You had a dream of having your horses at home and riding off into the sunset. There is only one problem. Your trusty steed becomes a screaming nervous wreck when you try to lead her away from the other horses. You feel like you don’t really have control over her and you’re losing her trust.
This is not a dream. It’s a nightmare!
First, it is important to understand what is causing this behavior. Horses are herd animals. For them, they are vulnerable when separated from the herd. Vulnerable as if to possibly become dinner for some predator they just know is waiting to pounce!
If you’ve ever been lost, or lost sight of your child, in an unknown place where you don’t know anyone, you’ve probably been left alone, scared and vulnerable. Maybe even a little panic.
This is how your horse feels when separated from his herd. It’s called Separation Anxiety.
You can help your horse become comfortable being socially isolated from other horses by using a systematic approach that gradually expands your horse’s comfort zone while reinforcing the positive association with being alone without causing him to panic.
Behaviors that are reinforced are strengthened.
If your horse feels anxious every time he leaves his herd, then that is the behavior that is being reinforced. Leaving your herd is always a negative and stressful experience.
Here are my 4 steps to help your Sour Horse friend stay calm around you.
Step 1 – Find out how far your horse can be from your friends while remaining calm and comfortable. You have identified their comfort zone. That may be right on the other side of the paddock fence. So be it. That’s where you start.
Step 2 – Walk a few meters away from your comfort zone paying special attention to see when your anxiety begins. At the first sign of tension, take her back to her comfort zone until she calms down.
Step 3 – Do things that she likes while you work with her. Things that feel good like grooming, scratching her favorite spots, giving her a special treat like carrots or apples. Try to feed him the morning and evening grain away from the other horses, just outside that comfort zone. If she doesn’t want to eat, you’ve gone too far out of her comfort zone, she takes her back. If she’s a little stressed, but she wants to eat, you’re in the right place.
Step 4 – When your horse is calm on the other side of the paddock fence, walk him around the perimeter of the paddock. But, only if it’s a safe area with no potential dangers to you or her. Walk with her up her driveway, if it’s not too far from the meadow.
Remember that your purpose is to provide him with good experiences while he is with you and away from his friends. So take it easy and gradually enlarge the area you take it.
Consistency and regular repetition affect the time it takes to effect positive change. So work with your horse as often as you can. Keep sessions short: a few minutes repeated a couple of times a day or 3 times a week is much more beneficial than an hour once a week.
Remember that your horse is suffering from genuine stress and anxiety. She doesn’t enjoy or want to feel this way more than you do.
When you understand your horse’s perspective and can help him have good experiences around you by using this systematic training method, he will feel more comfortable and safe in your presence. And in the end, you and her will have a much stronger bond.
