LilCat: How can I help my horse get over her seperation anxiety from another horse?
I just take her out of her stall and she starts prancing when I walk her, and calling to the other horse. I put her in a pasture today to let her graze, and she took a few bites but then started to pace and run around. She is not the youngest horse and she isn’t one to know her limits, so I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself is this keeps up. And, in the cross ties she gets really anxious and nervous and calls to the other horse too. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Horse.Featherz
Break this down into steps. Stop and put the horse away or let her rest a bit when she is successful and does what is required. Take her out and walk her away from the other horse. Before she starts to prance around and call, turn around and take her back then turn again and take her a little farther if possible. If she starts acting up, make her go in small circles right where she starts it and then let her rest there. If she is good walk back towards her stall. Repeat taking her a little farther each time until you can get pretty far away without a dramatic incident.
Work on this until she will go in the round pen or arena and work without a fuss. Don’t over do it and make sure you stop and rest her or put her away when she is calm.
If she makes a fuss when you are returning her, just make her do small circles around the place where she started to fuss. Stopping her and making her look at you and lower her head every once in awhile until she gets it then go on. Do this every time she fusses. Lowered head and lip licking is what you are looking for. This is what I call ‘cogitating’ and it means she is submitting and trying to process what you want calmly.
I would not cross tie this horse at this time. I would use a Blocker Tie Ring. It doesn’t matter if she knows her limits as long as she knows yours and respects them.
Happy Trails
HorseFeatherZ
My 3 yr old ottb gelding sometimes gets a tad anxious when separated. I can relate to you not wanting to allow your horse to get hurt, however there is a line that must be drawn at which you horse has to get over herself and accept the separation – the fact that you haven’t drawn that line lets her know that her behaviour is ok and you will just put her back with her friends whens he throws a hissy fit.
If you are wanting to take baby steps, try taking her out in hand and walking her around (however away from any other horses). Make sure you have a chain just incase she tries anything ‘stupid’. Get her used to being on her own and get her to try and focus on you (just walk and halt before moving up into a trot). Guaranteed she will call out to any other horses so when she does, ask for her attention. Don’t let her get away with crap. If she gets nervous, talk to her in a calm, soothing voice.
When it comes to crossties, I will allow my gelding to call out to his friends (because I know he will at some point finally shut up lol), however I will not allow him to walk around – I demand that he stands still – it’s a respect thing.
When I ride my gelding away from his friends, he will call out, but at the same time I will put my leg on and make him go forward (we did at one point have some “fights” where he refused to move forward and did his best to try and get back to the barn – I rode him through it and although he sometimes stills throws temper tantrums, they aren’t nearly as bad).
I am a firm believer in making your horse work and listen to you and not focus on other things around them.
Answer by Abby“quarantine” her, keep her in a seperate pasture or something similar for a month or two.Answer by App Equus Vicki
horses are prey animals and the safest place to be if a predator is after you is in the middle of the herd ( this is why so many horses lean and crowd their humans ) horses look for the herd and some one dominant to lead them , spend time just being in the pasture with your horse . Bond with her ask her to be in your herd be her leader walk to her comfort zone with the other horses then ask her to come away you her herd leader as you become a herd of two she will respect your leadership more and more . It helps to have really good ideas for her to go with you like … follow me to this great patch of grass ok now follow me to that patch of grass and at the far side of the property where the other horses are not !!* wow , a yummy treat . and lots of good scratches in all her itchy spots , soon she will be ready to go where you ask her to . A good leader in effective on ground and on back try to understand her side of things first .
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