Companion horses that don't get on...

[Jericho]

Does anyone have this? I have a 15.1hh 12 yr old mare and I foster a 11hh 18 yr old gelding to keep each other company. The thing is that I really don't think my mare likes him and shows absolutely no attachment to him at all. She poodles around the field quite happy on her own, never scratches withers with him.

He on the other hand is a pushy bolshy little s*d - who insists on going through every gateway first, pushing anything out of his way (although not me as I just won't stand for it), herding her around just for fun, continuously moving her off her hay even though he has another 2 hay places yet he goes absolutely mental (I mean will climb out of a stable, go through any fence, whinnying frenziedly, galloping around) even if I so much as put a head collar on her to lead her to yard, even he can see her still. Hence going out for a hack is a major operation to keel him for harming himself and trashing my yard!

She couldn't care less. They spend the whole time just bickering like little children. My mare never ever puts her ears back at anything except him and it's becoming more worse as I have noticed that they are actually backing up to each other with the threat of kicking. She is getting really jumpy and aloof and won't approach me if he is near by. ( and this is a mare who have bonded with very well with after trying hard to get past her aloofness.)

Even though he is such a s*d this wouldn't bother me if I thought she actually liked him and he isn't really fulfilling his job as a companion to her very well. Do you think horses think like this? They do generally stand together at a distance, lie down nearby but I think its more him being clingy than her. If he moves on, she is quite happy to stand on her own. If she moves a hoof he is on at her immediately. So sad to watch really, he has such issues and she looks pretty fed up with him... Like if she had the choice he would be the very last biscuit left in the tin

 

[Barleyboo]

We've got a shetland that was my old pony's companion when he went blind. She was wonderful with him and they were always grazing peacefully together. Now I have a new youngster and she is horrible to him, traps him in the shelter for hours on end, keeps him away from the hay and water etc. We can't even tie them up close together as she will give him both barrels and he is terrified of her despite being a solid 15.2 cob! Needless to say they are now kept in adjoining paddocks. I've never seen her behave like this with any other ponies/horses and she is sweetness itself with my son.

 

[beeswax]

i think you are seeing it from a humans emotional perspective. i bet if you took him away she would certainly have a say. as they are of different sex they wont actually groom each other until she comes in to season and is probably a bit peed off because he wants a groom with her and she is probably the one saying she doesnt need him, so dont think he is the bad one here, anyway they are still company for each other and horses need company. my two are exactly the same as what you describe here.