WeeBrown
Well-Known Member
(A bit of background info before the dilemma)
At the minute my mare shares a field with a gelding. They had previously shared a field at another yard with another gelding and all had got on well together - some moving on of the mare by this gelding she's now sharing with but nothing bad. Both geldings knew that he (gelding she's now in with) was the boss but nothing sinister. Anyway he moved yards a few months before I did and when I moved to same yard a bit later they were put in together. He has still been fine but a little bit more dominant. I put it down to us being in a field where there were no other horses present except two in a field to one side of us and they were only there some of the time so he didn't really get used to them being there. Last week we were moved into a new field - the middle field of three and there are a field of 3 mare on one side and a field of 3 geldings (mainly shetlands) on the other. My mare has come into season, as have the mares in the other field and for some reason my mare has took a liking to the mares. They don't do anything bad except squirting and mutual grooming but this is driving the gelding a bit mad. He is running at the fences on both sides of the field, herding her more than ever and it some instances has kicked out at my mare when she gets close to thses others (mares or geldings). This weekend he tried to mount one of the mares over the fence and today has been striking out with his front hoof.
So the dilemma. I get on really well with his owner, she's absolutely lovely and the kind who can't do enough for you - will check on my horse if I can't get up, hold for farrier, rug/bring in if awful weather and I'm off for the day. Until we moved, her horse and mine got on lovely - we knew he was boss but nothing overly bad. Now I'm really worried for my mare. To make matters worse I have just bought the other gelding they used to be in with but I can't see him fitting back in with the way the dominant one is now acting (my new gelding is a real wimp and was always bottom of pecking order behind my mare). The only other field available on this yard is one that is away from the other fields (and main yard) and it is right next to the main road. They have been in this during the day but I have never left them at night for fear of them being stolen. Am I being too picky? I do have a habit of panicking for nothing! Do you think once the new gelding is introduced the dominant one will calm down? Should I just have the other field and stop worrying about people pinching my horses (or the fact that my mare is a nightmare to get back to the stable from this field as she has to go past loads of tractors/trailers and spooks at everything?
Sorry for essay! By the way I don't want to cause probs for other gelding owner - I like her for herself not what she does for me (I pay my instructor for full livery when I need it), this livery is just naturally kind and we help eachother out when we can.
At the minute my mare shares a field with a gelding. They had previously shared a field at another yard with another gelding and all had got on well together - some moving on of the mare by this gelding she's now sharing with but nothing bad. Both geldings knew that he (gelding she's now in with) was the boss but nothing sinister. Anyway he moved yards a few months before I did and when I moved to same yard a bit later they were put in together. He has still been fine but a little bit more dominant. I put it down to us being in a field where there were no other horses present except two in a field to one side of us and they were only there some of the time so he didn't really get used to them being there. Last week we were moved into a new field - the middle field of three and there are a field of 3 mare on one side and a field of 3 geldings (mainly shetlands) on the other. My mare has come into season, as have the mares in the other field and for some reason my mare has took a liking to the mares. They don't do anything bad except squirting and mutual grooming but this is driving the gelding a bit mad. He is running at the fences on both sides of the field, herding her more than ever and it some instances has kicked out at my mare when she gets close to thses others (mares or geldings). This weekend he tried to mount one of the mares over the fence and today has been striking out with his front hoof.
So the dilemma. I get on really well with his owner, she's absolutely lovely and the kind who can't do enough for you - will check on my horse if I can't get up, hold for farrier, rug/bring in if awful weather and I'm off for the day. Until we moved, her horse and mine got on lovely - we knew he was boss but nothing overly bad. Now I'm really worried for my mare. To make matters worse I have just bought the other gelding they used to be in with but I can't see him fitting back in with the way the dominant one is now acting (my new gelding is a real wimp and was always bottom of pecking order behind my mare). The only other field available on this yard is one that is away from the other fields (and main yard) and it is right next to the main road. They have been in this during the day but I have never left them at night for fear of them being stolen. Am I being too picky? I do have a habit of panicking for nothing! Do you think once the new gelding is introduced the dominant one will calm down? Should I just have the other field and stop worrying about people pinching my horses (or the fact that my mare is a nightmare to get back to the stable from this field as she has to go past loads of tractors/trailers and spooks at everything?
Sorry for essay! By the way I don't want to cause probs for other gelding owner - I like her for herself not what she does for me (I pay my instructor for full livery when I need it), this livery is just naturally kind and we help eachother out when we can.