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Discussion on Help! Separation Anxiety | |
Author | Message |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 8:51 am: Hi all. Last week I posted pictures of my mare that was kicked in the chest by my other mare. Thankfully, I was able to nurse her chest back to normal through Bute, hosing and massaging the area daily. Friday night I was once again dealing with an injury due to a kick. This time on the rear left leg, just under the hock. She was lame and swollen, no heat. I immediately administered Bute, hosed, and applied a furozone (not sure spelled correctly) wrap. I made a vet appointment right away due to the degree of lameness. I saw the vet today and he examined her thoroughly. He did not detect any major damage and thinks she will be back to normal in a few days with continued care (bute, hosing, ice). She is steadily improving.Here's my problem. The mare that keeps getting injured is my daughter's show horse. The vet advised me to keep the mares separated. He says I have invested too much money to lose the show horse to the kicking antics that have started as of late. The issue I now have is that turning them out to pasture at different times results in the horses having separation anxiety. The one in the pasture stands at the gate and calls to the other. The mare in the barn paces, and calls to the mare in the pasture. They can see each other from the barn to the pasture and vice versa. The result is the same regardless of which horse is in the barn or pasture. Here are my questions. Do you think that at some point they will graze when turned out to the pasture? Do you think that they will calm down in the barn? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to transition to this new turn out plan to minimize stress on the mares? I have read the other posts regarding buddy sour horses, but this situation is a little different because they can see each other from the barn to the pasture. Thanks for any help or suggestions. |
Member: lilo |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 10:17 am: Hi Heidi,I do not have a solution for you. I am surprised that they are not getting used to be separated while they can see each other. I have similar situations, but with time, things are getting better. The older mare is very dominant (we suspect she kicked a gelding we used to have in the front leg, and we had to put him down). So - now we do not put these two horses together in small paddocks. In the two acre pasture, where there is lots of room to get out of the way, I am not as concerned. It is important that the gelding I have now does recognize that the mare is alpha. The gelding we lost was challenging my mare, I believe, with disastrous results. When I ride one horse away from home, the "left behind" one tends to call until the ridden horse is out of sight - and then again, when I return. It leads to problems with the gelding sometimes, because he wants to rush home when the mare calls. However, I can ride one in the pasture without the one at the barn getting anxious (they can see each other). It took awhile, until they realized that the one being ridden is not actually leaving. So - these are just some notes from my experience. I have to agree that these mares are better off separated (I wish I had done that when my gelding got his first injury, which was not that serious). I would make sure that the horses are not in any danger of getting hurt when they call to each other. For instance - if I ride that mare I confine the gelding to his smaller run. He can run in circles and kick up his heels, but not get up a head of steam. In his larger paddock, he would race around and race into a corner and slam on his brakes. I thought there was a possibility of him getting hurt. I have to admit - I wish I did not have such herd bound horses!!!! I do not know how much time you have given to this new arrangement - things do get better with time, I find. Lilo |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 10:37 am: Thanks Lilo. Our pasture is a little over 3 acres. You would think with all that room they could get out of the way.It has only been two days and I suspect things will improve over time (they usually do). My plan right now is to start with small intervals of time and gradually increase the time apart. I hope this plan works! I just don't want either to get so worked up that we end up with colic or another injury. The show horse leaves for shows, vet visits, and training while the other remains in the barn alone. She doesn't call or appear stressed when we leave or return home. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 10:37 am: Hello Heidi,Yes I think they both will adjust to the new situation but how long will it take I don't know. I do know that the proximity will make it longer. As to ideas of how to make the transition easier I don't see any information that helps us help you. This will depend on your particular circumstances and resources. What are your options and do you have to work with? DrO |
Member: cheryl |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 10:56 am: Heidi - is it possible to cut your pasture in two sections? If they are out in the pasture eating but separated - they might settle down a lot more -My mare has been trying to maim and mutilate my gelding for 7 years now - She tries to get him backed in a corner and then kicks the living daylight out of him - I don't think she has managed to connect for at past three or four years - but there is no place she can corner him now either. I'm surprised you show mare hasn't figured out she needs to stay out of the way by now. Good luck - |
Member: canter |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 11:00 am: Hi Heidi,Is it possible to split you turnout area into 2 pastures? That would solve your problem and nearly eliminate the chances of the mares hurting each other. There are all sorts of temporary fencing solutions on the market. Perhaps one of them would fit your needs. |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 11:01 am: Dr. O, what do you mean by "what are your options and do you have to work with?"Do you think it would be better to remove one of the mares completely from the property? This would mean that the show mare would be alone all the time. |
