Working with seperation anxiety?

[Lintel]

I have a 2 year old coblet who unfortunately has probably the most terrible separation anxiety I have witnessed first hand.

A chilled boy when out with me on his own, will leave his buddy but god help us if I attempt to have his buddy leave him.

He doesn't have much experience, if any of being in a stable and his initial reaction to a stable was to throw himself over the door... although his buddy was in the opposite stable?! Worked on stabling with buddy and we now pace a little initially but it is MUCH improved!

So we worked on separation in the field etc which is all fine. Even went some short hacks with his buddy and left him grazing alone with supervision- a few neighs and a run along the fence line and he settled. Really thought we had cracked it!

However- this week he is drastic again!! Charged through the electric fence- so I cancelled going the hack clearly!! Tried stabling again- over the door he came! I tried shutting the top door, threw himself of it and has burst the slip bolts! - this is all whilst his buddy is metres away?!

Any recommendations? It is only the two of them and he is a gem when he is the one leaving- just not being left!

Do I just get another?(and don't tell OH!)

 

[HashRouge]

Honestly, I've found keeping horses in a pair really difficult when it comes to separation anxiety. My two are extremely attached and we've done the whole frantic, panicked, screaming frenzy, although luckily neither of them seems up for jumping over doors or running through fencing! I tried many different things but the only thing that has really helped has been being in a set up where they have more friends. They are now six in total, with my two in together and the other four on the other part of the field, but they're only separated by electric tape so they do a lot of chatting and grooming over the fence. I can now put my little Arab up in the top paddock (out of sight), then go back and get the other one, without anyone throwing a tantrum. They'll call for each other, but don't visibly stress/ panic. And tbh, the calling would probably improve if I did it more often, I just don't need to (as both retired).

It's odd though that yours was improving and now seems to have gone backwards. I wonder if they've had some sort of fright in the field that's made him feel insecure about being alone? I think I'd try going back to the beginning and separating for very short periods initially (i.e. five minutes), and gradually increasing it. It sounds like you'll need to have him supervised even for five minutes though. Could your OH bring the other one in and you stay with the youngster? I'd be very leery about leaving him without anyone there!

Honestly though, I'd never try keeping just a pair anymore if I was trying to ride one. I know it can work, but it's so, so stressful when it doesn't!

 

[Barton Bounty]

When I had two i kept them in separate fields well away from each other for this precise reason. Eventually to get bb to calm down ai just had to leave him tank about the field and get used to it. Nothing else worked ??

 

[TheMule]

Horses are not designed to live in pairs. 2 year old horses in particular.
It's a really hard set up for any horse, let alone a young horse who hasn’t been allowed to form normal relationships within a herd to learn that comings and goings are ok.
Whats the solution? Either you need to get a 3rd as a constant companion, or you need to accept that a 2yr old is not suitable to keep in your set up.

 

[Bellaboo18]

He's 2.
He's not in a suitable set up.

 

[JBM]

I’m working with my two on separation anxiety but ones 5 and ones 21
Neither would be fully happy in the field alone but the 21 year old is fine during the day alone in the field as there’s grass..night time is scary and the 5 year old doesn’t like being alone in the field at any time of the day (I’m perfectly happy with this as I understand it leaves him vulnerable in his mind)
When stabled the 5 year old is generally grand now he might will have a bit of anxiety when being left (going on a hack on the 21 year old) but I’m told by other livery’s and people watching him he calms after 5 minutes of us being gone and just eats his hay or relaxes with his leg up.
He was bad at the start but we slowly increased the time away and it helps that he can see half the arena so gets used to Judy coming and going doing work
2 seems a bit young for him to be left completely alone as he’s only a baby