Encourage two horses to get along?

[Honeysrider]

So me and my bestfriend are now on the same yard, the only issue is my horse is a typical moody mare, the second my friends gelding looks her way or even steps within a 10 foot radius she has her ears flat back and pulls faces at him, she never actually hurts her, ust sort of fake bites at him, never actually sinking her teeth in or being vicious but the bared teeth and flat back ears are clear signs of hate lol

the problem is entirely my mare, my friends horse is an old gelding who ive never seen with his ears back, he just sits there and lets my mare get at him.

with time they are getting better she lets him closer without putting her ears back and they dont stress eachother but id like them to get aong, we ride out together and school together and they go on the walker together so they get bonding time, is their anyway i can encourage them to get along or at least be civil

 

[milliepops]

how long have they been doing stuff together?

My older mare has never really taken to the younger one, they will scrap in the field but they are starting to rub along together a bit better now... after 2.5 years!! They don't fight when I'm around as they both know to mind their manners, but I dread to think what they get up to when I'm away. (silly boogers do call for each other when separated though, what can you do?!)

Sometimes you just can't *make* them like each other, but they can learn to behave well - I ride and lead mine regularly without an issue because they know to just get on with it then (and I tell them off if they poke faces at each other).

 

[Honeysrider]

a few weeks? but they spend almost everyday together as their stables are opposite each other

 

[milliepops]

Hmm I'd say you need to give it more time, but don't assume that 2 horses will end up being best pals just because you want them to... mine have been next to each other the whole time I've had them

 

[twiggy2]

Your mare is just telling him she wants more space, there is nothing you can do other than hope with time she will feel more comfortable with him near her.

 

[Enfys]

If the old boy seems to accept staying out of your mares bubble then that's fine. Some horses do have a bigger 'bubble' than others.

I have one mare who has been here 2 years, her companion mare adores her but isn't allowed within 10' of her.

New mare joined the gang early November, boss mare won't have her within 20', buddy mare won't let her near boss mare at all, but new mare is gradually creeping closer and closer to buddy mare.

New mare went away for a night recently, my two paced and screamed, and galloped and screeched, and stood and stared for the entire time, they were all hollering 20 minutes before she rode back, touched noses over the fence, then went back to chasing her off again. Horses. Good job they generally seem to accept everything and not hold grudges. Personally, if I was my Buddy mare I'd bloody well suffocate Boss mare in her sleep.