The bubble has burst!

[Baileysno1]

Well the honeymoon period is certainly over at the new yard. I now own a horse insanely obsessed with with my other horse, so much so that sunday mornings dressage preparations tuned into a circus which finally ended when Ryu knocked me to his stable floor and stood on me

. I some ways I asked for it, all week I turned up and the first thing I did was lead them out together to the field, we've had a fab week the horse noticably more relaxed and although there'd been a bit of calling when I'd taken one away to ride in the evenings it didn't seem to serious. Then sunday I turn up get Ryu out plait up, fine, muck out, while both are tied up, fine, other horses are tied up at this point so give him a net of haylege as distraction and try to slip Bailey off to the field, All hell breaks loose as does Ryu and I hear him thundering after me and Bails. Anyway take them both back to yard, figiting and swinging around, so put Bails in stable who starts franticly weaving at the confusion of going out then coming back and decide to put Ruy in incase he gets loose again, he promptly pushes me over and stands on me then gets loose on the yard again, catch him and put him in his stable, then cry hysterically to hungover OH down the phone. We don't go to dressage.

I know I asked for this by taking Bails away while he was tied up but I've never had a problem before - there were 2 other horses still on the yard. So after discussing with YO who now thinks I'm a total idiot, seperation training has begun, Bails was tied up this morning while I mucked out and I took him to the field on his own, Ryu went mad as expected, so when he'd calmed down a bit, I led him around the yard did some inhand type stuff backing up etc then took him to the field he walked calmly so lots of praise and biscuits. Will keep this up through the week, does anyone have any tips for sucessful seperating or am I doomed?

I'm totally gutted I've ended up with 'issues' after such a smooth week last week. Ryu also bit YO's dog

??? Whats that all about, I have a horse that attacks dogs now?

 

[RachelMcTimoney]

hi, sorry don't know the full story but sounds like you've just moved yards, were the horses v attatched before you moved?
I have three horses which i keep by myself...nightmare number cos if you want to take two out one is left alone! however it sound sliek you are doing all the right things, one of my horses competes quite a bit and the other two used to get upset to start with but now don't bat an eyelid when i take her out without them and give her a nice neigh when she's been out at a competition all day.

In the winter me and my mum have to ride two out at once because of the lack of daylight so one has to be left, after a few months i could safely leave all of them in the stable alone, i don't tend to leave them in the field alone as they charge about. If i leave the young horse i always make sure she has already been ridden and has plently of hay and the radio on.

Keep the seperation periods short to begin with, exactly like you're doing taking one to the fied at a time, maybe then spend a bit of time grooming the horse left in and giving a bit of hay, as long as the other horse in the field has company nearby you could maybe ride the other for a short time then put out, that is how i started seperating mine,

you'll get there honestly it is just patience and perserverance!

re. the biting the dog the horse is probably just a bit stressed and settling in still.

 

[Baileysno1]

Cheers RLM, at least theres hope, one horse Bailey isn't bothered at all, but Ryu the young one is just so clingy its dangerous. We moved last weekend and they've been fine but have gone from a herd of 9 to just the two of them, I hope YO will turn another out with them and they should settle. As for the training I think you're right short times then build it up. Hopefully the dogs will keep out of the way now!

 

[_jetset_]

I had this problem when I took on my younger mare... she became incredibly attached to my other one who was in foal at the time. The best thing I did was buy Grace a stable mirror. There was an instant improvement

Also, I started making sure I did something every day which did not involve the two of them. Hannah would go out on her own for a few hours and Grace would stay in... now they are both absolutely fine

 

[Angua2]

I have also just experience this too, although it is my gelding who I have had for nearly 6 years who is the problem horse, as he can't bear to be away from my yound mare who I have had back since april.

I am also buying a stable mirror, as the youngster is now about to start going "out and about"