Good Job: yep, agree 100 percent, this guy gets it - If you don't create this problem you don't have to fix it. Don't keep a horse alone and give them a buddy and you don't have these issues, then you get the selfish horse lovers that use the excuse if I let my horse with other horses, he gets buddy sour, he does not come to me, so he does not love - you can't fix stupid - Horses are NOT buddy sour, they are Herd Animals that find comfort and safety with groups. There are none so blind as those the do not want to see.
i have a pony with seperation anxiety but not with me with other horses its actually quite dangerous now he panics when he is being brought in by himself he just loves his girls, he galloped back to the gate so much once in a horse agility comp so that mum had to bring her mare behind us around the course, he is much better at railer loading when theres another horse there aswell. we have 3 horses in the field, this horse a gelding and 2 mares. my other gelding is in a field next to them with sheep because he got bullied so much cuts all other his back he just wouldn't survie mostly by the other gelding. what can i do??
Maisie Rhodes Teach them how to cope with these feelings. I find that going through the process from the beginning gets rid of this type of behaviour. You can find the Process on my website.
Think Like A Horse My Horse doesn't really like other horses just food, But he doesn't like being alone on trails but I'm not sure if it's because of that or because when ever I ride him out the Mare there keeps neighing and neighing for him to come back she freaks out when he's gone so he'll turn around to go back to her I don't know why cause he has a buck wound(was bleeding) cause she kicked him and it's still a little swollen...
The sad truth. So many people think something is cute or love and it is an anxious behavior. Education is needed - thank you for shining a light on this.
I think seperation anxiety is bad, but having a good bond with a horse is not. My horse doesn't act like that but knows me and likes me, I think its hard to tell sometimes which is which but you make a really good point.
Yeah, my mare never came to the fence, but when I got down to her, she followed without problems. (After a ride, I climb off about 100m from home and we walk together back, so both of us can stretch out) Once she passed me and trotted off, I had my heart racing and thought oh my God, now she will run back to the stable and everyone will think I have fallen off and can't ride or control my horse.. But I stayed calm and just around the turn, she was waiting for me to join up. She could see the stable and her friend and it was close to feeding time, but she chose to wait for me.
Yeah my two horses have always been good but peanut my gelding is bonding with me really well! At first he would walk away from me especially if I had a halter. I knew he was like that because he was a lesson horse before and most of the time people use them as tools. So at first I taught him walking away from me when I wasn’t done was disrespectful and than I taught him that halter meant grazing or rubs and walks in the forest which he likes! And today instead of leaving he walked to me and stood there and joined up several times! I had no treats and at most time the halter wasn’t even on! The other day we let them in this big field full of long grass for a while and he came up to me without me asking just for rubs! I don’t want separation anxiety but I do want a good relationship we’re he picks me over his other horse friend or food and we are getting there! Since he is buddy sour so I want him to learn it’s okay to be away from his friend for a little!
@@Clingan5 This is harder than I thought it would be. As near as I can figure so far, if a horse doesn't do what you want it to do it's because you don't love your horse enough and are not in tune with the horse's spiritual universe. It's pretty complicated.
My daughters horse has separation issues. When she starts being anxious about walking away from her mate I walk her in different directions and move her feet so that she focuses on me. Same technique you show for leading a horse. She calms down and has a lot less worry. I wish I knew how to do that 20 years ago. Also as soon as I unload my horse from the float I walk them around so they follow and focus on me, they are then less concerned about being in a new place. Thank you so much it has changed the way I handle the horse and we are a lot better for it.
A horse that I recently met and started to train, always greets me with a soft neigh or gentle snickering. She loves food, but she tends to raise her head from the hay and nicker when she spots me from a distance. She doesn't do that to other humans, for some reason. I am not the one feeding her either, so it could not be that. Anyway, she doesn't rush to the gate immediately but will walk to me, if I enter the pasture. I would not change that, for I love the feeling of seeing her relaxed like that and that seeing me does not cause any exaggerated feelings in her. She is happy and confident, without being over the top like this horse in the video.
I kind of think of it as my horses see me as sort of an extended herd member. I don't feed them most of the time (I board them) so I'm not the food lady. But when I walk into the pasture, they'll always walk over to me to greet me. If I have a halter, that's when I put it on. If I don't and I'm just saying hi, they come over, let me rub on them a bit, see if I want them to follow, then go back to eating (or whatever they were doing before I came in) if I don't. It's impossible to know if horses are capable of love like humans think of it. But they are capable of affection, respect, and trust. If your horse shows that towards you, at least you know you're doing something right!
Exactly...horses are horses first. A good grasp on how horses behave is how you work with horses, with all animals. Separation anxiety is because they are a herd animal, not because they 'love' a person. Mutual trust and respect come over time and they are the hallmarks of a good relationship with any member of another species.
Horses are herd animals, they need other horses for company whether they share a paddock with other horses, or they have other horses close by if they are in their own paddock. I had some separation anxiety issues with my mare when she was young, over me not other horses. She always had the company of other horses, so I simply let her basically get over it. Which she did very quickly. She's always glad to see me when I turn up,pays attention to me when I have her out of her paddock, but perfectly happy now when I leave. As long as you don't encourage or facilitate the unwanted behaviour, the behaviour will stop. Love your horses, but don't baby them. They need independence and confidence to be happy and balanced.
Great vid! I'd like to see Warwick expand a bit more on why separation anxiety is bad for the horse (eg. they lack confidence on their own, actually feel unhappy rather than happily 'in love' with their human, may have increased injuries due to panic etc) and bad for owners as horses are distracted with worry, cost more with injuries, can't be relied on in certain situations etc. Also it's a totally resolvable issue! :-) Love Warwick's vids!
I know a man whose horse would get so happy when he would see him and talk to his horse telling him little "goo..goo..gaa..gaa.." words and give kisses. Whether in or out of the field. He would come running to greet him. I feel it depends on the situation and how the owner or owners have interacted with the horse.
Warwick you always set me straight. I think one thing and then I watch one of your videos and I’m like wait a min, he makes sense and I’m wrong. My husband can never see this comment. 🤫 😂
Well if that's the case I'm glad the horse is with you. You work your magic resulting in soothing his anxiety. Can't be a good thing such anxiety. What a strong beautiful animal.
An excellent and throught-provoking video. The "around the corner" test is a good way to distinguish between "my horse loves me" and separation anxiety. I'm glad Mr. Schiller didn't give us the "answer" for how to fix it. It's much better to think about the idea and then go see your horse and ponder. Two other points: you may get the "follow along the fence" behavior if you hand-feed your horse treats. And I've rarely seen this kind of behavior in horses that are kept in a paddock with other horses. I'm not for or against either of these two things, just sayin' they are additional things to think about.
i have the companie of a horse.he belongs to a friend who does not use him anymore.he lives on a mountainside by himself with some sheep. when i can i go and visit and we go for walks and play some games. i am very grateful..as i like to learn.althoug i would like to see him with other horses i am not in a position to change the situation as yet.the one that had to realy get over the separation anxiety was me.took me ages to relax and trust he was ok.after i left.typical isnt it.taking myself way too serious:)thanks for the videos.
SEEMS NO MATTER HOW MANY HORSE PEOPLE I MEET, EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION ON PRACTICALLY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HORSES. FROM WHAT KIND OF BIT TO USE TO HOW TO TRAIN YOUR HORSE. Its just funny to me. Some say of you walk into an arena and your horse comes up to you, he loves you or at least is curious about you and wants to be with you. Others say he is invading your personal space. I think horses are about as individual as people are. After a horse learns basics, its all about the horses personality and the bond between you and that horse.
I think you’re right. And if one doesn’t naturally click with one’s horse then it’s very challenging, and can be very gratifying when progress is made.
