Beaten up - fall of a hero

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Spotsrock

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Lottie, my 31 year old mare lost a fight for the first time in her life today. It was so sad to see.

Lots has always been our lead mare and the others have continued to respect that even as she approaches 31 this spring. My sister's mare came to live with us this week. I put her in the school with Lottie for company today as she is a little lonely, she has known Lottie for years and always respected her.

Not so today. Lottie fought back and I rushed in to split them up. If any1 knows Lots please tell her she almost had her, it was a lucky kick! She limped in very sorry for herself.

Lottie now has a hole the size of a 50p in her leg. I'm terrified of infection at her age but more depressing is her little face, she knows she has lost and it's the first time ever. She's tucked up in her box eating hay and looking depressed.

It's a very sad sight to see a champ lose, like watching Rocky get knocked out. She went mental when I tried to bandage to keep it clean and I was afraid she'd fall over so I have just put an inch of anti septic on it and left it so as not to traumatise her more, I'll bandage in the morning if it doesn't look better, it's not that deep so should be better not bandged. I'll call the vet tomorrow and pick up antibiotics.

But how do I make her feel like the champ again?? She's been my champ for 16 years and Beau and Ices since they were babies but I can't just tell her that and carrots and apples seem a poor substitute for equine pride and confidence.
 
This happened with one of our old ladies, Nell had always been the 'gobby' one, and if she wasn't esactly the leader, would nip in and get a crafty nip or boot in and run away!
She had a run in with one of the others and came off worst, at about the same age as yours, we gave her some rescue remedy on a piece of apple, she was a bit subdued for a couple of days, but returned to her usual self in a couple of days.
 
As others have said, carry on treating Lottie as the most important horse in the herd. She comes in first, gets fed first, gets more cuddles and fuss etc etc. Do the opposite for the newbie. Comes in last, fed last, be a bit aloof with her, keep her in her place. But it'll probably settle down in a few days. There is always a "bossy" leader in a herd, but there are leaders for other things too. Our herd leader is a wonderful mare. 6 going on 16. Looks after youngsters, stops squabbles, herds troublemakers into a corner and keeps them there in detention for a while, stops my randy shetland mare trying to seduce everything on 4 legs. Brilliant. But there's another mare who is the leader in calmness. She will always stand with a new horse to keep it company, always calm, always settled and she draws horses to her that need her calmness. My veteran has the sad title of leader in breakouts. When the grass gets a bit low and there's better grass somewhere else, he'll lead the push through the hedge or the squeeze through the fence! Bet your Lottie quietly re-assumes the kind granny role after a bit and leaves the new one to her office hierarchy games x
 
Thanks everybody she's eating well and looks almost sound when she doesn't know i'm looking. (hopping lame when me and bag of treats are visible). Usual cuddley self. Left her in today. I'll see how she goes with b & I tomorrow :-)
 
The herd will reorder itself when the lead mare gets old. It's natural. Just keep cleaning the wounds and wait for them all to settle. She'll know her place xx
 
Keep a close eye on her. She may just have been unlucky and will put the mare in her place next time, or she may need to slip down the herd hierarchy. I would say however that I have seen lead horses start to lose their standing as they age and in many cases it's not a nice thing to watch, or to put them through. If it affects her too much, you may have to consider PTS. Before anyone jumps on me I don't mean for nothing; I mean if she really can't maintain her position, and if she is really depressed about it, and working too hard to stay where she always has been in the herd. It's something I will need to consider with my boy eventually I'm sure, he's always been a quiet and respected leader in his herd, I'm not sure how he'd adjust. But there's no way I'd let him run himself ragged trying to stay on top, or watch him slip into depression because of it. Not for one minute saying you would either OP. I hope your girl is feeling better! xx
 
If she continues to have problems i'll leccy fence the bully off. She'll have the others for company right next to her but lottie's pride and legs will be safe. Lots of yards to individual grazing that way.
 
HOORAY!!!

Sunny and low wind today, Lottie looks almost sound so have slathered wound in antiseptic and put her out with the spotties. (Newbie remains in with the boys but has had a turn out in the school while I mucked out and will go out in there later).

Ice was very pleased to see her and crowded her a bit. Lottie kicked out at her. Ice as always backed off. My horse has it's pride back!!!!! Will not rush re-introducing newbie to the herd (Starting with Lottie did not go so well after all and the herd is shrinking in the spring) but am sooo happy that Lottie is Jackbooting around firmly in control of the spotties.

YO horse going out with them later so YO will watch and see how that goes, she's pleasant though (horse, not YO, well, YO very pleasant too!)

Thanku for the nice things people said about Lottie, I am a bit protective of her as my vet thought she would only last a week and that was a year ago, she's still fighting fit!!
 
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