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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Separation Anxiety » |
Discussion on Herd bound and colic | |
Author | Message |
Member: leslie1 |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 9, 2009 - 9:56 pm: HelloI have been putting Pumpkin in a seperate pasture during the day and she has been acting so idioticlly herd bound. I am wondering if this intense stress can lead to colic. I cringe when I see her dripping sweat and then take a big ol bit of grass and then a few minutes later roll. I end up hand walking her to cool her out. WWHAD?---(what would HAers do) L645 |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 9, 2009 - 10:44 pm: Leslie why are you separating her would be my first question. If there is no reason why do it?If she is really paniced it can lead to colic/or injuries. IMHO all horses should learn to deal with being separated, but sometimes it has to be done slowly. In pasture mine are terribly herd bound, but if I take them out individually they are for the most part good, even if the idiots left in the pasture scream bloody murder. Hank was one of the worst herd bound horses I've ever owned (surprise) If he can be next to and see the other 2 in a different pen he is ok. He is fine when ridden or I do anything with him. I figure he can be part of the herd as long as the "herd bound" doesn't carry over when I'm working him. It's funny when I took him to be "broke" he was sooo herd bound the trainer decided he was going to cure him. He was kept completely by himself in a round pen, he could see the other horses in the distance. It did not cure him, he turned into a nervous wreck and did colic. I told the trainer to put him in with the other horses. He was put in with 3 other horses that were there for training. He fell in love with a filly. Still his training went well after he was allowed to be part of the "herd again" The trainer had him by himself for 3 weeks and it did absolutely nothing to help his herd boundness(as far as pasture) I think the experience actually made him worse. So it depends on Pumpkins personality if she will become upset enough to colic or injure herself, settle down or not. Some do, some don't Big help huh |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Apr 10, 2009 - 6:25 am: leslie,with no more detail about your circumstances it is impossible to give specifics. In general, look at the past situation the pony was comfortable with then consider the situation that you want to achieve. Now consider a more gradual way to achieve it. If you have gone as gradual as possible you have to determine if the amount of grief this horse causes you is worth the goals you are trying to achieve. I have always found that given enough time horses will settle down to most circumstances...if your fences are good enough. I would also consider if your horse is having boughts of colic there may be another cause. Either that or Pumpkin has trained you to achieve his own goals. DrO |
Member: leslie1 |
Posted on Friday, Apr 10, 2009 - 11:22 am: Thanks guysYeah DrO I think she may have me well trained DianeE Its a small electric turn out. I dont like putting the exhuberant 2 year old in with the horned one, pumpkin (at least in this situation). So I keep Spongebob in with Lara. I am actually building up their time out on lush grass very slowly. In preparation of turning them out on my renovated pastures when the seedlings are ready. cheers L645 |