YES, I have NEVER flattered myself about my horse "loving" me when I leave and he starts pacing, running around and whinnying. To me, it's immature behavior and not particularly flattering. Another type of frantic behavior is looking for treats, which led me to drastically reducing the frequency of treats.
Dancing Mischief, my daughter's almost 7 yr old mare we've had over 5 years and I TRAINED, meets us at the gate between 4-7pm every day, even when we don't get to stop. It's TREEEAAAT time, petting time, messing with her ears and hooves and tail etc. The rest of the time(she's in a 40 acre pasture/woods/creek/ALABAMA FARM enclosure) I get to yell, " KE KE KE! MISS CHIEF! SHOW YOUR BLAZE!!" and even tho I often have to go get her, I know her favorite areas and she's ALWAYS looking in my direction, even if I come from a different direction. She was a yard pet almost always for around 3 years, and the first 9 months she was ALWAYS in the yard. Which is why I yell what I do-the KE KE KE is to get ALL my animals attention. Then I yell which animal. Since she was in the yard, and she's a lovely bay, I taught her to "show your blaze" to turn her face towards me in the house so I'd know she was there. She was stolen once, and this was how I discovered it early enough that she was home within 12 hours. She's a full quarter horse, NU CHEX TO CASH Granddaughter, 16 HANDS!!!(I'm 5'1"; good thing I ride bareback mostly), can spin on a dime, lovely gaits(not fun getting them there lol; trot trot terror trot engage your ankles witch; THERE'S A SPEED BETWEEN TROT AND RUN FOR THE ROSES you crazy equine hello it's called a Canter technically the people around here call it a Lope!!!!!) She misses us badly now the other horses are gone, so she pouts at me regularly. Thank goodness there's not a mean bone in her since she's VERY smart. I chose her myself, trained her myself, and she knows I mean business. My daughter is her human and she takes care of her human. Me-she loves me, but hates to admit it. She'd have followed me right out that gate, and wandered about grazing and pretending to ignore me, but I do NOTHING she doesn't notice. I can use any tack, or nothing more than a halter with the lead on one side of her neck, Lakota style. BUT YOU DA MAN AND I LOVE LISTENING AND WATCHING YOU!!!
El caballo es una animal magico ... disfruta nuestra compañia y detesta estar SOLO.A mi edad de 11añitos recuerdo el caballo que habia en casa de mamma vieja , no me dejaban ni acercarme al caballo; en ese verano la gente de campo duerme una siesta .yo ni con un palo me hacian dormir siempre tenia travesuras por hacer y una de ellas involucro al tostado y a este servidor , Bien :Estaba solo y se aburria de estar solo en el potrero . De cuando en cuando pegaba unos resoplidos y salia retozando y tirando s pedos y volvia apegarse al porton mientras se entretenia jugando con su badajo , y me miraba y relinchaba bajito y se miraba el lomo. Era la clara invitacion a la travesura , escale por las tablas del porton y me le sente encima!!! Que emocion!! Agarre un buen penacho de crin y esperando el corcovo, ya que sus orejas estaban chatas y quieto como una estatua de sal y para ponerle punto a la cosa espere que respirara e inchara bien de aire la panza . Mis talones descalzos eran como dos agujas y me afirme en un buen talonazo Pego un ronquido y un pedo y salio retozando conmigo encima derecho a al cerco de tunas Caballlo!! Para! ¡Nos espinamos todos y en una manta de trebol me eyecte; rode por el suelo y el dio la vuelta y me sono la nariz en la cara y se echo a mi lado ,cosa que aproveche para saltarle de nuevo encima Entonces si dimos la vuelta a todo dar al potrero adornado con patadas y mas pedos. Llego al porton y paro jadeante; la panza se hinchaba y desinchaba con el jadeo, me sudaban las manos y las piernas desnudas mezcladas con el sudor del caballo. me latia el corazon como para salirseme del pecho radiante de alegria De nuevo esa tarde dimos varias vueltas al potrero una mas rapida que la otra asi disfrutamos las siestas de todo un verano..
Horses can love. They can get attached. My mare does not have separation anxiety. She won't meet me at the gate however she spots my truck and meets me with a soft expression. She'll use her upper lip to nuzzle me a lil then she'll be an angel to ride. She won't do this to anyone else. Know why? She loves me. She knows I'm mom and won't hurt her. its a completely different story when the horse has been hurt or neglected Just as my mare has
Not to mention your horse right there is over excited. My mare isn't. I'm just proving all of your points wrong. You really quite truly do not know all the horses out there. They say dogs don't love. Why do dogs get so excited after 2 years when their soldier/father comes home? Its because they KNOW them and they LOVE them
Spencer House Horses aren't looking for a friend. They are looking for a leader. Your mare see's you as a leader. And do not compare a dog to a horse. Different animals have different dispositions, levels of intelligence, ways of processing, and way's of reacting. Also, remember dogs were bred for thousands of years to be 'mans best friend'. If they weren't, you would basically have a wolf. And at that point, no, it wouldn't love you. I am NOT saying a horse cannot love. I am simply saying they respect you as a leader first. Lara is correct.
He doesn't say a horse CAN'T love you. He says following you along the fence and to the gate like that, does not means the horse loves you. Many people make that mistakes. Tacking up the horse for a little girl. Horse is all exited. Lead him out of the box, when he is about halfway out I hand over the reins to the little girl. The horse just stops. He thought he was going for a ride with me, now he realize it's this little girl he is going with and he does not want to. I give him a discrete que to follow her, so she won't be upset or have problems. But that action there was not hard to understand. Also sometimes greets me with a soft whinny when I come. When he is out in pastures I still have to and fetch him tough. It's all the little things a horse does and how he acts around you and also under you that you can tell if a horse loves you or not. Clinging to you as a baby is not one of them.
Horses with separation anxiety have no leader, so they're constantly worried about things. You need to be that leader to your horse and show them that there's nothing to be worried about. For example, If your horse is just walking around on the end of the lead rope like that horse was, and you're just following them and letting them do whatever then nobody is the leader, if that makes sense. I would definitely advise to watch more of Warwick's videos he explains it better than me. :P
EARTH ANGEL 😇 I just feel that when she gets up close to you she just feels comfortable and confident with you and she 's THEN ok with that and is inquisitive !🤔🐴😳
I have not ridden for 14years and i am a 68 yr old woman. I was given a horse at a riding scool near me in France. It was a 15yr old arab. the first time it was all over the place but didn't blow; as other horses were around - but yesterday he exploded about three times - i asked the 'teacher' what was the problem and she said 'he feels afraid on his own in the school'!! I was not warned about this before hand. Added to that - horses were being fed in the stalls around one side of the arena and people were mucking out every time the horse bolted it was where the activity was - or near the gate. The trouble is that when i turn up at a riding school (with my worn boots on) they get 'the baddy out'! Everyone be warned. My French is not perfect either, so it's difficult to tell them what i think - but they have lost a customer.
This is true but not all the time. My mare actually does love me! When I go to catch her up and take her out she doesn't pull away. She stands there patiently!
Normally the only way they got excited about you is when you give treats to them. Other times they just tolerate patiently everything which is done to them without any visible emotions (just relaxed). The separation anxiety makes them exited about you too, because you are the only way to calm them down, but the panic returns every time the horse is left alone. So, have a buddy for your horse, if you're not planning to stay with your horse 24/7. :)
My justice meets me at the stall or gate but it's mostly for food. We do play games, like chase alot and she loves it. But she never gets upset when I leave to continue my farm chores.
My horses couldn't care less about the horses left behind in the pasture when I take one out riding; it's the ones who get left behind that have a fit! The one I take out for a ride doesn't even look back at the others lol
I've seen this before myself. Dogs will do the same thing. My cat has done something similar. She loves me, but there are days where she could care less. If they love you, they listen to everything you "say."