Member: canter |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 11:01 am: Cheryl and I posted virtually at the same time...you know what they say about great minds... |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 11:16 am: Thanks Cheryl and Fran. As we speak (type), I am looking into that option. Thanks. |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 11:46 am: The owners of our boarding barn breed Arabians.This spring their mare was put down after a kick that shattered here leg. Her six week old foal was orphaned by the accident. It was really tragic. How about one of those solar powered electric fences to divide the pasture? |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 1:23 pm: Hi Heidi,I second and third the idea of separating these two horses. It must be something in the air or a change in herd dynamics, because I had a strange but similar situation with my race mare and my two year old gelding. First, my two horses got along fine for about a week after I put them together. The colt was gelded in mid February and I waited until mid April to put them together. He was not the problem as he knew exactly where she was at all times and tried to stay away from her. She on the other hand was constantly chasing him ears pinned back, trying to corner him and kick the tar out of him and feed time was not a good time either. Yet, sometimes I'd come and both would be grazing, or lying down very content right next to each other. It appeared the only time I had a problem was when my husband and I were around because I think there was some jealousy involved with both of them. Anyway, I decided after some close calls and blown up legs from kicks that I could not afford to keep them together, if I did not want either one of them to get hurt. I had the availability of two paddocks, a large one (1 acre) with a run in shed and a smaller one (1/2) with no run in shed. Mare gets the larger one at night, colt gets the smaller one at night. During the day the mare comes in to get worked and stays in, I open up the larger paddock for the colt and he gets to have both paddocks the entire day, until the mare goes back out at night, then he goes back into the smaller pen. When I first started doing this, both of them came in together, stayed in together, and went back out together into their separate areas. I found out very quickly that if the colt was not outside first, the mare would go bonkers and act like a nut case, but as long as he was there and she could see him, she was fine. He really didn't care one way or the other (he's pretty laid back about everything). Then I started bringing her in and leaving him out in his smaller paddock because she can see him in there. That seemed to work out after a few days. Finally, I just opened the gate to the other paddock and while she can't always see him, I think she knows he's out there somewhere, so does not get nuts. I put hay in both paddocks so he walks back into her line of sight every so often. This seems to be working out well and although every once in a while I try to see of her attitude has changed towards him because I'd really like to be able to put them back together, she still acts really mean towards him, so I don't dare do it. It almost like in these two horses cases love at a distance is best. As far as fencing goes. I would recommend a Grazier fencing system. This is braided electrical rope that works on a battery. I have successfully used it to cut a large paddock in half, used it as a temporary paddock for an injured horse and used it to give extra grazing area to my retired horse in my back yard. Its easy to work with, sets up anywhere, does not have to be in a circle or square to work, is very portable and easier than solar or regular electric fencing. I hope you can find a solution that works. Rachelle |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 - 3:08 pm: Thanks for the comments. The two mares have been together for years. The show mare is the younger of the two (5 years old) and has always been submissive to the older mare. I guess she is maturing and wants to be the leader. On more than one occasion, when picking them up from the pasture, she was chasing the older mare away from the gate. I think the older mare has had enough and is retaliating. This is all speculation. Who knows what's going on?We do own a third horse (a filly, of course), but she is not at home. She is a two year old and in training. She will be in training for quite some time. I think I will try alternating turnout time in my pasture a few more times. If things do not start to settle down, I will definitely have to divide my pasture into half. This is feasible for us with only one drawback. Our water source is in an inconvenient place but I think we can make it work. Thanks again for all the help. I am grateful to have found a site that allows horse owners to share information. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Monday, Aug 30, 2010 - 9:41 pm: Heidi,The "fencing" would be the material you have to work with and "dividing the pasture" would be the option. I think it sounds like a good one though any course may be fraught with trouble. As to the question of removing one horse from the property, it certainly would settle the separation anxiety but only you can decide if is this a "good option" for you. DrO |
Member: hdupre |
Posted on Monday, Aug 30, 2010 - 10:02 pm: Thanks Dr.O.I have spent the last two days alternating turn out time between the two horses using 15-20 minute intervals. I followed the switching with time together in the barn (in their stalls). Believe it or not, it is starting to work. By the end of the day today, the horse in the pasture grazed and the horse in the stall called out a few times. No more pacing and frantic behavior. They must think I'm crazy and it's not worth the effort to get so worked up when their buddy will be returning shortly. I am planning to increase the time each day. I'll keep you posted as to how things go. While the fencing is a great idea, it will involve a considerable amount of money. I will separate the pasture if my current attempts to keep them happy fail. The cost of the fence is quite less than the cost of an injured or sick horse. The things we will do for our horses! |