Young Horse Separation Issues

[geminisix]

We've recently bought a 4 year old gelding, who we've had for 6 months now and came to us as a complete dope on a rope (and still is for the most part). When we first got him, he was happy to hack out alone, stay in stabled alone and school alone. However, recently he has become very attached to other horses and now 'symptoms' of this issue include:
- boxwalking, frequent calling, general nervous disposition and complete lack of appetite when left in alone.
- reluctance to be led away from herd if being brought in and will occasionally stop and stand before (reluctantly) walking on again.
- he will no longer hack alone; he will happily go so far and then in an instant become extremely anxious, spin round towards home, call out a lot and really fights if you don't let him go where he wants to go.
- becoming dangerous in the school when hearing another horse call out to him; rears up, followed by bronking down the school until rider is off of him and then he trots away towards direction of call.

I've read lots of interesting articles on stopping such behaviour, but they all seem to focus on stopping attachment to one horse and will be of no use to him because he is attached to all horses - he has even locked onto unknown horses from other yards on hacks and has bolted until caught up with them!

He didn't show these 'symptoms' when he first came to us and I'm really stuck finding a way to sort them out as he is now becoming dangerous even to school! I have considered bringing him right back to basics and doing a 're-breaking', as such, over the coming weeks before I get on and something actually happens (have come away with no injuries as of yet). Nonetheless doing this won't sort out the separation issues, so is there anybody who has any advice for me?! I will be forever grateful as I feel quite stuck at the moment

 

[Firefly9410]

This is not really separation anxiety alone which is usually where they get stressed and worked up when left alone. This sounds more like napping combined with a lack of confidence generally or lack of faith in the rider. I would not re-break the horse to solve this. I would look to the diet and workload. High fibre, low starch, low sugar diet and increase the work. Lessons in the arena might help you get some tools to cope with the behaviour. Consistency with expectations and only rewarding good behaviour will get his respect. You could try leading for brief periods out hacking if you cannot manage the situation from the saddle. Have you asked the previous owners for the feed and amount he was on, and turnout type for example lush paddock or bald one and hours he was out or was a muzzle used, also workload with them? Try to get things back to how they were before when all was fine. Is he getting enough turnout? There could be other things but management routine changing, combined with stress of moving and losing faith in rider is my first thoughts. Be firm but fair and tackle it now before you lose confidence and his bad habits become established. Good luck!

 

[geminisix]

Firefly9410,
He's on a very strict low starch high oil diet anyway, due to a neuromuscular disorder, but I don't think it's incredibly high in fibre. We are in regular contact with a nutritionist and have him on a diet that's been recommended to us by them - I could possibly enquire about having it changed so he gets a little more fibre too. I have begun to reward good/brave behaviour, but I'm not sure how effective it has been so far really. And I can't say I'm doing too well regarding being more firm with him while riding; I'm not usually a nervous rider at all, but my confidence has been knocked a lot, so I'm finding it difficult to win any battles he starts with me while I am in saddle. I know that he was out 24/7 with his old owners in a field with really nice grass, grazing is not bad at our yard now, however 24 hour turnout is only allowed in summer, so I am forced to bring him in at night at the mo.

 

[Mister Ted]

Sounds like he is really stressed out especially if hes not eating properly.My last horse had issues when he was taken away from his beloved field buddy when we bought him.Calling out constantly in his new place and hated being left alone.Felt really sorry for him and he was always stabled at night with others in the yard.He always had another horse in his field or he went crazy otherwise.Vet checked him over and noticed he had not been quite fully gelded although he wasnt a rig.He wasnt amourous toward mares and was beautiful and well mannered. Also I read if young foals are weaned too early and taken away from their mum it can cause long term separation anxiety.Could his diet be causing some issues with his stress.?