To me it looks less like separation anxiety and more like "HEY! There's someone there who can open the gate for me and let me out of this boring paddock where I don't have anyone to hang out with! Hey guy, hey, guy, HEY DON'T WALK AWAY LET ME OUT OF HERE!" And just like the cat or dog that is your "best friend" before feeding or when they want you to open the door, DUH OF COURSE she is not as interested in him as soon as she gets what she wants: OUT of the boring paddock. I see this more as a bored / lonely horse than a horse with "separation anxiety". But hey, I'm no horse expert; I've just known a heck of a lot of animals in my time.
Morro Schreiber I have had horses for years and I think you are exactly right. Get me outta here so I can go find my (horse) friends. Horses love horses way more than they love people. There are probably some exceptions, but they are rare.
Horses don't kiss or cuddle you're putting human actions and emotions on your horse. Your horse simply tolerates you in their space while getting some things they like, like food and a good scratch.
I wouldn't like to see the anxious behavior if I left my horse- but horses are not meant to be left alone (survival instincts kick in) and this is probably why she's anxious. If another horse was with her, and you left, what would her behavior be? I am wondering, when you put her halter/lead line on, and she "ignoring you" is she only "ignoring you" because now, she looks to you as the decision maker- and she's waiting for you to make all the decisions,now allowing her to look around?
The horse I used to own, didn't have this problem. The horse I train now, has but only as far as I can tell with one horse. After he got separated from her he only has it if he gets to say hi to her. I love the change, unfortunately they will be put back together once the cold hits. Which i really dread. However, I remember having a discussion with my old horse, about who had to go through the mud xD. She did come after a bit though, and some encouragement xD, nothing like this. I don't know I learned to keep their brain busy eventually it becomes easier.
I understand that one of my horses may have social anxiety, but does that mean I should do something different? She is a very new addition and a baby, so I imagine it makes sense that she would feel this way. She is out 24/7 with 3 geldings. I stayed with her for days until she established herself within the herd a little more. She demonstrated very similar behaviours to this horse. I have done little horsemanship, but she will follow me when she is out of the field and when I wonder in the field. Is there anything I need to do, change, look out for? Or do I accept my horse may remain like this? : ) Appreciate anyone's feedback
My horse nickers and runs up to the gate when he sees me, but he's still very good when I catch and lead him, he still focuses on me. Maybe he sees me as a leader? But I do believe horses can love us :)
I had a mare ,that Richard Shrake had said quote, “ In all my life of judging horses & working with horses & their owners, I had never seen a horse who loves their owner as much as this mare loves you. What’s your secret?” My reply was “ when you start paying me $1500 a day to learn under me I will tell you, but I am the student you are the teacher.”
Hello, I don't know if you will even read this post because it been 7-years since you posted this Video. I don't know anything about horses, all I know is that I absolutely LOVE them. But I think what she wanted to do was get out the place where you had her, so I don't know if it was separation anxiety like you said I just think that she wants out of there so she can eat grass and just run and be free. It seems that she is the only horse you have, so there's NO contact with other horses, that how I see this !!! One more thing I see is she's LONELY !!!
So my horse comes up to me in the paddock and when I put her back she stands by the gate for about ten minutes and opens her mouth in a really weird way. She doesn't actually make sounds though but when I walk away she starts running down the fence line after me. I'm guessing that's separation anxiety?
Mine did that for each other when they first arrived and definitely didn't think I existed. Would go berzerk out of sight of each other. I wasn't on their radar. I did see them having each other as their security and safety, as a herd of two when arrived. Mine were raised in herds of horses. -- Would this warmblood behave this way towards you being focus, if another horse was around? Or are humans as her "herd" by how she was raised? She needs a human for security vs another horse? More please.
my boy comes over and neighs at me, but when i leave the paddock with him he follows me he might want to nibble at some grass but as soon as i walk off he comes with me
The horse doesn't give a shit about you, she wants to be by other horses. When she sees you, she thinks: "Oh! He's gonna bring me in!" So she follows him, wanting him to bring her where the rest of the horses are. Horses don't get love and comfort from you, they get it from the herd. Notice as he halters her and brings her back out, she couldn't care less about his presence. She is clearly waiting for him to bring some place, other than somewhere by herself.
What about the horse that put his head on his owner's casket? The horse was upset about the the death of the man that cared for him. It definitely felt something. Horses let us be part of their herd.
That's what I was thinking too. Similar questions. Wondering how this Warmblood was raised too. Perhaps behavior may be same even with other horses around. Wondering if horse was raised away from a herd, so looks to humans for security vs even other horses perhaps. Mine were raised with other horses in herds through 5 years old. They looked to each other for security when first arrived with me not being part of their equation. Took awhile to change their view of world at new place here.
This is an outstanding demonstration, but it's more complex when the horse is not in the artificial environment in which they're alone in a paddock. Please replicate with a horse that has a herd with which it interacts day to day.
It really doesnt have a lot to do with the herd, it has to do with poor handling by humans. This problem went away with handling the horse differently, even though it was still in the artificial environment.
It looked somewhat like that horse was looking to get out of the fence and go home. Just similar to a dog at a kennel, except it's obviously not the exact same thing.
My girl has only come to the gate 1 time in 3 years - IF she's out in the pasture with the herd. She'll finish the last 10-15 feet, but that's it. However, if she's penned up in a small enclosure - she will watch me like a hawk and come right to me (although she doesn't leave her food until I'm in the gate). I'm not sure its anxiety - I think its just boredom. After I work her awhile, she's as content as can be just eat her hay. Barely acknowledges me as I walk back and forth doing my thing (unless she thinks I'm giving food to the other horses). I do think she loves me, but its much different than a dog or cat, and that's how I want it (as low energy as can be). She had bad ground manners at first and has licked me, taken stuff out of my hair, and has tried to eat my clothes. It creeps me out. Her NOT doing that stuff now seems to be more loving and respectful. Right now she's penned up with a horse that bothers me with her "energy". Its not right. The horse gets anxious the minute she realizes a human is going into the pen. Her owner believes that every horse on the property is mean to her horse. But its the anxiety her horse demonstrates at the sight of people - it freaks all the other horses out. I had her behaving very well for awhile, until her owner was on the property and decided that she needed to keep her horse "away" from mine while I un-haltered her. If I had had a riding crop in hand, I probably would have used it on both of them.
I think that is a good point but I also think that when she is in the pasture she can't get to you and she's locked up but when you get her out she's just exited and she wants to run and see everything. Who agrees with me.
She's not an excitable puppy who 'misses her mummy', so no, I disagree. Separation anxiety stems from the need for a leader. Such as in a herd or with a handler. Here she's acting as if he's her mother, no bothering to pay attention once she's with him and generally being disrespectful, ie, entering his 'space' and not paying attention to him. He's right, and horses aren't people, so you gotta 'think like a horse' when interacting with them. Replace 'love' with respect for now. Respect comes first, love comes later.
My pony did this when we got her and even jumped out of her paddock but was fine when we got her a companion but she has no bother being ridden away from him
Yes, I do believe that you have to be the leader for your horse. Get it's respect and trust is most important as with leadership. I know my horse loves me to death, but I also knew that she use to walk all over me. I had never had a horse and didn't know anything about horse behavior. I got this mare when she was a colt, only 1.5 year old. I went to see her, drove 3.5 hours, got there a woman with a bucket full of treats shakes the buckets as she always does, all the horses went to her accept for this colt, she came straight up to me. I pet her on her face for almost a minute she stood there letting me pet her. She was so small, I was expecting to see a full grown horse, after a few days I decided that I had to have her. I just let her be a kid, and yes bossing me around until she was 3.5 years old until I had her trained for 2 months. I now understand horses a little more than before. After her 2 months of training I now had to work on trying to be a leader for her, but it was hard for me. However, I made it, but I have to say that yes, she looks for me every day. She follows me around, if I disappear, she's coming to find me, but only now, I am her leader and not her mommy or best friend. Every time she see's me she calls for me, and no, I don't have carrots in my hands. She will stand by the fence and let me rub her face for several minutes. We can stand there together and lean on her just because she likes having me close. She comes up to me to let me catch her with no problems, I remove her halter, I do not tie her down, I stand there brushing her all over. She loves to be brushed, I can stand there for a good 30 minutes or more just brushing her, she won't move. I don't brush her mane, just her body, I have to end the brushing cause she'll just stand there for the longest time just having me brush her. She is a very friendly horse with other people, she loves, loves, loves attention, but if she see's me, she will leave that person and run to me. I can honestly say, that Kenya is attached to me.
