Has anyone got any views experience on this,is it best to keep a horse like this seperately,but in view of others or leave in fields with companions?

A horse like what???

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Hello,

If your horse has separation anxiety it would be unbelievably cruel to leave him in a field on his own. Horses need companionship, they are herd animals and would not in nature ever live on their own.

You can either manage the problem or try to cure it.

To manage the problem, make sure your horse always has friends nearby. So if he's in the field and you want to ride another horse, make sure there's one left in the field with him. If he won't leave the field on his own, always get him in and ride with someone else.

If you want to cure the problem, which may be necessary if he is bonded to one particular animal and it's not practical for them to go everywhere together, here is what you do...

Bring his friend out of the field, close the gate, open the gate, put the friend back. Gradually build up the amount of time the friend is out of the field for, and always make sure there is at least one other horse left in the field for company to the worried one.

When he can cope with his friend out of the field for a while... remove the friend from the field, lead the friend away from the gate a little but still in sight of the worried horse, then go and put the friend back in the field. Gradually build up the distance the friend is taken away.

The next step is to take the friend out of sight of the worried horse, only for a second, then put the friend back in the field. Gradually build up the time the friend is out of sight.

Take these steps as slowly as the worried horse needs you to. He needs to be totally ok with every stage before you move onto the next one. It can take months of doing a bit every day. He will learn that his friend is not going forever and will return. Eventually you will arrive at a point where you can take the friend away long enough to ride it without the other horse worrying.

If the worried horse also doesn't like coming in from the field on his own to be ridden then repeat the process above with the worried horse being the one removed from the field.

Good luck. x