Madalyn,
My younger gelding, Jay is falling asleep standing up. His head goes down to the ground, his eyes close, his front leg bends, his back end starts to relax, and he if falling asleep, and then catches himself before, what looks like, he is going to go down to the ground.
I have seen him do this before his buddy Willy passed, but mostly on camping trips, when he is worked harder. He won't lay down on a picket line, even though his riding buddy is on the next picket line and near him. He seems to exhaust himself, by not getting any sleep.
Now, that his pasture buddy, Willy has passed away, he is in the pasture by himself. He has 2 other horses in the pasture's right next to his, but they go in at night. He is now alone in the pasture and I am concerned he is not getting his sleep because he does not have the protection of his herd, which was Willy.
What do you think is going on and what can I do?
Diana
Not Sleeping
8 posts • Page 1 of 1
Not Sleeping
by dwanamaker » Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:45 pm
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Re: Not Sleeping
by dwanamaker » Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:54 pm
Madalyn,
I also wanted to add, that Jay does lay down to roll, just about daily.
Although, I did catch him the other day where he was getting ready to go down and roll, got 1/2 way down, and decided not to.
But, when Willy was around, laying down was a regular thing for him. And when he lays down, he lays flat out. He will do that even when he gets down to roll.
Diana
I also wanted to add, that Jay does lay down to roll, just about daily.
Although, I did catch him the other day where he was getting ready to go down and roll, got 1/2 way down, and decided not to.
But, when Willy was around, laying down was a regular thing for him. And when he lays down, he lays flat out. He will do that even when he gets down to roll.
Diana
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Re: Not Sleeping
by mward » Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:43 am
Diana,
I have seen this pattern before in a horse that was left out by himself at night. The owner had to bring him in before the symptoms could be relieved.
I kept my mule, Tess, at my house for a few weeks but I had to take her back to her old pasture because she was so fearful of being by herself. If a horse does not feel safe he will not sleep. Maybe you can find another horse that can stay out with Jay. Sounds like he needs a new herd. Madalyn
I have seen this pattern before in a horse that was left out by himself at night. The owner had to bring him in before the symptoms could be relieved.
I kept my mule, Tess, at my house for a few weeks but I had to take her back to her old pasture because she was so fearful of being by herself. If a horse does not feel safe he will not sleep. Maybe you can find another horse that can stay out with Jay. Sounds like he needs a new herd. Madalyn
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Re: Not Sleeping
by dwanamaker » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:01 am
Madalyn,
I figured it out! Hooray!
I brought him in the stall and kept him in the barn for a night, where the other horses are. He layed down that night, and got some sleep. He looked refreshed and perky the next day. So, I will bring him in once or twice a week, so that he can get some sleep, or as needed.
What I wonder, is why doesn't he sleep during the day, when the other horses are near by him. Why doesn't he lay down then?
Diana
I figured it out! Hooray!
I brought him in the stall and kept him in the barn for a night, where the other horses are. He layed down that night, and got some sleep. He looked refreshed and perky the next day. So, I will bring him in once or twice a week, so that he can get some sleep, or as needed.
What I wonder, is why doesn't he sleep during the day, when the other horses are near by him. Why doesn't he lay down then?
Diana
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Re: Not Sleeping
by mward » Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:03 am
Diana,
I am not sure why your horse does not sleep during the day. He may not be sure of his status in the herd and be afraid some other horse would attack him or the herd would leave him. Madalyn
I am not sure why your horse does not sleep during the day. He may not be sure of his status in the herd and be afraid some other horse would attack him or the herd would leave him. Madalyn
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Re: Not Sleeping
by dwanamaker » Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:14 pm
Madalyn,
He does have a "separation anxiety" issue, that was present before his pasture mate passed on. But, it seems to have gotten worse since he is gone. He seems to be to the point where it is a nuisance and exhausting. It's with his riding buddy, which is a mare. The other day I went for a ride with her and if she leaves his sight for even a second, he is all over the place(when I'm on the ground holding him). If I'm on him, he is prancing, dancing, side stepping, mini rears, etc. It is ridiculous! He was like that before Willy (his pasture mate) left, but not this bad! And it's worse with this damn mare! I can't even lead him away from her, without him having a fit. I can ride away on him, but he will be anxious, and will neigh for 1/2 mile, before he settles down. He wasn't like that with Willy. At All! I could lead Willy away from him and he would pace the fence, but not like he does with this mare! You would think it was his mother or something.
He even will neigh to me, and wonder where I am, if he is left in the barn by himself, and the other horses are out. I have an even better story than that! This is really interesting and cute!
When I was camping last year, with my friend and his riding buddy, this mare I'm talking about. They were picketed together at our campsite. Very comfortable. My friend and I had to go down the camping road a little ways to the water spicket. It was close enough to walk, but far enough away, and around a bend, where Jay, could not see me/us. Well, all of a sudden we heard Jay neighing and neighing. Wouldn't stop. We thought something had happened to the mare and she got loose, or something. I ran up the hill to find Jay and the mare still there, but Jay was looking off in the direction of where we had walked away to, Head up, full alert, and stopped the neighing once he caught site of me again. Walked away and he started neighing again, even though his mare was right next to him!
How do you like that for separation anxiety!?!
Diana
He does have a "separation anxiety" issue, that was present before his pasture mate passed on. But, it seems to have gotten worse since he is gone. He seems to be to the point where it is a nuisance and exhausting. It's with his riding buddy, which is a mare. The other day I went for a ride with her and if she leaves his sight for even a second, he is all over the place(when I'm on the ground holding him). If I'm on him, he is prancing, dancing, side stepping, mini rears, etc. It is ridiculous! He was like that before Willy (his pasture mate) left, but not this bad! And it's worse with this damn mare! I can't even lead him away from her, without him having a fit. I can ride away on him, but he will be anxious, and will neigh for 1/2 mile, before he settles down. He wasn't like that with Willy. At All! I could lead Willy away from him and he would pace the fence, but not like he does with this mare! You would think it was his mother or something.
He even will neigh to me, and wonder where I am, if he is left in the barn by himself, and the other horses are out. I have an even better story than that! This is really interesting and cute!
When I was camping last year, with my friend and his riding buddy, this mare I'm talking about. They were picketed together at our campsite. Very comfortable. My friend and I had to go down the camping road a little ways to the water spicket. It was close enough to walk, but far enough away, and around a bend, where Jay, could not see me/us. Well, all of a sudden we heard Jay neighing and neighing. Wouldn't stop. We thought something had happened to the mare and she got loose, or something. I ran up the hill to find Jay and the mare still there, but Jay was looking off in the direction of where we had walked away to, Head up, full alert, and stopped the neighing once he caught site of me again. Walked away and he started neighing again, even though his mare was right next to him!
How do you like that for separation anxiety!?!
Diana
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Re: Not Sleeping
by mward » Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:46 am
Diana,
You may want to address this behavior with a flower essence. I think Independence would be a good choice and you can order it here. http://www.holistichorsekeeping.com/ashop/catalogue.php?exp=3|&cat=29&shop=1
This combined with Relax Blend should help him move through his emotional state. Madalyn
You may want to address this behavior with a flower essence. I think Independence would be a good choice and you can order it here. http://www.holistichorsekeeping.com/ashop/catalogue.php?exp=3|&cat=29&shop=1
This combined with Relax Blend should help him move through his emotional state. Madalyn
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8 posts • Page 1 of 1