There is a sequel to this video of this mare further along. Warwick doesn't "fix" individual issues he retrains the horse as if it had never been touched. Generally the get little details correct before moving on seems to work. There's no point saddling a horse for the first time and trying to ride it before it can listen to the halter. Check out his website or other TH-cam videos. Horses don't have a quick fix button so many riders search for on here. It's all about the foundations. Hope that helped.
My son goes to RDA and in the summer we were randomly invited to carriage driving at someone's farm. I was absent-mindedly stroking the horse as it was tacked up and suddenly the owner asked if I had fed the horse some titbit. I said 'no' and she said the horse really likes you, I asked how she could tell, she said the horse is really relaxed with you. The horse keeps it's head low and half closes its eyes and will repeat this as soon as I approach from a distance of about 15 foot. I have never fed the horse and it only sees me with an interval of weeks in between, when it is harnessed to the carriage and I am watching from my car, it will also start to walk towards the car. It is apparently a Welsh horse and I'm told that they have a reputation for being quite spirited, but I have to admit I'm quite smitten.
She is a beautiful horse. An Arabian? She looks like a female version of my gelding (in his prime). So, what can be done for horse's with separation anxiety? It looks like you have to have at least 2 horses? I had 2 horses - husband and wife. The wife passed away, but the husband never appeared to have separation anxiety in the years that he lived after she died.
sometimes my own horse comes to me. sometimes he does not. the buddy he has in the paddock (who is the dominant one) always comes first and then my horse 2nd. even so i know my horse loves me anyway/
My horses are pretty good, I spend so much time with them. I love being with them. I really believe they love me I don't need a halter or lead rope to saddle or do feet. Have horses love them there from God.
This is very true. However, is this not a managment issue, not behavioural? Horses are herd animals, individual, isolated turnout like this would not help help reduce anxiety. My horse is turned out with all 15 mares and geldings on the yard all year round. When she was turned out in isolated, small groups she was stressed and showed behaviour like that mare. Does this mare still do this when turned out in company? Something to think about. Love your videos Warick, keep them coming
My mare will run up and nicker and everything, but thats only when I call her which I've done as a cue for its time to work and interact. She doesn't pace at the fence or freak out when I leave though. She's just happy to go yeah ok now I can go graze, and then when i call "Ohh work time" or "Play time" whatever I'm doing with her. Whether its just some ground work with the ball and having her stay respectfully by my side without being jerked around or riding. Is this a positive thing? She will come up and nicker and ask for pats, but she isn't freaked about me leaving, I can go in without calling her to clean the paddock and she doesn't give a damn. She also remains responsive to me. Will walk beside me on a loose leadrope while the stallions are calling out and prancing.
My horse is behaving strangely. He is calm under the saddle and on lunge line, but poorly controlled under the saddle and very distracted by objects around the arena. When I started working with him on joining, she started running around like crazy, kicking and couldn't calm down for a long time. is this separation anxiety?
My advice is have someone on the ground working with them while you ride or vice versa. To work on them being less anxious under saddle and to slowly wean them off the ground persons commands onto yours. It's not separation anxiety but it is anxious behaviour. As they're lacking direction, calmness and a leader. Commands from the ground may be different from commands under saddle from view point.
I have 5 horses and they all do that my herd includes 2 mares 2 geldings (both senior one blind) and a stallion. Live in a mixed herd. They all act like this mare. Its it still separation anxiety?
My horses are relatively cool, they'll follow you around like dogs when you're with them, but if you leave them, they're like 'Eh, whatever.' and walk off to do their own thing. My only problem child is Tulip, who begins to bang the gate with her hoof because she believes she should be given food and treats any time she comes to the gate. XD She's a spoiled brat. (No I don't reward this behavior, but she also does it during feeding times, so I don't really know how to correct it either.)
my horse is exactly the same as that horse but only with other horses not humans if i leave him in stable over night he will end up in a state sweating an tha neighing constantly aswell !! so in the morning i went to give him his breakfast an he was more interested in charging at the stable door so i brought him out tyed him up he was not having an of it he was pawing at the ground an rearing up only had him 6 months
my horse follows me like she did at the start I put his halter on him I open the gate and he backs up with the gate like I showed him then we walk threw and he turns around and faces the gate with me then we back up and close it then I put the lead rope over his back and he follows me where ever I go around the farm and stops when I stop and all that is that anxiety or just good training? cuz now im worried ):
Horses kind of "lock on" to you. You can create a draw when you move away so your horse may follow you. No one can really say (Because we ain't there). I wouldn't look for the answer online, but in your horse. If there is stress in your horse when you leave or when he/she can't see you, then it probably is anxiety but if your horse follows you and he's calm then there really isn't anything to worry about. The reason why he does that is NOT training. That is normal herd behavior and they learn it when they are young (Like most animals- not excluding humans). They learn it from other horses which is why keeping them in stalls are not really that good as they are made off to be. I recommend watching Think Like A Horse (Actually, the guy commented on this video). The guy explains horse psychology and herd behavior even though he's extremely blunt about it. His method of teaching separates those who are too high on their horse to learn it a different way and those who are willing to learn to do things different just to be better.
Good Job: yep, agree 100 percent, this guy gets it - If you don't create this problem you don't have to fix it. Don't keep a horse alone and give them a buddy and you don't have these issues, then you get the selfish horse lovers that use the excuse if I let my horse with other horses, he gets buddy sour, he does not come to me, so he does not love - you can't fix stupid - Horses are NOT buddy sour, they are Herd Animals that find comfort and safety with groups.
There are none so blind as those the do not want to see.
i have a pony with seperation anxiety but not with me with other horses its actually quite dangerous now he panics when he is being brought in by himself he just loves his girls, he galloped back to the gate so much once in a horse agility comp so that mum had to bring her mare behind us around the course, he is much better at railer loading when theres another horse there aswell. we have 3 horses in the field, this horse a gelding and 2 mares. my other gelding is in a field next to them with sheep because he got bullied so much cuts all other his back he just wouldn't survie mostly by the other gelding. what can i do??
Maisie Rhodes Teach them how to cope with these feelings. I find that going through the process from the beginning gets rid of this type of behaviour. You can find the Process on my website.
Think Like A Horse My Horse doesn't really like other horses just food, But he doesn't like being alone on trails but I'm not sure if it's because of that or because when ever I ride him out the Mare there keeps neighing and neighing for him to come back she freaks out when he's gone so he'll turn around to go back to her I don't know why cause he has a buck wound(was bleeding) cause she kicked him and it's still a little swollen...
Think Like A Horse ha ha ha ha girlfriend issues first they push you away then they want you back
Lori Neid I KNOW RIGHT!
The sad truth. So many people think something is cute or love and it is an anxious behavior.
Education is needed - thank you for shining a light on this.
I think seperation anxiety is bad, but having a good bond with a horse is not. My horse doesn't act like that but knows me and likes me, I think its hard to tell sometimes which is which but you make a really good point.
Yeah, my mare never came to the fence, but when I got down to her, she followed without problems.
(After a ride, I climb off about 100m from home and we walk together back, so both of us can stretch out)
Once she passed me and trotted off, I had my heart racing and thought oh my God, now she will run back to the stable and everyone will think I have fallen off and can't ride or control my horse..
