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Discussion on Whether to separate two new "best friends"
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Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2001 - 11:31 am:
I have read the conversations regarding pasturemates but never got any resolution on the best way to handle the problem - so , new post.
I have two geldings together - the pasture is separated into 3 paddocks. There is a run-in shed that is accessible to one pasture at a time. The set up is for rotating pastures, not for keeping horses separate (one run-in shed for the whole thing, not per paddock).
These two jokers just met each other 3 days ago. After about twenty minutes of picking, they have emerged as buddies. Inseparable.
As expected, at feeding time, all bets are off. They are difficult to separate but we are able to feed the dominant one in one pasture and call his buddy up to another pasture to feed him. We let them back together after feeding.
When we work with one horse, separating him from the other - the horse not being worked frets and runs the fence. Both horses do this. Surprisingly, the horse who is being worked manages to concentrate on his work, not his whinnying buddy. For now, anyway.
Here's the question: Should I separate these two so that they get used to being alone but within view? (And feeding would be much easier!) Or will they settle down?
Advice! Please!
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Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2001 - 2:26 pm:
I would say give them more time to settle in. When I got my first horse, a mare, it took a few weeks for the whole herd at the place I boarded not to get nosy and concerned every time I took her out or went to play with her. If they've only been together 3 days I wouldn't be too worried.
~Sharon
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Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2001 - 6:23 pm:
i will second the thought on giving them more time... 3/4 days is not enough... one will fret when the other is out for a few more outings .. but after that they will get used to the routein and hardly take notice...feedings could always be a problem... one will always be the food boss, the other will always summit....
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Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2001 - 7:21 pm:
Catherine, we have a similar situation, three horses. One gelding & mare together in one paddock, one gelding by himself in another. Three see each other and hang out together next to the cross fence. When we work one in the roundpen, the other two come to watch, with an attitude of ha ha, glad it's you buddy and not me today! Before we built the shed (which is also divided down the middle, just like the pasture), there would be lots of ear pinning and switching back and forth between dishes. It was a challenge to dole out each portion, giving the faster eaters a bit more so they'd stay at their own dish and not chase the slower eaters away before they finished. We boarded a horse for awhile who would chase everyone else away from their dish, whether he was finished or not. A solution was to tie him to a post, with the rope long enough to let him reach his dish. We had him tied before we ever brought out the dinner dishes and fed him first. This was only way to keep him from eating all his and everyone else. It's good that the horse you're working doesn't pay attention to the at liberty buddy. The free one should eventually get used to this separation. As long as our horses can see each other when we're working them at home, all is well. The problem is taking two out the gate or off in the trailer to trail ride. The one left behind has a screaming fit. I've cut a trail ride down the road from the pasture short because I was worried the one left behind would break or jump the fence in a panic over his buddies riding out of sight. We now lock the stay home horse in the arena when we leave. Horse has a fit of course, but when the two buddies return in a few hours, the stay home seems to have calmed down. I can't imagine a solution to this herd bound behavior with pasture mates.
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2001 - 12:40 pm:
Leaving the herd was a problem for us and our 2 horses also. Something you might try that has worked great for us was to initially start with very short rides in a paddock or pen directly beside the horse being left behind. She could see him and vice versa. She ran up and down the length of the corral fences with him while I rode him for about the first 10 minutes and then she got bored and started grazing. This is all I did the first time. The next time we did the same thing, but she only fussed for about 5 minutes this time and by the 3rd time she didn't care at all, because she knew Tango wasn't far, and they could both see one another. We then progressed to rides just down the driveway and back (5 minutes out of sight) and then we would come back and do it again, we repeated this 3 or 4 times the same day. Each day we went a little farther for a little longer. It took about 2 weeks, but now we can saddle up either horse and go out for a ride without problems for either horse.
I think consistency and patience are the key in reversing this herd bound behavior. I would never take my horse further than he or I felt comfortable and safe. If he got antsy I would simply stop, turn him around and go back, and then try again. Each time he would give me a little further distance. When the "left behind" horse would start to whinny we would simply do some circles, or backing, or anything he knew how to do well to take his mind of her and back on me. It really works. I never viewed this exercise as "I have to win". I think pushing him beyond his 'comfort zone' would have caused other problems.
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2001 - 3:55 pm:
Hi Sherri, I read your post with interest. Your technique for taking one horse out and just going a little further each day might be a good plan for us. We're fortunate in that our horses will go out on their own alone and not be upset by the crying of the one left behind. It's the at-home one I worry about (crashing the fence, working up to a sweaty frenzy). Thanks for the advice. I plan try your go and come back techniques. Has it worked on the stay-home horse if you trailer just one away?
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2001 - 4:02 pm:
Hi Linda. It was more for the "stay at home" horse that we did this exercise. She was the one visibly upset by my gelding leaving her. We tried feeding her, etc. but nothing seemed to work for very long except for what I described above. Basically, we desensitized her to the fact that Tango would be away, she just never knows for how long because sometimes its 2 minutes, sometimes 2 days. She really doesn't care anymore, but boy, she surely did protest in the beginning. Like you, I was afraid of her thrashing about, etc.
As far as trailering one away, she's fine with that now since we went through the 2 week "seperation desensitization". Hey! That rhymes!
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