Dominant mare in field - is it normal?

[Erehwemos]

I will try to keep this as brief as possible

Ellie has been kept alone for the last two years of her life, up until October 2008. Before that time, she was turned out with various horses and ponies of both sexes (at our own yard, all belonged to us). The 'dominant' force among our little herd was always Pippa, our elderly Welsh A - the others all kowtowed to her, and she used to squirt like crazy at them all

Ellie was perhaps second in the pecking order, and occasionally squabbled with Pippa, but there were never any problems to speak of.
When we moved to the new yard, Ellie went out with two mares, one with whom she instantly bonded. There was lots of squealing and pawing the air, but they got on really well - the other mare always looked for Ellie when she wasnt there, although Elz definitely wore the trousers. The other pony in the field is a bit of a loner, but again, there were no problems. They all stayed together in a big field over the winter, perfectly happily.
There are six mares at the yard, and YO wants them all grouped up together for the summer so that the winter fields can be rested. For the past fortnight, Ellie and pony friend have been one side of electric fence whilst the other four mares are the other side. They have all been acting very strangely towards her; there is natural curiosity, of course, but they all squirt at her as soon as she looks at them, and she does a wonderful stallion impression of trotting, neck arched beautifully, along the fence line. There is a bit of squealing, but it seems to be more on the part of the current, previously undisputed 'boss' of the field than Ellie. I have also noticed that Ellie will turn away from the fence and graze quietly, whilst the others will queue up at the fence line, watching and squirting

YO has commented that it seems to be taking a long time for them to get used to each other, and she says she's never known the girls all act so mareish towards a new arrival, not ever. It has been suggested that I should try putting Ellie on Regumate in case she is sending off weird vibes to the others, but there is no way I am going to do that - her behaviour now is no different than it has always been, and I do not want to go pumping her full of unnecessary hormones just because she appears to be dominant....
Longwinded I know, but would you say that this type of behaviour is fairly normal in a horse with a strong personality, or am I deluding myself? I'm of the mindset that it would be best just to let them all out with each other now and get any squealing/jealousy over and done with - the pecking order will soon be re-established, and if that means that Ellie will become the new 'boss' then so be it - but I dont think YO intends to take the fence down for a good few weeks yet. Are some mares just born to be an 'alpha'?

 

[SnowandSunshine]

I think they all have a sense of where they stand in the heirarchy. Mine is 21 and has been at about 10 yards since she was 5. She has pretty much always been the boss. However she got hammered by a new mare at the last yard and when she lost the fight she became very 'adoring' of the new boss. When she came into season she would be all over boss mare and scream if they were seperated.

Tbh I wouldn't think regumate will make any difference - she'll still be a dominant mare. As you say I think you have to bite the bullet and accept there might be a few scrapes. What I like about mares is they sort it out fairly quickly and then everything settles down whereas boys constantly bicker and play and end up with cuts/bites/nicks all over them.

 

[Erehwemos]

Yep I've noticed that! The boys are being put back into a group too - there are seven of them, including two newbies - and already a couple have come in with quite nasty kicks to the legs and hocks

Touch wood, the mares seem to do all their scrapping vocally!

I certainly didnt like the Regumate suggestion

 

[Cahill]

[ QUOTE ]
Are some mares just born to be an 'alpha'?

[/ QUOTE ]

well,some-ones got to be in charge

i remember reading an article years ago about could some-one `up` their horse in the pecking order?.basically it said that good horse care and installing confidence and it was possible.

ellie is obviously loved and cared for and is confident to take on the no.1 job.

 

[Sparklet]

Hi...introducing a new horse into a herd or grazing adjascent to a group of mares at this time of year tends to bring them into season. Sadly all that is on their minds is sex lol. Squirting isnt a sign of dominance but a signal that the horse is ready for a bit of action.

I think what you are experiencing is entirely normal for a group of mares so I wouldnt worry and I certainly wouldnt give her any hormones because yours isnt the one being marish. It will all settled down as they go out of season and also realise that your horse isnt in fact a sexy stallion.

 

[Hedwards]

are they being put into a brand new field, or just taking the divinding fence down? - sometimes this helps, my old mare was very dominant when someone new joined 'her' field, but on the odd occasion if we were moving to a brand new field, and a new one joined there was far less of a dominance struggle as it wasnt any mare's particular patch, it just came down to who had more support or was braver to take the command in a new situation. i dont know if it will make a difference to all horses though, my old mare was a very odd one! wouldnt have changed her marish ways for the world though!

 

[Cahill]

i have noticed with mine ,how no1 sometimes sits back and lets no2 do his bossing work for him.

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are some mares just born to be an 'alpha'?

[/ QUOTE ]

well,some-ones got to be in charge

i remember reading an article years ago about could some-one `up` their horse in the pecking order?.basically it said that good horse care and installing confidence and it was possible.

ellie is obviously loved and cared for and is confident to take on the no.1 job.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
are they being put into a brand new field, or just taking the divinding fence down? - sometimes this helps, my old mare was very dominant when someone new joined 'her' field, but on the odd occasion if we were moving to a brand new field, and a new one joined there was far less of a dominance struggle as it wasnt any mare's particular patch, it just came down to who had more support or was braver to take the command in a new situation. i dont know if it will make a difference to all horses though, my old mare was a very odd one! wouldnt have changed her marish ways for the world though!

[/ QUOTE ]

The field they are in is new to Ellie, but not to the four other mares, who wintered out there (it's slightly bigger and drier than where Ellie was). I *think* YO rotates them into other fields through the summer....but am not entirely sure, they may end up staying in this one! As its my first year here, I'm not totally au fait with it all

And thank you Sparklet - I was, tbh, a bit cross at the suggestion she might have something wrong with her or need to go on something

As far as I'm aware, it is all just natural, and very typical of mares! I've resisted Regumate with a passion in the past when it was suggested I should put her on it to prevent mood swings when we were competing - and there is no way I'm going to start putting her on it now!

 

[ha903070]

Try not to worry, my two mares have been out in a group of 45 for a couple of years and a new mare came to the yard to be introduced to the group recently.

She was in the field next to theirs for a week or so, there was lots of squirting, squealing over the wall etc.

She was put in with them just over a week ago, they've carried on the squealing and squirting and showing off but thats all it was. All seems to be settling now - and it seems all the mares have had their first season of the year too which probably enhanced their behaviour.

They just need to find their new pecking order and all will settle down I'm sure.