When a horse leaves from the herd

version1955 · 08-22-2008, 06:34 AM

My foster "child" Ziggy has been adopted and will be leaving the herd sometime. Is there something I need to do to prepare her best friend Penny whose staying with us?

Penny's on the right and the Zigits is on the left

pvf · 08-22-2008, 07:31 AM

I would get Penny a new friend to hang out with. That way when Ziggy leaves she won't be lonely cause she will already have a friend.

BklynCwgrl · 08-22-2008, 07:55 AM

What a cute picture! The new friend idea is a good one.

When one of our horses died, I felt like I had to "explain" it to my other horses. As if they could understand me...I wanted them to know we didn't just give the other guy away...it was so stupid! LOL

version1955 · 08-22-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvf

I would get Penny a new friend to hang out with. That way when Ziggy leaves she won't be lonely cause she will already have a friend.

Oh fine, big help *shakes head and wonders why on earth I asked*

Penny has two other buddies she's known longer, so don't worry that she'll be pining away... but will she? She and Zigmonster became friends right away. Ya know, I've desensitized them to temporary aloneness but is this just something I'll have to wait and see? That there really isn't anything to be done?

Hideaway · 08-22-2008, 08:22 AM

I second a friend. Maybe you could foster another one or get a small pony? I also give my guys something yummy when a horse is leaving. Either hay or a yummy mash to keep their mind off of it. You can also start practicing separating them by taking Ziggy and Penny on long walks away from each other to get them used to not seeing the other. It may make it easier.

version1955 · 08-22-2008, 08:36 AM

Thanks Hideaway ~ for the SECOND suggestion. We've done that all along as Penny is taken out for trail rides, with Buster and alone. Maybe I'll take Ziggy out for a walk, as long as I can keep her from walking off my feet!

EquineAlberta · 08-22-2008, 06:16 PM

Food. If the one left behind isn't over weight, then I would feed extra if the horse seems to be pining, work them a little more (but with additional patience) and also keep the yard a little active for a distraction.

It seems to me that for the most part my horses don't care when one leaves, but there are occasions when horses seem to develop special friends and I feel so guilty seperating them.

THis spring I had a mare come for training and she and Rio became tight friends. When Java left, Rio was visibly upset, so kept food in front of her at all times and spent the next couple days doing stuff in and around her pen when I had spare time. This seemed to distract Rio enough and by day 3 she was fine.

More recently I had a chestnut QH cross come for training and he became instant friends with another chestnut that came for training a couple weeks later. They had other pasture mates that they liked, but those two were always together when possible. WHen the first one left to go back home, the other one changed completely! He become herd sour, more hyper to ride and so on. It took him a week to relax and return to a semblance of his old self. He was too porky to feed extra, so I just tried to work him a little more with the understanding that he was a little distracted/silly so I didn't try to teach him much new.

Karen

Slim Pikkens · 08-22-2008, 07:40 PM

I have a horse that was too old to run the fence if his buddy got out of sight, even with pasture mates. I sold his buddy so about an hour was spent walking him out of site of the old horse, then back. Each time he was out of site for longer periods. At first there was a lot of calling but it got weaker and eventually quit. When the old horse settled to graze the buddy horse was loaded. There was no more calling. What is going on is creating stress on both horses then relieving it, over and over and over and even people have limited tolerance of this technique.

Crookedblaze · 08-22-2008, 07:44 PM

I second the food. When I sold my mare Ziggy, Rocket was heartbroken...they were best friends for 2 years. He was fixed with some extra food and attention, though.

Good luck, and congrats on finding a good home for your Ziggy

Gotta Love Duns · 08-22-2008, 08:10 PM

I know you have a friend for Penny and a couple of extra treats & lovies will help too. Good luck too you.

version1955 · 08-27-2008, 01:49 PM

Well, no worries, the adoption fell through

version1955 · 08-27-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slim Pikkens

I have a horse that was too old to run the fence if his buddy got out of sight, even with pasture mates. I sold his buddy so about an hour was spent walking him out of site of the old horse, then back. Each time he was out of site for longer periods. At first there was a lot of calling but it got weaker and eventually quit. When the old horse settled to graze the buddy horse was loaded. There was no more calling. What is going on is creating stress on both horses then relieving it, over and over and over and even people have limited tolerance of this technique.

