Bringing in problem

[starry94]

My friend has her horse in a field with 1 other horse & they get on really well. But when she tries to bring hers in for the night she cant unless she gets the other in first, as the mare wont let her past her to get to her own horse. The other horse is the 'leader' out of the two so i understand why she would want to come in first, especially when she knows her dinner is waiting, but she doesnt want to have to bring in the mare just so she can get hers in.
Any ideas of what she could do? I thought putting a small amount of hay out before trying to catch her horse to distract the other one?

 

[Ladydragon]

When turned out they can do what they want with each other until one has a head collar put on and a human attached to the end imo... Then I expect them to wake up and remember the human's at the top of the chain of authority... The others 'make a path' when one is being brought in... Occasionally my TB (herd leader go figure ) will still expect to be first through the gate but a shove or flick with the lead rope reminds him the human has priority no matter which of the other liveries might be bringing their horse in...

If the other horse isn't giving way to your friend - is there any way she or the owner can do some basic work on manners with her? If they are both being brought in anyway - does it matter which comes first? I know it would for me and I'd juggle them around just to reinforce that it's my decision - but it would be a tad simplistic to assume that would work for everyone in different circumstances/with different horses...

 

[dollymix]

It's tricky really and rather frustrating for those whose horses are not top of the pecking order.

However, horses have hierarchy, and just because the owner is there, doesn't mean the horses will ignore this ranking. Unfortunately, if the other horse is boss and wont go if you shoo him/her away, you may just have to carry on bringing the other in. As annoying as that is.

Be very wary trying to bring the other in, even if you do shoo the other away. I know a lady who had a very nasty accident where she thought she'd shooed the 'boss' away, caught her horse and took it to the gate, and whilst opening, the 'boss' came bustling over and her horse (who was farily low in the herd) panicked and took off, right over the top of her, squashing her against the gate post and breaking her collar bone in the process.

I've also been knocked over bringing my mare in....and the 'boss' horse had already been caught and the owner was holding the gate open. But because I then tried to lead my hrose past, she didn't think about the fact that they were both caught, she just said, 'Argh...I'm not allowed past that one' and scuttled past me and knocked me over!

Please be very careful!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I had the same at the first yard I was at - the other mare was positively dnagerous and downright nasty she was like it with every horse that shared her field - the owner tried to make out it everyone elses problem and made no attempt to meet me half way to deal with so I refused to put my horse with hers any longer and ultimately moved yards. When my horse was put in a different field other liveries kept telling me th other horse was doing her nut on its own - like it was my problem Not that any of them were prepared to help when I was trying to get my horse out the field without getting my head kicked in

So for going off on one...... but I would tell your friend to move her horse to another field if nothing can be done about the other horse.

 

[Ladydragon]

I had the same at the first yard I was at - the other mare was positively dnagerous and downright nasty she was like it with every horse that shared her field - the owner tried to make out it everyone elses problem and made no attempt to meet me half way to deal with so I refused to put my horse with hers any longer and ultimately moved yards. When my horse was put in a different field other liveries kept telling me th other horse was doing her nut on its own - like it was my problem Not that any of them were prepared to help when I was trying to get my horse out the field without getting my head kicked in

So for going off on one...... but I would tell your friend to move her horse to another field if nothing can be done about the other horse.

Ugh... Tis threads like this that remind me I'm pretty lucky where we are... Only four liveries and all of a mind set that expects manners from their own - and we all want to be sure that bringing any individual horse in from the herd of fourteen can be achieved as safely as possible...

It must be horribly difficult if someone else hasn't got the inclination to care what happens to you when dealing with their animal...

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

It must be horribly difficult if someone else hasn't got the inclination to care what happens to you when dealing with their animal...

I think it suited her to have some one else bringing in her horse for her - which was always her answer to the problem - as it was one thing less for her to do when she got there BUT I am no one unpaid groom..... and will not have my horse impeded by some one elses

At my current yard I briefly shared with a mare who was similar (or at least the owner was....) spoke to YO about it and we were seperated immediately - problem solved. Thinking about it both owners were very similar - both horse were a pain in the ass, they would never poo pick, always the last at the yard - in the hopes some one else would have got their horse in to stop them tearing around the fields yelling their heads off......

 

[marooncat]

I am having a very similar situation, my horse is on grass livery with my friends horse. They are the only 2 horses on grass, the rest of the yard is on full livery and my friends horse is desperate to get in all the time when ever I go up.

There is a long saga which I will not send anyone to sleep over but I spent about 3 months bringing my friends horse in every evening I went up (friend does not go up during the week due to work/dog) and after she barged me into a puddle when my mare was getting out a gate before her I decided enough was enough. Now I leave her in the field, but I have to use a head collar to keep her in the field when I am getting my horse out. I tried shooing her away but she just ignored me and I did not trust her not to barge me again.

Would this work for your friend, using a head collar to keep the other horse in the field whilst hers goes out the gate?