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T O P I C R E V I E W
shah
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 5:04:50 PM My new lad got instantly attached to the other arab (anglo) in his field from the day he arrived to our yard. It was a big change for him so I don't blame him for latching on to another horse, and we've been working on it ever since (three months now). BUT things are not getting better, in fact, they're getting worse. Today, for the first time, Mush tanked off with me on the end of the lead rope. And we've been doing ground work to prevent this for a whole week
I've had enough of the behaviour so am now planning to separate them either tomorrow or Tues - but am still wondering whether that's the right thing to do?
My only experience of this in the past was with old shah that got attached to the mare next door in his stable, but we had to move stable a few months later (for other reasons) and the separation anxiety never reappeared again even tho the horses were still on the same yard. However, that was much less of a problem to start with than now.
Any advise - for or against separating them? They will be going into completely different fields where they can't see each other, probably just about hear each other whinny though.
11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
cammarch
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 10:26:45 PM I use Bachs Flower Rescue Remedies for all types of anxiety, particularly good for weaning foals, take it myself too when under any stress (lol). It can be bought in any good chemist, Boots sell it as well, only about £3.50. Give him 4 drops twice a day for about 3 days, couple for your self as well dealing with him!!!.
RiffRaff
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 8:16:23 PM This probably wont be much help but we had a mare that did this when we moved her to the livery yard down the road she was such a pain in the end we brought her back home where she settled fine and now the mare that she was attached to is in the field next door and she doesnt seem to acknowledge her at all so can only guess it was that she wasnt happy at that yard. To start with we did keep taking her out the field to lunge her then take her back but everytime she was out she was screaming for her field mate, she would fidget whilst tied up making it difficult to groom and would take a mouthful of feed then pace then take another mouthful and so on. Also if she was left in the field with the third mare she would shout until the horse came back. It is very frustrating and i feel for you. Ours being a mare we used some hormone supplement that helped slightly but everyting only went back to normal when she returned home. Can only say to keep trying with the calming supplement. Probably not much help but thought id share my experiance x
jillandlomond
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 6:19:20 PM Might be an idea to ask his previous owner if she had any problems with him suffering from separation anxiety If so, perhaps she could offer a solution....
shah
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 5:19:43 PM Thanks guys for your comments. We've not separated them, I have however started him on a calmer to see if that will help him deal with his nerves.
I've tried the method you describe Zan and it worked fine to start with but he then worked out that once inside the barn he gets to go out and he can then drag me towards the field. Today, because his mate was calling and running up and down when Mush left, he refused to stand still while tied up in the barn, all I could do was to get the rug off and pick out the front feet. We then spent an hour in the school doing groundwork (the school is next to his field and mate normally stands half way in wanting to come in and play) and then tried the barn again, with no difference in him whatsoever, he was even running around his dinner bucket...
I have literally spent days and months now going in/out to show him that mate doesn't go away, to start with that was fine but now it doesn't work at all and I'm at my wits end. I understand all the reasons for why he's behaving this way but I just can't seem to find a method that helps him.
We have three of them together in the field so they're never completely on their own. But Mush doesn't care at all about the little pony being in the field with him when his mate leaves. Although he now settles quite well (i.e. only 10-15min of shouting before giving up) if his mate is taken out of the field, the problem is getting him out.
Maybe I just need to go and spend a whole day going in/out/in/out?
Cinnypony
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 5:05:58 PM Another one to agree with Zan, plus also the idea of adding a third one, so never left on their own when the other goes out.
gossy
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 8:54:50 PM completely agree with you ZAN, hope you are well.x
Zan
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 7:21:40 PM In my opinion, if you seperate them, you will be confirming Mush's greatest fear--i.e. if he goes away from this horse he will never see it again. It "may" apparently solve the problem in the short term, but it will certainly mean he will transfer his anxiety to something else, because he will feel terribly insecure, and sure that the worst is always going to happen. What you want to do is show him that it is perfectly safe to leave his beloved friend, and he will always be there when he comes back. I only have two horses at the moment--Samantha, who I don't ride any more, and Zaharoff, who I do. They are very closely bonded, but Samantha had always been fine with me riding Zaharoff out, as long as she was in her stable, possibly helped by the fact I had a third to keep her company originally, and she had gradually got used to being left alone. I moved them last year and Samantha reverted to her old, very insecure, neurotic self of her youth---not surprisingly, because she had lived in their previous home for 10 years. She couldn't bear for me to ride Z, and would throw herself around dangerously in the stable, even if I tried to ride him in the arena right outside her door. I took it very, very slowly, starting by simply tacking him up and holding him outside her stable and waiting quietly till she calmed down, then taking the tack off again--moving on to moving him a few steps away, waiting till she calmed down, then taking him back.It took a couple of weeks before I could ride in the arena and then hack out, but doing it this way she was absolutely fine---because I was showing her that she had nothing to worry about and he would always be coming back. It never, at any time, occurred to me that the answer would be to separate them. Their relationship goes deep and sustains them through most of 24 hours a day---I but my human nose in for a fraction of that
geegee
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 6:29:53 PM .
Roseanne
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 6:27:16 PM Is there any chance you could 'dilute' it by having more than the two of them together? That way if one or the other went out, it would leave someone else as company and it might ease the two 'welded' ones off each other.
LYNDILOU
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 6:01:25 PM It is natural that they would attach to other horses ,that what they are, social animals , so we take them from this natural state and ask them to change, no wonder then that they become stressed in the process! if you met a friend who you really liked then someone said no you cant see them , how would you feel? my advice for what its worth is, separate them for short times and bring them back together , lengthening the times between, always when they are away from each other give them things to occupy their minds . if they are to be separated indefinitely . make it a quick removal and make sure they dont hear each other call , it will be distressing for them, I am sorry I cant be more help, I just put myself in their shoes
Kazzy
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 5:10:09 PM You may have a problem if they can hear each other and cant see each other.
Make sure the field and fencing is safe and I wouldnt leave him on his own for a while just incase.
Its awful when they get atatched to another horse that much, mine was like that but after I moved him it was a good week before he would settle down and stop pacing and eventually I turned himout with the other 3 horses there.
He is attatched to these horses now but not in the same way, at least I can take him out without a kerpuffle
If so, perhaps she could offer a solution....
