Seperation Anxiety

[NoviceNic]

I put out a thread on Mature Rider as Captain is bolting to his nearest friend when I go to local shows. Anyway, we had a lesson today and things really went well. My instructor and I have talked it through and we have come up with a plan of :-

Join Up
Parelli S
Solo grazing/hacking
More in hand work and try and get to local shows alone.

The lesson went well today until I went out for a warm down with his field companion. Unfortunately Captain bolted to Fagan on the road and slipped very dangerously to get around the corner and up the drive to the field as quick as he could. This scared the pants off me and I can't remember if I even tried to stop him or contemplated emergency dismount. I realise it is early days yet and will continue to work on the plan above but I just wondered if anyone had any more ideas??

[ponygal200]

I have no ideas sorry but is he alright actually hacking out alone or does he mess about and try and turn back to the stables?

[NoviceNic]

On a windy day he will try and turn around and go back to the stables. Last time he leapt into canter to get back 4 times. It took some time to stop him but once I did I managed to turn him around and go forth. :p

Then on calm days he is the perfect gent and doesn't put a foot wrong. :rolleyes:

[horsey1]

Sorry to hear about your troubles with Captain, NoviceNic.
Hope you get it sorted out :D

[nutkin]

I think that probably from what was discussed on your other thread the problem is that he knew he was going back to his field with his 'boss mare'. It may perhaps be safer to keep your warm down to the place where he was working and then maybe to get off and lead him back to his field for now.

[Jessey]

Hey it sounds like you are on the right track but how about a little something to help you on your way? :D

Maybe you could both try some Bach Rescue Remedy, its a flower remedy that helps to calm and relax and relieve anxiety. You can get it in Boots or any chemist for just a few pounds then both you and horse have a few drops before starting out, it should help him relax a bit and should also keep you relaxed so he is less likely to get tense and even if he does it should help you stay as calm as a cuecumber to deal with it :D

Best of luck

J x

[NoviceNic]

Jessey _ I have been reading your thread to try and see if there is anything I can learn from your experience as well. I feel they are similar and so helping me loads. Does this Rescue Remedy really work on horses??? I trieds Kalms once but it didn't really help me. How much should I give a 14 2hh heavyweight cob. I don't want him asleep at the first jump.

[FreedomStar]

I think you guys have the right approach already, although i'm not an expert. It seems as if Captain is viewing his buddy as his 'herd leader'. You need to change that so it's you. Join-up should help him to view you more as the 'herd leader' that he can trust. It's wonderful that he likes his friend so much, but if it gets to the point of being dangerous, as it seems to be here, it's not so wonderful. After a ride, don't take him immediately back to the pasture, but turn him out on his own, or take him for a walk. Change the routine every day so that he can't anticipate going home.

[NoviceNic]

Thank you everyone it is nice to know I am doing the right things. I hope all will be well. I realise it will take time. I don't want to lose my confidence while I am trying all this. I am lucky though I love him to bits and couldn't bear life with out him so I think my confidence will hold out on me this time.

[Naturally]

I'm glad to see you've come up with some good options for this problem. Herd boundness can be dangerous and Nutkin gave you some sound advice in walking back to your paddock.

The horse is just lacking confidence, which, depending on the severity, can take some time to assert yourself as someone he feels as OK with as his herd mates.

Without wanting to burst your bubble, I would suggest that it's not something that will be fixed in the early stages of PNH (or join up for that matter), unless you can be very effective in demonstrating your alpha position...not always easy for newcomers, which is why the PNH programme is staged in levels. But still, it's not impossible either.

The solo grazing is a great idea and will certainly help. Just remember advance and retreat. i.e. don't ask him to go cold turkey away from his mates.

When he is being herd bound, he is only using the right (reactive) side of his brain. If you learn the 7 games, what you can do is get off and start playing some of the left brain (thinking) games, such as sideways and back up, until he's forgotten what the problem was and remembers he's got comfort with you too. It truly works wonders to get them focussed on you again. Once it becomes less of an issue you can address it from his back.

Good luck, it sucks i know, I've been there tooooooo!

[Jessey]

Sorry been off for a few days, I think its about double what you give to a human so about 6 drops on a treat, I must double check that with Flower Girl though. Acctually you would be very supprised how much those Kalms probably helped you and rescue remedy the same, I find I still get anxious but I find I recover from it much quicker when I have had RR or kalms and after it seems much less of a big deal compared to if the same thing happened when I haven't had it, as in I can laugh about it after rather than cry :D

Its worth a go there are no side effects to worry about so it really can't hurt :D

The other thing to do is try to find something that you can do that your boy loves, when I'm leading my 2 year old around she can get very jumpy and pushey but I find just scratching her withers gets her focus back on me and she settles again but she will do anything for a scratch :D I'm hoping that this will be the same when I start riding her too, Bo is just not that simple hense why we are trying the rescue remedy with him.

I think wind upsets all horses, certainly it does for all of mine, so to be honest if its really windy I just lunge or something instead :D

[NoviceNic]

Funny you say that Jessey. Captain does respond to a good rub on his withers. I have found it calms him down when we go out alone. I have never known a horse to be soo sensitive. I can scratch him anywhere and he is all mine and only moves when he wants another area sratched. :p

I have put an update on Mature Rider if anyone wishes to know how we are progressing. Thanks to all I really feel I can rely on good support and advise on this site.