Frankie showing signs of dementia?

[harveydales]

Frankie is 28 and has slowed down considerably physically and I think he has become a bit slow on the uptake mentally but it hasn't been a problem and is rather sweet .....until yesterday.

He is devoted to his herd of 2 mares and is always thrilled and relieved when Eve comes back from an excursion with me. Yesterday I decided it was time to put Eve's sweet itch rug on. Frankie is used to seeing Eve in her summer rug and also winter rug other than this last winter. It was so mild that I didn't rug any of the ponies. Anyway, walked Eve out down the lanes in her SI rug, came back and turned her out. All seemed well initially but throughout the day I heard Eve screaming with that very deep, loud "I've been attacked" voice (she is very vocal). Each time I went down to see what was going, all seemed quiet. Then finally I saw what was happening. If Eve went too close to Frankie, he laid his ears back and lunged at her with his teeth, def meaning it. She wasn't allowed anywhere near the field shelter. It was the way he used to lunge at Harvey.

In the end I took Eve's rug off and suddenly they were back to being best friends. I was worried that if I left the rug on and he kept attacking her, she might move awkwardly and reinjure her hind leg again.

So what do I do? Should I see whether Eve can cope OK withut a rug? I don't really want to separate them because when I've done that in the past it ended up in disaster with fencing down and accidents. Do I leave her in the rug until he gets used to it and realises it's "his Eve"?

[Fi]

Have you tried putting her in one of her other rugs to see his reaction? Wonder if it’s the smell of it that’s odd? In which case he ought to get used to it?

How much of her does it cover? Could the neck be folded back or something so it’s covering up less of her?

[harveydales]

Fi - that's a good idea, folding it back initially. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks.

[harveydales]

Fi - your suggestion worked! I left the rug off while it's been so hot and dry but now the weather has changed I thought I should try again. First I turned her out in her full, white shires sweet itch rug and Frankie attacked her again. Got her in and changed it to her beige Snuggy hood rug but without the neck peice. Frankie was fine with her. So I will continue like this for a few days before introducing the neck. If it hadn't worked I was giong to try her black Snuggy Hood next and see if the colour makes a difference...

[Fi]

Yay! I’m pleased. (Not often I have a good idea.....😂)

[valerie n scout]

So pleased he’s fine, aren’t they funny sometimes 😳