Bullying or just dominant?

PolarSkye

PolarSkye

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I was thinking about this when I was poo picking today . . . and wondered which point of view you all would hold . . . setting the scene . . .

Horse (we'll call him Horse C) has quite recently (within the past two months) moved to a new yard and is sharing a field with two horses who were part of an established herd . . . we'll call them Horse A and Horse B. Horse A is clearly the herd boss, Horse B is his second in command . . . and Horse C is quite happy to be at the bottom. Both A and B continually move C off any hay, best grass, water trough . . . there are no feet involved, just face-pulling, charging and teeth bared with the occasional nip thrown in. They will all stand together and eat from their individual hay piles, but C isn't allowed to settle for long - either A or B (usually A) will periodically drive him off (about every 2-3 minutes). A and B will play, A and C will play, but B and C never play . . . and A determines who plays with him, how and when. If A is feeling particularly playful he won't let either B OR C eat in peace . . . nor will he let them roll without nipping at them, making them get up. A also determines whether and when B and/or C play with or interact with the horses over the fence. Lastly, A is a serial rug-ripper . . . when he plays, he plays hard and B and C often come in with bite marks. No kicks though.

POV 1: Boys will be boys . . . this is herd politics and it's normal and natural.

POV 2: Horse A is a royal pain in the rear, is dominant, but not a bully

POV 3: Horse A is a bit of a bully

I know what I think . . . but I'm curious what you think . . .

P
 
POV 2 a real pain to have in the field, he is not letting the others settle if he constantly tries to re establish his authority.
If they are out 24/7 the other horses will probably suffer in some way ie. weight loss or become stressed and find it difficult to settle even when remove to be ridden, they would probably also never get any real resting time so physically not a good thing either.
 
No, not out 24/7 so they do all have a respite from each other. Also, A and B often go out a good hour or so before C . . . subsequently come in a good hour or so before C.

P
 
Sounds like what's going on with Ned at the moment!

3 horses have recently been moved in with him and his little friend has been moved to another field. He used to dominate his little friend Ziggy, not in a nasty way, but it was clear Ned was boss!
These 3 new horses are related and Monty, the smallest, has taken up leadership of this small group. With his two giant ginger brothers, he 'bullies' poor little Neddy away from me and makes him stand in the barn!! Luckily they let him eat and drink. Ned does get along with Charlie though, the biggest of the gingers.
 
Somewhere between 1 & 2, with rug ripping being the reason he's a pain. 2 months isn't all that long really so he's just reminding them who's boss at the moment I reckon.
 
Sounds like A is dominant and, because this behaviour is gratuitous, is also a bit of a bully - not in a vindictive sense, but he doesn't need to be aggressive at all. This is all normal and natural for domestic herds.
 
Thanks all . . . FWIW, I see it as pretty normal herd politics . . . no surprise that horse C is my boy Kali. I find it fascinating to watch and don't actually mind that much b/c there's no real physical violence in it . . . and Kal is so easy-going that when either A or B run him off, he goes just as far as he needs to (usually at a fast walk/slow trot) and then finds his way to another pile of hay/patch of grass and/or waits them out. The rug ripping is annoying . . . Horse A just hangs onto the back of Kal's rugs and won't let go . . . even Kal gets annoyed and will squeal, buck and kick out until A stops.

I asked the question, though, b/c other people at the yard have very different views . . . with some folks bordering on calling A a bully. Me? I think it's pretty normal . . . and as long as they're not kicking seven bells out of each other, am prepared to let them get on with it.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
Thanks all . . . FWIW, I see it as pretty normal herd politics . . . no surprise that horse C is my boy Kali. I find it fascinating to watch and don't actually mind that much b/c there's no real physical violence in it . . . and Kal is so easy-going that when either A or B run him off, he goes just as far as he needs to (usually at a fast walk/slow trot) and then finds his way to another pile of hay/patch of grass and/or waits them out. The rug ripping is annoying . . . Horse A just hangs onto the back of Kal's rugs and won't let go . . . even Kal gets annoyed and will squeal, buck and kick out until A stops.

I asked the question, though, b/c other people at the yard have very different views . . . with some folks bordering on calling A a bully. Me? I think it's pretty normal . . . and as long as they're not kicking seven bells out of each other, am prepared to let them get on with it.

P
Click to expand...

I imagine this is the problem. A & B are entirely aware that C isn't entirely submissive, in fact I bet C is slowly acquiring a more dominant position. All in all sounds v normal and interesting herd dynamic.
 
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