But I stayed calm and just around the turn, she was waiting for me to join up.
She could see the stable and her friend and it was close to feeding time, but she chose to wait for me.
Yeah my two horses have always been good but peanut my gelding is bonding with me really well! At first he would walk away from me especially if I had a halter. I knew he was like that because he was a lesson horse before and most of the time people use them as tools. So at first I taught him walking away from me when I wasn’t done was disrespectful and than I taught him that halter meant grazing or rubs and walks in the forest which he likes! And today instead of leaving he walked to me and stood there and joined up several times! I had no treats and at most time the halter wasn’t even on! The other day we let them in this big field full of long grass for a while and he came up to me without me asking just for rubs! I don’t want separation anxiety but I do want a good relationship we’re he picks me over his other horse friend or food and we are getting there! Since he is buddy sour so I want him to learn it’s okay to be away from his friend for a little!
I'm formulating a training method compiled solely from comments disagreeing with professional trainers.
lol update me when you're done
this is genius xD cannot wait
any updates ? :D
Sooooo...how goes it on the formulating? 😉
@@Clingan5 This is harder than I thought it would be. As near as I can figure so far, if a horse doesn't do what you want it to do it's because you don't love your horse enough and are not in tune with the horse's spiritual universe. It's pretty complicated.
My daughters horse has separation issues. When she starts being anxious about walking away from her mate I walk her in different directions and move her feet so that she focuses on me. Same technique you show for leading a horse. She calms down and has a lot less worry. I wish I knew how to do that 20 years ago. Also as soon as I unload my horse from the float I walk them around so they follow and focus on me, they are then less concerned about being in a new place. Thank you so much it has changed the way I handle the horse and we are a lot better for it.
A horse that I recently met and started to train, always greets me with a soft neigh or gentle snickering. She loves food, but she tends to raise her head from the hay and nicker when she spots me from a distance. She doesn't do that to other humans, for some reason. I am not the one feeding her either, so it could not be that. Anyway, she doesn't rush to the gate immediately but will walk to me, if I enter the pasture. I would not change that, for I love the feeling of seeing her relaxed like that and that seeing me does not cause any exaggerated feelings in her. She is happy and confident, without being over the top like this horse in the video.
I kind of think of it as my horses see me as sort of an extended herd member. I don't feed them most of the time (I board them) so I'm not the food lady. But when I walk into the pasture, they'll always walk over to me to greet me. If I have a halter, that's when I put it on. If I don't and I'm just saying hi, they come over, let me rub on them a bit, see if I want them to follow, then go back to eating (or whatever they were doing before I came in) if I don't. It's impossible to know if horses are capable of love like humans think of it. But they are capable of affection, respect, and trust. If your horse shows that towards you, at least you know you're doing something right!
Perhaps they see you as the alpha mare.
Exactly...horses are horses first.
A good grasp on how horses behave is how you work with horses, with all animals.
Separation anxiety is because they are a herd animal, not because they 'love' a person.
Mutual trust and respect come over time and they are the hallmarks of a good relationship with any member of another species.
My horses love their grub and each other. The best I can hope for is their trust and respect and I love them for giving me that.
Horses are herd animals, they need other horses for company whether they share a paddock with other horses, or they have other horses close by if they are in their own paddock. I had some separation anxiety issues with my mare when she was young, over me not other horses. She always had the company of other horses, so I simply let her basically get over it. Which she did very quickly. She's always glad to see me when I turn up,pays attention to me when I have her out of her paddock, but perfectly happy now when I leave. As long as you don't encourage or facilitate the unwanted behaviour, the behaviour will stop. Love your horses, but don't baby them. They need independence and confidence to be happy and balanced.
I'm so grateful for this vid! So many young girl riders think it's cute and love when their horses act this way because the horse "loves me".
"you're not gonna reach over the fence and crack her over the head" . . . LOL! You are funny AND GENIUS, Warwick! Good on you!
Great vid! I'd like to see Warwick expand a bit more on why separation anxiety is bad for the horse (eg. they lack confidence on their own, actually feel unhappy rather than happily 'in love' with their human, may have increased injuries due to panic etc) and bad for owners as horses are distracted with worry, cost more with injuries, can't be relied on in certain situations etc. Also it's a totally resolvable issue! :-) Love Warwick's vids!
I know a man whose horse would get so happy when he would see him and talk to his horse telling him little "goo..goo..gaa..gaa.." words and give kisses. Whether in or out of the field. He would come running to greet him. I feel it depends on the situation and how the owner or owners have interacted with the horse.
Do you seriously believe a horse understands what a ‘kiss’ is?
@@HkFinn83horses greet each other with nose to nose interactions in real life
There are soo many people that need to hear this!! Thank you for another awesome video!
Warwick you always set me straight. I think one thing and then I watch one of your videos and I’m like wait a min, he makes sense and I’m wrong. My husband can never see this comment. 🤫 😂
Well if that's the case I'm glad the horse is with you. You work your magic resulting in soothing his anxiety. Can't be a good thing such anxiety. What a strong beautiful animal.
An excellent and throught-provoking video. The "around the corner" test is a good way to distinguish between "my horse loves me" and separation anxiety. I'm glad Mr. Schiller didn't give us the "answer" for how to fix it. It's much better to think about the idea and then go see your horse and ponder.
Two other points: you may get the "follow along the fence" behavior if you hand-feed your horse treats. And I've rarely seen this kind of behavior in horses that are kept in a paddock with other horses. I'm not for or against either of these two things, just sayin' they are additional things to think about.
i have the companie of a horse.he belongs to a friend who does not use him anymore.he lives on a mountainside by himself with some sheep. when i can i go and visit and we go for walks and play some games. i am very grateful..as i like to learn.althoug i would like to see him with other horses i am not in a position to change the situation as yet.the one that had to realy get over the separation anxiety was me.took me ages to relax and trust he was ok.after i left.typical isnt it.taking myself way too serious:)thanks for the videos.
She acts like one of my ex boyfriends.
LOL!
🤣🤣
Use horse training, make him psychologically "join up" and you'll have him for life.
Serenity Fields
Ha! Funny.
I bet the horse is sexier! Lol
My horse has improved so much in everything now that he is living with 39 other horses on a very big property, it's magnificent
HORSE: "Who is he talking to?? Is there someone out there?? Where??" LOL!
SEEMS NO MATTER HOW MANY HORSE PEOPLE I MEET, EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION ON PRACTICALLY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HORSES. FROM WHAT KIND OF BIT TO USE TO HOW TO TRAIN YOUR HORSE. Its just funny to me. Some say of you walk into an arena and your horse comes up to you, he loves you or at least is curious about you and wants to be with you. Others say he is invading your personal space. I think horses are about as individual as people are. After a horse learns basics, its all about the horses personality and the bond between you and that horse.
I think you’re right. And if one doesn’t naturally click with one’s horse then it’s very challenging, and can be very gratifying when progress is made.
thanks for showing me the difference. it's good to know
YES, I have NEVER flattered myself about my horse "loving" me when I leave and he starts pacing, running around and whinnying. To me, it's immature behavior and not particularly flattering. Another type of frantic behavior is looking for treats, which led me to drastically reducing the frequency of treats.
Your teaching really helps my understanding. I love to learn all this! Thanks so much (from America) ❤️
Dancing Mischief, my daughter's almost 7 yr old mare we've had over 5 years and I TRAINED, meets us at the gate between 4-7pm every day, even when we don't get to stop. It's TREEEAAAT time, petting time, messing with her ears and hooves and tail etc. The rest of the time(she's in a 40 acre pasture/woods/creek/ALABAMA FARM enclosure) I get to yell, " KE KE KE! MISS CHIEF! SHOW YOUR BLAZE!!" and even tho I often have to go get her, I know her favorite areas and she's ALWAYS looking in my direction, even if I come from a different direction.
