following on from 'top dog'-why?

[vickers22]

Does anyone know why some horses become 'top dog' more than others?Zak is second in the rankings after my friends mare Star who is nasty to him!!But I never know why Zak walks away when she comes along, and why he doesnt just turn his bum to her and stand his ground!And then you have different rankings, like there is another horse who is above Star, but below Zak!It makes no snese to me....if only they could talk lol. just nature and personality i suppose

 

[kerilli]

absolutely, just like people, it's their basic personality.
i read that Murphy Himself, probably the bravest xc horse any of us will ever see, was quite a wimp in the field and got bullied by all other horses... as the Americans say, "go figure"...
i bred 2 geldings, full brothers and their basic personalities were evident from about 20 minutes old. they were chalk and cheese all their lives, even though they were both only handled by me, and their personalities hardly wavered from those first reactions at such a young age. amazing.
i have found that brave xc mares are usually dominant in the herd, but that may be because they don't get to go out with all the others till they're older, retired, been there and done that, worldly-wise etc!