How to separate two horses who have grazed together and dint want to be parted.?

Question

I have a thoroughbred gelding that I want to take out on rides. I have not long ago asked someone to bring their horse for company as my horse was depressed. Now that they are really close to each other, (they do everything together,)I cant get my thoroughbred to go out of the field ,and the last time I tried he rodeod and I fell off. He wasnt nasty, just stood looking at me as if to say well I told you I didnt want to go. He didnt run away, just stood looking. Im now feeling that It is going to be a fiasco when I try again, and Im too old to get hurt. experienced, but Im no trained jockey. If you could help me rectify this I would be grateful, thankyou in advance.

Answer 1

Go at it like you are weaning a foal.  Separate the horses into two different pastures (far enough away so they can't see or hear each other) and leave them like that for about a month (or as long as you deem nessesary).  They should become less dependent on each other.  If yours absolutley needs company, you can get a goat or a llama to live with him instead.  

If this isn't an option, then get your horse on a lunge line.  Work him in fast circles near the other horse, changing directions often.  Work until he is ready to drop, then lead him away and let him rest (make sure the other horse doesn't follow you- get someone to hold him).  Repeat as many times as you have to.  Remind him every once in awhile, before you ride.

Answer 2

This problem is going to be difficult to resolve because these two horses have developed a very strong bond. Do you have stables that you can bring both horses in to? If you try to ride direct from the field, it is going to be near on impossible. You need to get both horses into stables and allow them to be on their own for a couple of hours before attempting to ride your horse. A menage will help, it would be safer to try to ride in there to start with rather than taking your horse straight out. Other things to try; take your horse out of the field and groom him and then put him back in  again. He has to learn that he can not always be with his friend at all times. A third horse in the field would also help, especially if your friends horse stresses when you take yours out. Lots of patience is going to be required here. Take your horse out of the field, put him in his stable and feed him, then return him to the field. Break up his routine. Little and often. It is not going to be easy. Be careful, horses that build a very strong bond with each other can act a little irrationally towards you.

Answer 3

Well, me recomendation would be to get a pasture pal to be a third horse in the pen. There are tons of older or needy horses out there needing a good home so you could probably get one for free. Many times with older or no longer riding sound horses their owners are even willing to free lease them out and help cover the costs for their needs.

One question...will the other horse leave the pasture alone?? If he will he's probably the 'leader' and you might be best served by working to get him away for small periods of time instead of the one your riding. Leave the pasture pal with your TB for company so he doesn't panic which can be very dangerous for him. A panic horse will go through fences ect and can severly injure itself.So don't just leave with the other horse.

Going at it like weaning a foal was a good suggestion -- although the method described IS NOT how to wean a foal ;-) That causes mental trauma to foal and mare.



Take him further and further away a little at a time. When the your horse (still in the pasture) gets to that "almost freaking" point, ie, scared but dealing with it,  but is still OK, stop him there, let him graze ect where your horse can see him. Do that every day, even a couple times a day, when he gets to the point that he doesn't mind the other horse being that distance go a little further and keep him out a little longer. Will take a while but eventually he'll settle down and just assume your bring in him back, which you are.

When your herd bound horse is comfortable with that horse leaving his site swap horses and start trying to take him out. Use the same method. Take him to where he gets nervous and then stop till he calms down, wait a while, let him graze, groom him, feed him his grain out there if you have to but make it into a good experience for him.

Sounds like you might also be dealing with some barn sour issues as well as being herd bound. Barn sour horses just don't want to leave their safety zone at the barn. Combined with herd bound that will panic it can get to be a tricky situation.

Also some horses just aren't secure enough to feel comfortable leaving there "safety zone" alone. Is there someone you can get to ride out of the pasture with you to see if he'lll leave with just another horse along as company? Even if it's not his herd mate it might help.

Answer 4

They have formed a pair bond which can be hard to break. Horses are herd animals so what your horse is doing is natural - he is not a "herd bound brat". I'm assuming her was by himself prior to the other horse arriving? In situations like this the first horse (in this case yours) desparately doesn't want to lose his friend. He needs to learn that his friend will always come back, or that he will always be returned to his friend in the field. This will take time. Lead him (in a bridle) with a lunge line, in case he gets away, and get your friend to do the same with the other horse to stop it chasing after you. Bring him just outside the field gate, so he can still see his friend. Stand him for a few minutes, then take him back into the field and turn him out, be sure to give him a pat or a treat to say well done. Do this a couple of times a day, gradually building up the time outside the field. Then gradually stand further away from the field, ensuring he can still see his friend. 5 metres at first, then 10m, and so on. This will take weeks, repeat each exercise a few times a day and always reward him with a pat for being good. If he starts to panic, take him back a step, but don't put him back in the field until he has settled. He needs to learn that you are in charge and he can't go back in the field just because he feels like it. Once your horse is comfortable leaving his friend in the field when he can see him, do this again where he can't. for example, stand for 10 minutes away the gate where your horse can see his friend, then stand for 2 minutes where he can't see him. Increase this until he will happily eat his feed out of sight of his friend. Then get on him and ride for 2 mins, 5 mins and so on. Build this up and gradually your horse will learn that leaving his friend is a positive experience and that they will always be reunited. As I said, this will take time but persevere and don't expect too much too soon. Be firm but patient with your horse. He is anxious and worried, not naughty. Do everything by degrees and you will end up with a confident horse who is secure in himself. You could just put his friend in a trailer and separate them straight like that, but trust me it will be worse in the long run. He is going to think that nothing is secure and all the things he takes for granted aren't to be trusted. This will leave him a nervous wreck. Animals have feelings too and do form friendships which cannot be torn apart. Think about how you'd feel if your best friend, who you lived with, just went one day and no one told you why or where. This is how your horse would feel. Do the best thing and climatise him to being without his buddy. I wish you the best of luck xx