She was a yard pet almost always for around 3 years, and the first 9 months she was ALWAYS in the yard. Which is why I yell what I do-the KE KE KE is to get ALL my animals attention. Then I yell which animal. Since she was in the yard, and she's a lovely bay, I taught her to "show your blaze" to turn her face towards me in the house so I'd know she was there. She was stolen once, and this was how I discovered it early enough that she was home within 12 hours.
She's a full quarter horse, NU CHEX TO CASH Granddaughter, 16 HANDS!!!(I'm 5'1"; good thing I ride bareback mostly), can spin on a dime, lovely gaits(not fun getting them there lol; trot trot terror trot engage your ankles witch; THERE'S A SPEED BETWEEN TROT AND RUN FOR THE ROSES you crazy equine hello it's called a Canter technically the people around here call it a Lope!!!!!)
She misses us badly now the other horses are gone, so she pouts at me regularly. Thank goodness there's not a mean bone in her since she's VERY smart. I chose her myself, trained her myself, and she knows I mean business. My daughter is her human and she takes care of her human. Me-she loves me, but hates to admit it.
She'd have followed me right out that gate, and wandered about grazing and pretending to ignore me, but I do NOTHING she doesn't notice.
I can use any tack, or nothing more than a halter with the lead on one side of her neck, Lakota style.
BUT YOU DA MAN AND I LOVE LISTENING AND WATCHING YOU!!!
Thankyou Warwick, that is so interesting. Bless you.
Great video! I love how honest you are about things and how well you can get your point across!
El caballo es una animal magico ... disfruta nuestra compañia y detesta estar SOLO.A mi edad de 11añitos recuerdo el caballo que habia en casa de mamma vieja , no me dejaban ni acercarme al caballo; en ese verano la gente de campo duerme una siesta .yo ni con un palo me hacian dormir siempre tenia travesuras por hacer y una de ellas involucro al tostado y a este servidor , Bien :Estaba solo y se aburria de estar solo en el potrero . De cuando en cuando pegaba unos resoplidos y salia retozando y tirando s pedos y volvia apegarse al porton mientras se entretenia jugando con su badajo , y me miraba y relinchaba bajito y se miraba el lomo. Era la clara invitacion a la travesura , escale por las tablas del porton y me le sente encima!!! Que emocion!! Agarre un buen penacho de crin y esperando el corcovo, ya que sus orejas estaban chatas y quieto como una estatua de sal y para ponerle punto a la cosa espere que respirara e inchara bien de aire la panza . Mis talones descalzos eran como dos agujas y me afirme en un buen talonazo Pego un ronquido y un pedo y salio retozando conmigo encima derecho a al cerco de tunas Caballlo!! Para! ¡Nos espinamos todos y en una manta de trebol me eyecte; rode por el suelo y el dio la vuelta y me sono la nariz en la cara y se echo a mi lado ,cosa que aproveche para saltarle de nuevo encima Entonces si dimos la vuelta a todo dar al potrero adornado con patadas y mas pedos. Llego al porton y paro jadeante; la panza se hinchaba y desinchaba con el jadeo, me sudaban las manos y las piernas desnudas mezcladas con el sudor del caballo. me latia el corazon como para salirseme del pecho radiante de alegria De nuevo esa tarde dimos varias vueltas al potrero una mas rapida que la otra asi disfrutamos las siestas de todo un verano..
Horses can love. They can get attached. My mare does not have separation anxiety. She won't meet me at the gate however she spots my truck and meets me with a soft expression. She'll use her upper lip to nuzzle me a lil then she'll be an angel to ride. She won't do this to anyone else. Know why? She loves me. She knows I'm mom and won't hurt her. its a completely different story when the horse has been hurt or neglected Just as my mare has
Not to mention your horse right there is over excited. My mare isn't. I'm just proving all of your points wrong. You really quite truly do not know all the horses out there. They say dogs don't love. Why do dogs get so excited after 2 years when their soldier/father comes home? Its because they KNOW them and they LOVE them
Also, she will buck kick and bite nor will she cooperate if I'm not there.... So they can't love right?
Spencer House Maybe she is respectful to you as she would be to a higher horse?
Spencer House Horses aren't looking for a friend. They are looking for a leader. Your mare see's you as a leader. And do not compare a dog to a horse. Different animals have different dispositions, levels of intelligence, ways of processing, and way's of reacting. Also, remember dogs were bred for thousands of years to be 'mans best friend'. If they weren't, you would basically have a wolf. And at that point, no, it wouldn't love you. I am NOT saying a horse cannot love. I am simply saying they respect you as a leader first. Lara is correct.
He doesn't say a horse CAN'T love you. He says following you along the fence and to the gate like that, does not means the horse loves you. Many people make that mistakes.
Tacking up the horse for a little girl. Horse is all exited. Lead him out of the box, when he is about halfway out I hand over the reins to the little girl. The horse just stops. He thought he was going for a ride with me, now he realize it's this little girl he is going with and he does not want to. I give him a discrete que to follow her, so she won't be upset or have problems. But that action there was not hard to understand. Also sometimes greets me with a soft whinny when I come. When he is out in pastures I still have to and fetch him tough. It's all the little things a horse does and how he acts around you and also under you that you can tell if a horse loves you or not. Clinging to you as a baby is not one of them.
Horses with separation anxiety have no leader, so they're constantly worried about things. You need to be that leader to your horse and show them that there's nothing to be worried about.
For example, If your horse is just walking around on the end of the lead rope like that horse was, and you're just following them and letting them do whatever then nobody is the leader, if that makes sense.
I would definitely advise to watch more of Warwick's videos he explains it better than me. :P
EARTH ANGEL 😇 I just feel that when she gets up close to you she just feels comfortable and confident with you and she 's THEN ok with that and is inquisitive !🤔🐴😳
I have not ridden for 14years and i am a 68 yr old woman. I was given a horse at a riding scool near me in France. It was a 15yr old arab. the first time it was all over the place but didn't blow; as other horses were around - but yesterday he exploded about three times - i asked the 'teacher' what was the problem and she said 'he feels afraid on his own in the school'!! I was not warned about this before hand.
Added to that - horses were being fed in the stalls around one side of the arena and people were mucking out every time the horse bolted it was where the activity was - or near the gate. The trouble is that when i turn up at a riding school (with my worn boots on) they get 'the baddy out'! Everyone be warned. My French is not perfect either, so it's difficult to tell them what i think - but they have lost a customer.
This is true but not all the time. My mare actually does love me! When I go to catch her up and take her out she doesn't pull away. She stands there patiently!
Mine is a Good horse then, lol he just stands still when I go to catch him, and when I leave he goes to the other horses and eats. haha
Brandon Techumseh Christensen he loves grass more than you that’s why
That's excellent.
So does mine
Normally the only way they got excited about you is when you give treats to them. Other times they just tolerate patiently everything which is done to them without any visible emotions (just relaxed). The separation anxiety makes them exited about you too, because you are the only way to calm them down, but the panic returns every time the horse is left alone. So, have a buddy for your horse, if you're not planning to stay with your horse 24/7. :)
My justice meets me at the stall or gate but it's mostly for food. We do play games, like chase alot and she loves it. But she never gets upset when I leave to continue my farm chores.
34 barn witches disliked video
I loved this video. It is so good. It is exactly like that. You put a bridle on and they d pretend they don't know who you are no longer. 🤣🤣🤣
She is beautiful!
Good gracious, that animal is magnificent.
My horses couldn't care less about the horses left behind in the pasture when I take one out riding; it's the ones who get left behind that have a fit! The one I take out for a ride doesn't even look back at the others lol
this guy is on another level! brilliant
My left ear loved this
I've seen this before myself. Dogs will do the same thing. My cat has done something similar. She loves me, but there are days where she could care less. If they love you, they listen to everything you "say."
beautiful horse. great condition
Thank you for the videos and all of your videos.
