At last, he reigns no more!

noblesteed

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SOme of you may have read my posts about my rude horse - he's bolshy, bargy, rude, squashes/headbutts people etc. He is also a proper bully in the field and has doesn't know how to treat other horses, always getting into fights and covered in scars from them! We have despaired with him as he has been such a nuisance. We were beginning to doubt he even understood personal space and body language at all.

Anyway... he's been 6 months at my friend's yard with her gelding. My boy began in his usual manner bossing his friend about, chasing him from food, not letting him roll, barging past him at the gate etc. BUT we noticed my friend's horse gradually starting to stand up to mine, and today the tables have turned! My bossy beast is no longer the boss! My friend's gelding has been herding him around like a lamb today.

And, funnily enough, he has been nice, polite and as gentle as a lamb towards me. So, has he finally realised the world doesn't revolve around him? And will I now see a more polite side to my cheeky boy? I really, really hope so!
 
It sounds as if he has learnt some manners! It also sounds as if his Dam was overindulgent too, unless he was hand reared. Having been put in his place by another horse, he may well have decided that he is not the top banana any more :)
 
At my old yard there was my mare, a wussy gipsy cob and four young colts. She was always in charge, but her manners deteriorated quite badly - I could always get her back in line, but I was concerned that she was even thinking about misbehaving.

I moved her to a new yard in January, a much bigger place and she immediately turned back into her old self. She found herself a cushy spot in the herd and calmed down within days. In fact, I think she's better now than she's ever been. :cool:

I've come to the conclusion that she didn't like having the responsibility of being alpha mare, and she's content to let the higher-up horses get on with it. I wonder if your boy thinks like that, now his authority's been challenged?
 
We also had similar with my share. One of the brood mares was very bolshy and rude, and really picked on the other mare. But once in with my share gelding he sorted her out in no time. Unfortunately now he has gone downhill a bit on the manners front though. Can't win lol
 
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