Two horses that are attached to each other?

[Millzwoolz]

Hey!

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how to de attached two horses from each other?

I keep my horse at my farm, where my uncle has just started doing livery and there's another horse up there. This girls horse is very attached to mine. When they're in the stable they are fine. But now they are in the field together.

Everytime I try to take my horse out to exercise her, the other horse goes ballistic and gallops around the field and will not calm down. Before now this other horse has jumped out of the field to be near my horse.

Has anyone got any ideas on how we can seperate them and get them less attached??

Thanks in advance!

Millie

 

[HashRouge]

Are there any other horses around or just those two?
Horses kept in pairs can become very attached and it can be a nightmare to deal with. The only solution for my sister and I was time. We have one retired mare and one gelding in light work - taking the gelding out for a ride was originally very difficult! The mare would get absolutely hysterical, and she'd never been like that before. I used to bring her in because it was safer, but we kept taking the gelding out and gradually she has improved. I wouldn't say she particularly *likes* him leaving her, but she will tolerate it now and just calls to him occasionally. She can stay out in the field now, but there are other horses around (though not in the same field). Are there any other horses you could put with them? It might be easier if they are kept in a small herd rather than a pair. At the moment though I would definitely bring the other horse in when you want to ride yours. I know it is a pain, but it is less likely to hurt itself. You may have to shut the top door though if you think it might jump out!

 

[lindsay1993]

I would say it's only natural for a horse left behind to get upset. It's their herd instinct to be together.
I wouldn't advise just keeping two together, especially if the other horse is getting frantic about being alone. I would also bring in the other horse at the same time just for safety's sake.

Is it possible to both exercise at the same time? That's what my friend and I used to do when we only had the two horses together.
I had a lovely welsh D who was amazing. The owner of the other horse in her field took her horse out and didn't bother to bring mine in, which was what usually happened. My horse panicked and jumped the fence to follow and ended up with a broken leg :-(

 

[Millzwoolz]

Unfortunately there are only two horses there, mine and hers. No it isn't possible to exercise them together as my horse has been injured and made it impossible to ride, plus she's better alone. When in the stable the other horse calms down. It's just when she's in the field. I need to be able to seperate the two.

 

[Millzwoolz]

You may have to shut the top door though if you think it might jump out!

It's not a problem when she's inside, she just calls out to mine. It's when she's out in the field

 

[lindsay1993]

If it's fine in the stable then I'd simply bring it in.

Keeping two together can be very difficult and I feel for you as I had to do it for about 2 years.

Sometimes with the repetition of being alone for short periods, the other horse may calm down once it realises it's friend is coming back. It could be used to being in a bigger herd at it's past yard too. I wouldn't risk leaving it out when yours comes in if it has already proven it can & will jump out of the field.

 

[Millzwoolz]

Not as simple as it sounds, this other horse is a nightmare. I physically cannot bring them both in, when you go to lead them next to each other they kick off. The fence was been inproved since it jumped out so i don't think it can anymore.

 

[lindsay1993]

Could you not bring the other in first then go and get yours?

If not, it may just be something you have to deal with &leave it out with someone to keep an eye on it for the first few times you leave it. Have you spoken to the owner about it & see what they think might be a best way to approach it so no-one gets hurt?

 

[Millzwoolz]

The owner does do anything. Like she doesn't realise that it's horse that is problem. She wants to do everything together but obviously we can't

 

[lindsay1993]

I wouldn't say that it is either horse that is a problem. To me it seems more like an issue with what the situation is. You can't blame the owner for her horse being upset when it's left on it's own, just as she can't blame you for taking your horse out.

I would sit down and talk to her & the yard owner so you can all come to a specific arrangement for what happens when a horse is taken out of the field. ie, stabling one, separating them completely, leaving other horse by itself. Whatever is best for everyone.

Why can't you go out together? What injury has your horse had? Just being nosey.

 

[Millzwoolz]

The yard is my families.

My horse got caught on barbed wire while the horses were separated, the muscle was hanging out. Just under where the saddle lies.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I've been in this situation. The only way forwards IMO is training the horse left behind that the other horse will come back. Really you need the other owner to help you do this.

Start off by bringing them both in. Take yours away for five minutes and then bring it back. The other owner should stay with their horse and try to distract it. Repeat until the other horse stays calm. Then progress onto the horse and both people going away for five minutes. Once the horse left behind is OK with this, you can then build up the time left alone and progress to leaving the one left behind in the field.

I used the above method and yes it did take effort and time to start with, but in the end we could take either horse out for a long hack and the other one could be left in the field with only a couple of neighs when the other horse first left and when it returned.

I'm sure that it would be easier to do as suggested on the other thread and remove the horses from each others sight permanently and keep them completely alone, but frankly that's a cruel thing to do to a herd animal.

 

[Pinkvboots]

When two horses are kept together it is perfectly natural for them to get upset when one is taken away as they are left alone which most horses don't like, I keep my two horses together and I always bring them both in I never leave one out alone as they would also get upset and potentially injure themselves , I think the only option you have is never leave one out alone or get a 3rd horse so they always have company in the field.

 

[Millzwoolz]

There is no way there is another horse allowed unless a new livery arrives. Thank you all I will try

 

[Pinkvboots]

There is no way there is another horse allowed unless a new livery arrives. Thank you all I will try

I have rented my other stable and a few of the horses have gone into the same field as mine and it is handy as you only need to bring in the horse you want to ride, I just made it clear that if the livery brings there horse in mine must also come in and it worked well

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I should add that the method I mentioned needs to be done in several short sessions over several days to begin with and that really you will need a few weeks of training before attempting a three hour hack.

 

[Millzwoolz]

I can't even get on my horse yet! So It will take longer I know...