Now my question is, how to solve this issue?
I feel like u pointed out a problem but did not give a solution... either way loved the video and I want to learn more.
He made another video on another horse with a similar situation th-cam.com/video/Sj4yLtB0LQg/w-d-xo.html
He uploads the full videos on his website
To me it looks less like separation anxiety and more like "HEY! There's someone there who can open the gate for me and let me out of this boring paddock where I don't have anyone to hang out with! Hey guy, hey, guy, HEY DON'T WALK AWAY LET ME OUT OF HERE!" And just like the cat or dog that is your "best friend" before feeding or when they want you to open the door, DUH OF COURSE she is not as interested in him as soon as she gets what she wants: OUT of the boring paddock. I see this more as a bored / lonely horse than a horse with "separation anxiety". But hey, I'm no horse expert; I've just known a heck of a lot of animals in my time.
Morro Schreiber I have had horses for years and I think you are exactly right. Get me outta here so I can go find my (horse) friends. Horses love horses way more than they love people. There are probably some exceptions, but they are rare.
My horse never walks away from me and he Kisses me all the time and cuddles me.🐴🐴🐴🐴
Horses don't kiss or cuddle you're putting human actions and emotions on your horse. Your horse simply tolerates you in their space while getting some things they like, like food and a good scratch.
Do you really seriously believe a horse knows what a ‘kiss’ is?
My horse plays chess with me and does the dishes.
I wouldn't like to see the anxious behavior if I left my horse- but horses are not meant to be left alone (survival instincts kick in) and this is probably why she's anxious. If another horse was with her, and you left, what would her behavior be? I am wondering, when you put her halter/lead line on, and she "ignoring you" is she only "ignoring you" because now, she looks to you as the decision maker- and she's waiting for you to make all the decisions,now allowing her to look around?
The horse I used to own, didn't have this problem. The horse I train now, has but only as far as I can tell with one horse. After he got separated from her he only has it if he gets to say hi to her. I love the change, unfortunately they will be put back together once the cold hits.
Which i really dread.
However, I remember having a discussion with my old horse, about who had to go through the mud xD.
She did come after a bit though, and some encouragement xD, nothing like this.
I don't know I learned to keep their brain busy eventually it becomes easier.
What a beauty of horse you have
I understand that one of my horses may have social anxiety, but does that mean I should do something different? She is a very new addition and a baby, so I imagine it makes sense that she would feel this way. She is out 24/7 with 3 geldings. I stayed with her for days until she established herself within the herd a little more. She demonstrated very similar behaviours to this horse. I have done little horsemanship, but she will follow me when she is out of the field and when I wonder in the field. Is there anything I need to do, change, look out for? Or do I accept my horse may remain like this? : ) Appreciate anyone's feedback
My horse nickers and runs up to the gate when he sees me, but he's still very good when I catch and lead him, he still focuses on me. Maybe he sees me as a leader? But I do believe horses can love us :)
I had a mare ,that Richard Shrake had said quote, “ In all my life of judging horses & working with horses & their owners, I had never seen a horse who loves their owner as much as this mare loves you. What’s your secret?” My reply was “ when you start paying me $1500 a day to learn under me I will tell you, but I am the student you are the teacher.”
Beautiful horse!!!
Hello, I don't know if you will even read this post because it been 7-years since you posted this Video. I don't know anything about horses, all I know is that I absolutely LOVE them. But I think what she wanted to do was get out the place where you had her, so I don't know if it was separation anxiety like you said I just think that she wants out of there so she can eat grass and just run and be free. It seems that she is the only horse you have, so there's NO contact with other horses, that how I see this !!! One more thing I see is she's LONELY !!!
Thanks for this video. How would we correct this type of behavior
its not something you correct, its just about looking at the behaviour objectively.
Thanks for another excellent video.
So my horse comes up to me in the paddock and when I put her back she stands by the gate for about ten minutes and opens her mouth in a really weird way. She doesn't actually make sounds though but when I walk away she starts running down the fence line after me. I'm guessing that's separation anxiety?
Mine did that for each other when they first arrived and definitely didn't think I existed. Would go berzerk out of sight of each other. I wasn't on their radar. I did see them having each other as their security and safety, as a herd of two when arrived. Mine were raised in herds of horses. -- Would this warmblood behave this way towards you being focus, if another horse was around? Or are humans as her "herd" by how she was raised? She needs a human for security vs another horse? More please.
my boy comes over and neighs at me, but when i leave the paddock with him he follows me he might want to nibble at some grass but as soon as i walk off he comes with me
The horse doesn't give a shit about you, she wants to be by other horses. When she sees you, she thinks: "Oh! He's gonna bring me in!" So she follows him, wanting him to bring her where the rest of the horses are. Horses don't get love and comfort from you, they get it from the herd. Notice as he halters her and brings her back out, she couldn't care less about his presence. She is clearly waiting for him to bring some place, other than somewhere by herself.
Genius...that's what he pointed out. #facepalm
What about the horse that put his head on his owner's casket? The horse was upset about the the death of the man that cared for him. It definitely felt something. Horses let us be part of their herd.
Another invaluable lesson :3 You're the best
what a gorgeous mare...
That's what I was thinking too. Similar questions. Wondering how this Warmblood was raised too. Perhaps behavior may be same even with other horses around. Wondering if horse was raised away from a herd, so looks to humans for security vs even other horses perhaps.
Mine were raised with other horses in herds through 5 years old. They looked to each other for security when first arrived with me not being part of their equation. Took awhile to change their view of world at new place here.
You're amazing how much you can read horses, I know it's separation anxiety, but it's kind of adorable :3
Ebony Sheehan-Mitchell Please don’t buy, ride or own horses. You don’t have the intelligence.
@@Cwgrlup You're definitely a Rick Gore crony.
This is an outstanding demonstration, but it's more complex when the horse is not in the artificial environment in which they're alone in a paddock. Please replicate with a horse that has a herd with which it interacts day to day.
It really doesnt have a lot to do with the herd, it has to do with poor handling by humans.
This problem went away with handling the horse differently, even though it was still in the artificial environment.
It looked somewhat like that horse was looking to get out of the fence and go home. Just similar to a dog at a kennel, except it's obviously not the exact same thing.
I love that big chestnut horse
My girl has only come to the gate 1 time in 3 years - IF she's out in the pasture with the herd. She'll finish the last 10-15 feet, but that's it. However, if she's penned up in a small enclosure - she will watch me like a hawk and come right to me (although she doesn't leave her food until I'm in the gate). I'm not sure its anxiety - I think its just boredom. After I work her awhile, she's as content as can be just eat her hay. Barely acknowledges me as I walk back and forth doing my thing (unless she thinks I'm giving food to the other horses). I do think she loves me, but its much different than a dog or cat, and that's how I want it (as low energy as can be). She had bad ground manners at first and has licked me, taken stuff out of my hair, and has tried to eat my clothes. It creeps me out. Her NOT doing that stuff now seems to be more loving and respectful. Right now she's penned up with a horse that bothers me with her "energy". Its not right. The horse gets anxious the minute she realizes a human is going into the pen. Her owner believes that every horse on the property is mean to her horse. But its the anxiety her horse demonstrates at the sight of people - it freaks all the other horses out. I had her behaving very well for awhile, until her owner was on the property and decided that she needed to keep her horse "away" from mine while I un-haltered her. If I had had a riding crop in hand, I probably would have used it on both of them.
Very interesting demonstration!
Please could you put up a video of what we can do to fix this? Would be helpful! :) xx
Warwick, have you been told you’re a genius yet?
Distracted by the beautiful horse, I admit.
It sure is a looker!
Spot on Warwick!!!
A secure, happy relationship is how your horse shows they love you. Same with humans.
