Does three in a field ever work ? Billy no mates pony.

B

BBH

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
9,357
Visit site
I have three ponies in my field and the bigger two are bessie mates which is lovely but it does mean Sec A pony Hamish is rather left out.

In fact he has more fun with my bullmastiff than the other ponies, he does play with her when she's in his field and follows me around like a dog.

Is he missing out on an equine friend of his own though or it it enough to have other species so to speak as substitutes.

Am a complete convert to the smallies, he's such a dude.
 
Three in a field does work, but there will always be a pecking order, and unfortunately its usually the smallest that get's the short straw.

However, that said, I have 16h warmblood stallion, a 15h Anglo Arab mare and a 13h Welsh Gelding... you'll never guess whose the boss??? the smallest one - he even bosses the stallion around. So I wouldn't worry too much, if they are not obviously going for him, ears back etc etc, teeth showing, he has been accepted in the herd, but just at the bottom!. :o
 
Yeah sure. My mare was out with two others and they all got on fine. There was one mare who was more of a loner than the other two (and sometimes got a bit bullied) but generally their little group seemed quite a happy one.
 
i have a new smallie to and my mare was an absolute goat to him. In the begining my gelding protected him from her but after a few days he was all over my mare again and little smallie was left out. i now have the mare at the front of the field away from them (shes the only one in work) and my tb gelding and the smallie at the back so he has company when i ride the mare. now oddly the smallie makes the most fuss when i take the mare out, the whole reason hes was there was to keep my hysterical tb company and smallie is the one going under the post and rail following us up :-/
 
I am just trying to work this out. I started off with my TB gelding and native pony mare who got on ok but weren't at all loved up! Although they didn't like one being taken away from the field, they never groomed each other etc butalso never argued really. TB was boss.

Then, pony went on loan and I got another gelding. He is an idiot and can be agressive - he is mostly sweet but has these moments - I think he has mental issues (I'm not being flippant I really think he does) so after a while the two boys got used to each other, new younger one stopped trying to kick precious old one, old TB remained boss. They get on well mostly, and groom each other every day. they also have moments where they 'play' which alarm me as TB is really quite elderly now.

Anyway, native pony mare came home a few weeks ago and 'new' boy has returned to his agressive ness. He hasn't touched her, but runs at her ears back teeth bared. She runs away and keeps out of his way. I have her in a small pen within their field in the hope that he will get used to her and I think he is gradually. Would like for them to be able to be all together.
 
We have two geldings (16hh and 14hh) and a 13hh mare. Mare is definitely bottom of the heap but they all seem quite happy together despite this. They snooze together, groom each other etc and all get on well. Sometimes I do think she would like another mare for company but that just gives me an excuse to buy another at some point... :D
 
I think it does work, But as someone said already there will always be a pecking order so one will always be slightly left out.

My share Horse is with 2 geldings, Theres my share Mare 15.1hh WBX, a 15hh TBXConnie and a 17.2hh WB. The TBX is the boss off the field, even though he is the smallest, next its my share Horse then last is the 17.2. He does sometimes get left out but his quite good on his own so doesn't really seem to notice much.
 
Smallie is in no way bullied so am not worried on that score but I just feel sorry for him being left out. He doesn't get any nice grooming or companionship from them.

He was acquired as a lawn mower and last night was doing lawnmower duties at the back of the stables. This morning I took him back to the field and his field mates were right over the far side. Well he shouted out and galloped over to them as fast as those stumpy legs would carry him and they totally ignored him :(

Just feel bit sorry for him.
 
Last edited:
BBH said:
Smallie is in no way bullied so am not worried on that score but I just feel sorry for him being left out. He doesn't get any nice grooming or companionship from them.

He was acquired as a lawn mower and last night was doing lawnmower duties at the back of the stables. This morning I took him back to the field and his field mates were right over the far side. Well he shouted out and galloped over to them as fast as those stumpy legs would carry him and they totally ignored him :(

Just feel bit sorry for him.
Click to expand...

Aww, bless Smallie. He/she sounds adorable! I recently bought myself a Mini Shetland and put her in with my boyfriends mums two ponies. One of the ponies, Cherry, isn't keen on my little Betsy, will charge at her and try to give Betsy a kick or a bite (luckily Betsy's too quick for Cherry to get to her) so Cherry won't go out of her way to do so. But the other pony, Brandy, loves Betsy to pieces. Whenever Betsy leaves the field Brandy freaks and won't stop calling out to her. It can be rather embarrassing as me and Betsy are walking through the village and she's literally screeching so loud it hurts my ears and everyone stares at us (LOL).

Anyway, I'm sure your little Smallie will be fine :) have you maybe considered another "smallie" for your Smallie?
 
i have three mares together - unfortunatly the two younger ones are a bit mean to the aged one (who's prob over 40 and still going strong) but we separate her every day for a few hours am and a few hours pm so she can suck her food down in peace (no teeth) but she seems happy enough - we always make sure that there are at least 4 piles of hay too so that she has some to suck on (see about note re teeth!)
she actually seems to be quite happy - before i put my mare in with them the younger horse 'walked' the older one constantly - v odd to watch - walked her round and round the field - now she is left alone as if anyone gets walked its my horse - but that's fine as it keeps her fit lol!
 
cloe1993 said:
Aww, bless Smallie. He/she sounds adorable! I recently bought myself a Mini Shetland and put her in with my boyfriends mums two ponies. One of the ponies, Cherry, isn't keen on my little Betsy, will charge at her and try to give Betsy a kick or a bite (luckily Betsy's too quick for Cherry to get to her) so Cherry won't go out of her way to do so. But the other pony, Brandy, loves Betsy to pieces. Whenever Betsy leaves the field Brandy freaks and won't stop calling out to her. It can be rather embarrassing as me and Betsy are walking through the village and she's literally screeching so loud it hurts my ears and everyone stares at us (LOL).

Anyway, I'm sure your little Smallie will be fine :) have you maybe considered another "smallie" for your Smallie?
Click to expand...


Cute as he is I don't want anymore smallies or largies come to that :D

Sounds like yours have a dose of the jealousies going on there.
 
I have three mares, they all get on fine. Meg is the boss but is quite happy grazing on her own while little horror filly feet is trying to play with old Juno. I don't have any worries about my three together, Juno will keep the peace, Meg can keep herself to herself and Penny annoys both before giving up and having a sit down!
Juno is the one who gets stressy (if at all) if either of the other two are not in the right place, bless the old girl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top