Do other horses react differently to a pregnant mare?

[Wagtail]

As title really. I have been experiencing some unusual behaviour towards my early pregnant mare from the other horses. She is more submissive and they have become more aggressive (chasing her away). Is this normal? She is with two other mares and a gelding and got on with them fine before.

 

[Cop-Pop]

When one of my YOs mares was pregnant the others kept double barrelling her in the stomach so she had to seperate them. I don't know if this was a case of the others doing it becaise their leader did it tho as I wasn't a livery at the time.

 

[Wagtail]

That's interesting, thanks. I hope I don't have to separate her as she can't go in with the gelding herd and hates to be on her own.

 

[scarymare]

This happened to a friend of mine too. Mare was double barrelled by horses who broke the fence to get at her.

My experience is the opposite though. My in foal TB bottom of the food chain broodmare is adored by everyone. I can even turn her out with my riggy gelding who mounts everything else and he just follows her around like a love sick puppy. I tried to separate her this morning from her current field mate (7 year old mare) and said mare just jumped the fence to get back to her as so protective.

Weird as this was absolutely not the case before

 

[Tickles]

It certainly happens with humans! The smell changes with hormones etc even before there are visual indications.

 

[Nagling]

I've got my two month pregnant mare with just one other young mare to avoid that happening. Is there any way you can section of a bit of field so that she is protected but not alone?

 

[Magicmillbrook]

My mare is very sensitive and was totaly fixated with a horse at my old yard who was pregnant. When I was pregant my mare seemed to want to rest her head on me/nuzzle me contantly. Got a bit annoying in the end. Our other horses were all very calm and well behaved around me too.

 

[Wagtail]

I've got my two month pregnant mare with just one other young mare to avoid that happening. Is there any way you can section of a bit of field so that she is protected but not alone?

I have had her in her own paddock next to the others and she just neighs and squeals. I think she would get used to it but it would cause problems with turnout in the winter as they are already out in shifts in the all weather and she would never stay there on her own. Never considered this problem when I put her in foal as it wasn't something I had been warned about. So far it has been harmless (no contact - just warning kicks) but I will keep a very close eye and if things don't settle down then I may have to rethink the herd situation.