I think that is a good point but I also think that when she is in the pasture she can't get to you and she's locked up but when you get her out she's just exited and she wants to run and see everything. Who agrees with me.
She's not an excitable puppy who 'misses her mummy', so no, I disagree. Separation anxiety stems from the need for a leader. Such as in a herd or with a handler. Here she's acting as if he's her mother, no bothering to pay attention once she's with him and generally being disrespectful, ie, entering his 'space' and not paying attention to him. He's right, and horses aren't people, so you gotta 'think like a horse' when interacting with them. Replace 'love' with respect for now. Respect comes first, love comes later.
My pony did this when we got her and even jumped out of her paddock but was fine when we got her a companion but she has no bother being ridden away from him
Yes, I do believe that you have to be the leader for your horse. Get it's respect and trust is most important as with leadership. I know my horse loves me to death, but I also knew that she use to walk all over me. I had never had a horse and didn't know anything about horse behavior. I got this mare when she was a colt, only 1.5 year old. I went to see her, drove 3.5 hours, got there a woman with a bucket full of treats shakes the buckets as she always does, all the horses went to her accept for this colt, she came straight up to me. I pet her on her face for almost a minute she stood there letting me pet her. She was so small, I was expecting to see a full grown horse, after a few days I decided that I had to have her. I just let her be a kid, and yes bossing me around until she was 3.5 years old until I had her trained for 2 months. I now understand horses a little more than before. After her 2 months of training I now had to work on trying to be a leader for her, but it was hard for me. However, I made it, but I have to say that yes, she looks for me every day. She follows me around, if I disappear, she's coming to find me, but only now, I am her leader and not her mommy or best friend. Every time she see's me she calls for me, and no, I don't have carrots in my hands. She will stand by the fence and let me rub her face for several minutes. We can stand there together and lean on her just because she likes having me close. She comes up to me to let me catch her with no problems, I remove her halter, I do not tie her down, I stand there brushing her all over. She loves to be brushed, I can stand there for a good 30 minutes or more just brushing her, she won't move. I don't brush her mane, just her body, I have to end the brushing cause she'll just stand there for the longest time just having me brush her. She is a very friendly horse with other people, she loves, loves, loves attention, but if she see's me, she will leave that person and run to me. I can honestly say, that Kenya is attached to me.
I appreciate you showing this but what do I do about it? Thank you!
There is a sequel to this video of this mare further along. Warwick doesn't "fix" individual issues he retrains the horse as if it had never been touched. Generally the get little details correct before moving on seems to work. There's no point saddling a horse for the first time and trying to ride it before it can listen to the halter. Check out his website or other TH-cam videos. Horses don't have a quick fix button so many riders search for on here. It's all about the foundations. Hope that helped.
My son goes to RDA and in the summer we were randomly invited to carriage driving at someone's farm. I was absent-mindedly stroking the horse as it was tacked up and suddenly the owner asked if I had fed the horse some titbit. I said 'no' and she said the horse really likes you, I asked how she could tell, she said the horse is really relaxed with you. The horse keeps it's head low and half closes its eyes and will repeat this as soon as I approach from a distance of about 15 foot. I have never fed the horse and it only sees me with an interval of weeks in between, when it is harnessed to the carriage and I am watching from my car, it will also start to walk towards the car. It is apparently a Welsh horse and I'm told that they have a reputation for being quite spirited, but I have to admit I'm quite smitten.
You must have a lovely calm manner.
She is a beautiful horse. An Arabian? She looks like a female version of my gelding (in his prime). So, what can be done for horse's with separation anxiety? It looks like you have to have at least 2 horses? I had 2 horses - husband and wife. The wife passed away, but the husband never appeared to have separation anxiety in the years that he lived after she died.
I think horse's have feelings as all animals do regardless. On what animal. Horse pig sheep
My horse comes to the gate when he hears my car because he knows I’m there to feed him 😭
sometimes my own horse comes to me. sometimes he does not. the buddy he has in the paddock (who is the dominant one) always comes first and then my horse 2nd.
even so i know my horse loves me anyway/
My horses are pretty good, I spend so much time with them. I love being with them. I really believe they love me I don't need a halter or lead rope to saddle or do feet. Have horses love them there from God.
Thanks for these Videos Warwick. Btw that is a beauutiful horse.
This is very true. However, is this not a managment issue, not behavioural? Horses are herd animals, individual, isolated turnout like this would not help help reduce anxiety. My horse is turned out with all 15 mares and geldings on the yard all year round. When she was turned out in isolated, small groups she was stressed and showed behaviour like that mare. Does this mare still do this when turned out in company? Something to think about. Love your videos Warick, keep them coming
This guy is good
My mare will run up and nicker and everything, but thats only when I call her which I've done as a cue for its time to work and interact. She doesn't pace at the fence or freak out when I leave though. She's just happy to go yeah ok now I can go graze, and then when i call "Ohh work time" or "Play time" whatever I'm doing with her. Whether its just some ground work with the ball and having her stay respectfully by my side without being jerked around or riding.
Is this a positive thing? She will come up and nicker and ask for pats, but she isn't freaked about me leaving, I can go in without calling her to clean the paddock and she doesn't give a damn. She also remains responsive to me. Will walk beside me on a loose leadrope while the stallions are calling out and prancing.
My horse is behaving strangely. He is calm under the saddle and on lunge line, but poorly controlled under the saddle and very distracted by objects around the arena. When I started working with him on joining, she started running around like crazy, kicking and couldn't calm down for a long time. is this separation anxiety?
My advice is have someone on the ground working with them while you ride or vice versa. To work on them being less anxious under saddle and to slowly wean them off the ground persons commands onto yours.
It's not separation anxiety but it is anxious behaviour. As they're lacking direction, calmness and a leader. Commands from the ground may be different from commands under saddle from view point.
Brilliant! Excellent explanation!
I have 5 horses and they all do that my herd includes 2 mares 2 geldings (both senior one blind) and a stallion. Live in a mixed herd.
They all act like this mare. Its it still separation anxiety?
My horse does this off and on apart from he pays very attentive attention when i bring him out
Horses are devoted to those who take care of them.
My horses are relatively cool, they'll follow you around like dogs when you're with them, but if you leave them, they're like 'Eh, whatever.' and walk off to do their own thing. My only problem child is Tulip, who begins to bang the gate with her hoof because she believes she should be given food and treats any time she comes to the gate. XD She's a spoiled brat. (No I don't reward this behavior, but she also does it during feeding times, so I don't really know how to correct it either.)
my horse is exactly the same as that horse but only with other horses not humans if i leave him in stable over night he will end up in a state sweating an tha neighing constantly aswell !! so in the morning i went to give him his breakfast an he was more interested in charging at the stable door so i brought him out tyed him up he was not having an of it he was pawing at the ground an rearing up only had him 6 months
my horse follows me like she did at the start I put his halter on him I open the gate and he backs up with the gate like I showed him then we walk threw and he turns around and faces the gate with me then we back up and close it then I put the lead rope over his back and he follows me where ever I go around the farm and stops when I stop and all that is that anxiety or just good training? cuz now im worried ):
Horses kind of "lock on" to you. You can create a draw when you move away so your horse may follow you. No one can really say (Because we ain't there). I wouldn't look for the answer online, but in your horse. If there is stress in your horse when you leave or when he/she can't see you, then it probably is anxiety but if your horse follows you and he's calm then there really isn't anything to worry about.
The reason why he does that is NOT training. That is normal herd behavior and they learn it when they are young (Like most animals- not excluding humans). They learn it from other horses which is why keeping them in stalls are not really that good as they are made off to be. I recommend watching Think Like A Horse (Actually, the guy commented on this video). The guy explains horse psychology and herd behavior even though he's extremely blunt about it. His method of teaching separates those who are too high on their horse to learn it a different way and those who are willing to learn to do things different just to be better.