When the time does come, I think I'll use your technique. Its true, when you get your emotions up and then down and then up and then down over and over, you can 'get over it'. Thanks, Slim

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My Three Horse Herd	Knightrider	Meet the Horses	11	04-14-2008 05:58 PM
DJ Leaves Tomorrow	dandeeqh	Meet the Horses	5	07-22-2007 07:45 PM

08-22-2008, 06:34 AM
version1955 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Minnesnowdah Posts: 6,630	When a horse leaves from the herd My foster "child" Ziggy has been adopted and will be leaving the herd sometime. Is there something I need to do to prepare her best friend Penny whose staying with us? Penny's on the right and the Zigits is on the left __________________ gonna do what I can instead of complain and fret about what I can't Joanie

08-22-2008, 07:31 AM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,446	I would get Penny a new friend to hang out with. That way when Ziggy leaves she won't be lonely cause she will already have a friend. __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

08-22-2008, 08:22 AM
Hideaway Coming two Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 1,950	I second a friend. Maybe you could foster another one or get a small pony? I also give my guys something yummy when a horse is leaving. Either hay or a yummy mash to keep their mind off of it. You can also start practicing separating them by taking Ziggy and Penny on long walks away from each other to get them used to not seeing the other. It may make it easier. __________________ Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

08-22-2008, 08:36 AM
version1955 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Minnesnowdah Posts: 6,630	Thanks Hideaway ~ for the SECOND suggestion. We've done that all along as Penny is taken out for trail rides, with Buster and alone. Maybe I'll take Ziggy out for a walk, as long as I can keep her from walking off my feet! __________________ gonna do what I can instead of complain and fret about what I can't Joanie

08-22-2008, 06:16 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	Food. If the one left behind isn't over weight, then I would feed extra if the horse seems to be pining, work them a little more (but with additional patience) and also keep the yard a little active for a distraction. It seems to me that for the most part my horses don't care when one leaves, but there are occasions when horses seem to develop special friends and I feel so guilty seperating them. THis spring I had a mare come for training and she and Rio became tight friends. When Java left, Rio was visibly upset, so kept food in front of her at all times and spent the next couple days doing stuff in and around her pen when I had spare time. This seemed to distract Rio enough and by day 3 she was fine. More recently I had a chestnut QH cross come for training and he became instant friends with another chestnut that came for training a couple weeks later. They had other pasture mates that they liked, but those two were always together when possible. WHen the first one left to go back home, the other one changed completely! He become herd sour, more hyper to ride and so on. It took him a week to relax and return to a semblance of his old self. He was too porky to feed extra, so I just tried to work him a little more with the understanding that he was a little distracted/silly so I didn't try to teach him much new. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-22-2008, 07:40 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	I have a horse that was too old to run the fence if his buddy got out of sight, even with pasture mates. I sold his buddy so about an hour was spent walking him out of site of the old horse, then back. Each time he was out of site for longer periods. At first there was a lot of calling but it got weaker and eventually quit. When the old horse settled to graze the buddy horse was loaded. There was no more calling. What is going on is creating stress on both horses then relieving it, over and over and over and even people have limited tolerance of this technique.

08-22-2008, 07:44 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	I second the food. When I sold my mare Ziggy, Rocket was heartbroken...they were best friends for 2 years. He was fixed with some extra food and attention, though. Good luck, and congrats on finding a good home for your Ziggy __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-22-2008, 08:10 PM
Gotta Love Duns Bombproof Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 7,945	I know you have a friend for Penny and a couple of extra treats & lovies will help too. Good luck too you. __________________ A penny saved is a penny you can spend on your next horse.

08-27-2008, 01:49 PM
version1955 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Minnesnowdah Posts: 6,630	Well, no worries, the adoption fell through __________________ gonna do what I can instead of complain and fret about what I can't Joanie