous at all more dominant and bullish. He is absolutely super on his own, rides brilliantly is affectionate and happy in the stables, no shouting pacing etc. It is only when he is in a group, even of only 2, that removing him or a horse from his immediate vacinity that he becomes bargey. This is even when riding, we can be in company and riding beautifully and then one rider decides to ride off in a different direction and he will just lose it. Rear and barge after them. Even if this is a horse he is not familiar with. I think its a pride dominance thing rather than traditional separation. I've managed separation, I just have no idea the best way to break this behaviour. He was never alone as a youngster, was bred and raised in the same yard till he was 2 with 20+ horses and still displayed this behaviour, even then. The breeder would have been old school and believed in physically dominating to break the behaviour, I bought him and took him to another yard to attempt to break the behaviour through him gaining trust in me instead.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I agree with be positive. Set the poor horse up to succeed instead of setting him up to fail, every time.