ARRRRGH Denia is talking rubbish. Not only will you make your horse into a nervous wreck but by lunging him into the ground you'll damage his joints and tendons. Big thumbs up to the person who agreed with me though...nice to see that some people have sense!

Answer 5

i skimmed all the other answers. and i'm just going to say something that idk if its that different.

i had 2 horses that the mare i could take out and trail, but the gelding that was her buddy would run up and down and make him self a sweaty mess screaming.  i never really solved the problem other then to not take them out apart and when i did ride i'd just ride in their field and both were together...

but years later and thinking about it (b/c i'm going to hopefully get more horses in a few months/years). . . but something i'd suggest is that get a thrid horse(or use one of your friends horse). . . and roate the horses. the one that is terrified to be alone roate between the two other horses.  then after a few weeks try a for afew mins to see if the one you're having troubles with will be okay alone, if not then i'd just have the third horse stay around for a while. i really dont have any real good advice b/c i'm not a trainer and i dont know these two horses. but i suggest that you do get a trainer to help in person.

Answer 6

my friend and i are riding one of our neighbors horses, and they are like this. we take TJ.. the one we ride (the other is developing founder :(... anyways)

after we ride, just in the pasture with the other horse locked in the paddock (shared fence, not that big of deal)

we started walking him about 30 feet into the woods, so Gidget (other horse) can still see him, but bearly. she started going crazy, so we did the same thing about thirty times, until she got use to the fact.

you just repeat short distances, and come right back, then the other horse knows you will always come back, and you can work farther and farther until they dont care at all

hope this helps

Answer 7

Seriously?  Trailer the other horse out of there, give it 3 days, and then get an experienced rider to take the first turn on your herd bound brat and let them make him do it.  I don't want to see you get hurt either, and he'll role you, it's not worth it, get a cowboy up there to buck him out and make him stop this nonsense.

Answer 8

If you know you are going to have a problem...I would start my 'ride' by leading him out of the pasture on foot.  

I would take the time to NOT ride too.  Just working on the separation issues.  Getting your horse on halter and lead, and taking him away from his buddy.  Preferably out of sight for hour or more, until he calmed down.  No way would I let him return if he was throwing a fit.  If I felt I couldn't control the horse out of sight of the other horse...then I would separate as far as I could and make him spend some time with me away from the other horse.  I'd work on some simple ground manners, maybe groom and fiddle with him to get his attention on me...and not the other horse.

Once he was paying attention to me...his 'reward' is getting to go back to his buddy.  But I would insist on good ground manners heading back.  Not pulling in front of me mainly.  If they do that...they have to back up.  If they get real antsy...I will turn them around so they can't 'see' their buddy.  I know they can see behind them...but I won't make it easy to see them head on.  Again taking the time to fiddle with the horse until they calm down.

Aggravating to go back to basics when you KNOW you can ride this horse.  But I think working on some ground manners will help you.  I think there is a respect issue too.  He doesn't want to leave...so he doesn't want to mind you.

I have one that is very codependent on my mare.  But he knows when I put his halter on...he HAS to follow me.  Same with riding.  When the saddle goes on, even if he passes the mare in the field...he HAS to do what I ask.  I give him no room for another decision.  

This just took time...not aggression.  He doesn't have to be worked until he's tired, and I don't need or want to be seen as a threat to him.  I don't need or want a horse that behaves because he is afraid of me.  He figured out that I was the boss and would not release him until I was done.

To this day...he will still yell for his buddy...[that's annoying, but better than misbehaving, so I let that slide]...but he behaves on the ground.  And when he is released after a ride or work...he runs like a little sissy back to her.  That's fine with me...as long as he respects what I ask of him.

Answer 9

EXCELLENT advise from Midnight-as everyone else said horses are herd animals and never do well alone-never!!!!!

take it slow and easy with Midnights advise and you will get the job done. He is protecting himself by staying with the herd-ie the other horse. horses alone are prey=respect his instinct and work with it not against it. Animals working within their natural instinct are not brats-they are animals following natures laws for survival=and the very best horses are those whose owners understand those laws and use that instinct to bond and grow!!!! keep working at it and the benefits will be great