Update on too attached... help!

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Well, since I have got home there is no doubt that Grace has become a lot worse in her attachment to Hannah. I am still not sure how or when it started, it seems to be when I moved Hannah up to the top yard and stabled her next to Grace. But Grace was not attached to the other horse who used to be next to her so it is slightly confusing.

Anyway, the past three days I have been taking Hannah away while I muck her out and Grace has been shrieking her head off (it sounds as though someone is slaughtering her), and really banging on the door (this she has never done before). She runs around her stable shrieking her head off and snatches at her haylage on the way around.

It does not really seem to be getting much better through the three days I have separated them, and am now wondering whether she will ever be happy when Hannah goes out. This is a problem because in a few weeks Hannah will be going out alone every day and Grace staying in!

I have ordered her a stable mirror in the hope this will help, although I have to admit I am a little cynical as I think her separation anxiety is quite bad at the moment.

Does anyone have any further advice???

I am completely ignoring her when she is shouting, banging and running around. Only going over to her when she is quiet.
 
Oh dear, sound horrible, I can only suggest you keep doing what you are doing. I have this problem with my companion pony. We have got to the stage were she will be distracted by food if she knows flick is on the yard somewhere. Some days she is better than others (no idea why). If things realy don't work perhaps you could consider gettting a shetland or something from the ILPH.
 
There are plenty of horses on the yard, it is usually full at the moment because our turnout is limited... so it is not the fact she is on her own
 
10past6... I am so pleased you have posted that!

I have read the mirrors are good for box walking, weaving etc but not for the problem I am having even though the company have said it will help. But it's nice to know someone who knows it has worked for this issue.
 
Apparently pregnant mares often get like this. Certainly the maiden mare that foaled with us last year would not be without her chosen companion, (which in fact was her own mother!).

Can you move Hannah out of eyesight and earshot?? A bit like weaning really. Otherwise you are now stuck with this situation - and obviously you don't want to stress Hannah out unnessarily.
 
I can't move her anywhere as the yard is full and she is in the only big stable...

Hannah does not bother one hoot about what is going on. I think she does believed Grace is stupid!
 
Sorry, being stupid - got the horses mixed up!!!!

Can you swap Grace with another on the yard? Although it could just be an age and insecurity thing.
 
I don't think anyone would swap to be honest as most people are quite settled and I do not want to upset the status quo (it's a bit fragile at the moment...)

It's all very complicated when you're on a livery yard isn't it... things that you know would help you just cannot do.
 
Tilly was just like this. Problem was sorted by being totally ruthless and basically her companion left the yard (she was only a tempory companion to keep Tilly settled while I was away as her field mates were pts). She hurtled round like a complete lunatic, throwing herself on the floor and got into a horrible state. And all I could do was stand and watch in horror! But, within a few days she had settled and now is 95% happy with horses coming and going, though she does get excited occasionally!

I found that trying to separate her for short periods was the worst thing in the end as she just got stressed and then started to associate being on her own with being stressed. Totally spearing her did work though but it may not be the nicest thing to witness. She still gets a little stressed if stabled on her own but she's never liked being stabled that much anyway. However, in the field, she is a totally different horse.
 
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It's all very complicated when you're on a livery yard isn't it... things that you know would help you just cannot do.

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It can be - but still worth an ask maybe..............
 
Thanks... I will see whether the mirror makes any difference before asking someone to move (there is a particular reason I am not really keen on this idea but do not want to go into it on an open forum... the walls have ears and all.
 
What is spear??

There is no chance that the horse she is attached to is going anywhere unfortunately, as it is my other mare
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I don't know why she has become so attached to her, she is not bothered when any of the others leave!
 
hi hun!!

Archie used to be stabled on the 'top yard' when i first got him at my yard and he was fine. Then i moved him down onto the 'bottom' yard where Blossy is. And when the horse next to him used to get turned out he'd literally throw himself at his stable door and sweat up. one morning i came down and he was pouring in sweat
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however he now stays in nice and calmly and will happily watch his 'neighbour' go out. its just a matter of time hun and grace will soon get used to it. x
 
Hi
Has it been happening for long??
It just that my mare (11) has just started doing the excate same thing except its pacing/screaming into the field to get the other horses to come over to the fence then she is happy but she ignoring my othe mare which is her companion in the same field??Never happened before in her life and I have had since 3 months old in with mares and geldings so not sure why now.
The only difference is that Cas is in season and it must be a major one as I have never seen so much squirting in my life!! She does seem to be calming down after 1 & 1/2 weeks .(I'm guessing its hormonal if it happens again I think a quick visit from the vet is in order just to be on the safe side).

My friend has used mirrors with great success she had a clostrophic ex race horse how just loved staring at him self when he had to stay in
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he was very vane!!
 
It happened when I brought Hannah up to the top yard (she is now in her old stable which she loves so do not want to move her). Grace started it quite soon after this, but I got it under control by completely ignoring her.

However, when I went away the lady looking after her said she was really bad, but calmed down after a few days, and she is now really bad again now I have returned. i think she is a creature of habit and likes a routine, so I am hoping that once we get back into that routine she will settle again, with the help of a mirror.

P_G - thanks for that honey.
 
It does sound like she's been stressed by the change of routine, and with you being away Hannah has been her comfort blanket.
Can she see/reach hannah whilst she's in the stable?
Is it happening more because Grace is in more, and so has more energy to fret?
What's Grace like in the field if Hannah is in?

Sorry if you've already posted about these things. I know how frustrating it is to have a horse attached so much - my gelding was a pain with my mum's mare - he even bashed his stable door down and escaped whilst I was grazing her down the lane. Anyway it was definitely a winter behaviour problem for him, as he was in alternate days and limited turnout. He was much less bothered in the summer when he was out 24/7.
It was also a lack of confidence thing with him - I found hacking out either on his own or with lots of different horses (not my mum's) helped him.
 
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What is spear??

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Ooops, that was meant to say separating!! bleeding dyslexia!
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There is no chance that the horse she is attached to is going anywhere unfortunately, as it is my other mare
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I don't know why she has become so attached to her, she is not bothered when any of the others leave!

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True, but hopefully when Hannah goes out 24/7 she will get used to it and settle. Probably doesn't sound very hopeful or helpful but with Till's having to cope without her companion made her do it as there wasn't a choice. I really hope the mirror works - let me know how you get on as I would be interested to know - if it works it may just help Tilly's stressing when she is stabled.
 
Thanks... Grace has been in a lot more because she has had very very bad mud rash. She stays near Hannah in the field, but does not get overly upset when she comes in (Hannah that is) as long as there are other horses still out.

They cannot reach each other in the stable, and whenever Han has been tied up near her, Hannah just bites Grace hard on her nose and does not want bothering! I am trying to get her hacking out at the moment with a friend's horse, and then hopefully on her own. I am also hoping that when she starts going out competing, seeing more of the world, she will start to understand what life is all about.
 
I have the same problem with my horse!! If the others go out with out her then she literally becomes dangerous!!!

If i want to ride and the others are out then i have a massive battle on my hands until i get on and then she is as good as gold.

She smashed her stable down 3 times when i first got her but thankfully has calmed down slightly since then and has stopped that but she still goes mental.

I dread the day if she ever has to go on box rest!!

Also there are 3 other ponies on the yard and she couldn't give a hoot if they are in or not she still goes bonkers if she cant see her mates.
 
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