THE EFFECTS OF A MORE NATURAL LIFESTYLE
Lauren tells us about two horses who’ve both benefited from living as nature intended
Case study one: Fig ISSUE: Severe separation anxiety and aggression towards other horses
“Fig came to us originally looking for a more natural home after he’d struggled to adapt to life in various livery yards,” explains Lauren. “He had a history of jumping out of his stable and fields, being aggressive towards other horses and generally being on edge. He was anxious about leaving others to the point that he’d seriously injured himself trying to get back to other horses. “When I first met Fig, he was noticeably agitated — nipping at anyone close and fidgeting while tied up. Although he had a good education from his owner in groundwork and under saddle, he was on edge, looking for others and calling out to them. “On arrival at ours, Fig was upset at being on his own and our priority was to get him out with other horses as soon as possible. Our biggest obstacle was the aggression he’d show to other horses and we decided a much slower introduction was needed. “Fig spent a couple of months living on the outside of our track system, allowing him to spend time with the herd but unable to physically interact with them, so we didn’t have to worry about injuries while he transitioned. “Eventually, he was calm enough to be with the group and after a few months was much more settled. He’s been with us for two years now and has gone from aggressive and anxious to being one of the most playful members of the group. He’s also much more settled away from the herd, and happy to go out with his owner in a relaxed manner. “Being part of a herd where he feels confident has allowed his true personality to come out.”