HERD BOUND HORSES

 

Having a herd bound horse is a common reason for people to contact an equine behaviourist.  Horses who are herd bound are experiencing separation distress: they become very anxious or fearful when removed from the vicinity of other horses or when other horses are removed from their vicinity. Horses experiencing separation distress may vocalize, pace, weave, paw, or display a number of escape or avoidance behaviours in an attempt to reunite with the other horses.

 

When a horse feels anxious or fearful they can be difficult to safely handle. Anxiety or fear can also decrease a horse's quality of a life - impacting the bond the horse has with their owner, and affecting performance and learning. 

 

Lauren can help you understand the roots of this behaviour problem. She can design an effective retraining program for your horse, to help them feel more comfortable with temporary separation, using techniques both you and your horse can feel good about.

 

​