For those interested in Equine Behaviour...

[Sarah1]

...what do you make of my ridiculous horses behaviour last night...?!

I'd popped my two in a different paddock for a bit of grass Sun eve & when I got to yard last night big lad had managed to barrel thro the electric fence (must not be on) and get into the side where the really long grass was – god knows how long he’d been in there but there’s no water in that side & it serves him right for being a piggy! – I went to fetch him & he started wandering towards me as he does but the head collars were on the fence in the side I’d originally put him in so I walked past him saying I’d be back for him in a min & into the side where shetland companion pony was...big lad flipped out! He was tearing up & down the fence line (which was just tape on the floor, quite easily stepped over!), tried to squish a pheasant, then did a massive jump over this tiny bit of tape on the floor, talk about over the top! He galloped to me & then turned his bum on pony & started bucking like a lunatic – I think because she’d made her way over to me for me to pop her head collar on, just like the usual drill only without Bailey being in on the act! I yelled at him & he stopped & I went to get his head collar on before putting hers on cos I was worried he’d try to stomp on her again!

I have never known him be so jealous, it was really bizarre behaviour for him. He wasn't being aggressive towards me just pony He’s never been like that with her before & I’ll have to keep an eye on him cos if he’s going to start bullying her he’ll be put in with one of the others who'll stand up to him more, altho Bailey isn't an aggresive horse at all, usually very friendly.

Jealous is the only way I can describe it altho I don't believe it was jealousy as they don't have the same emotions as us! I don't know what was up with him - he wouldn't even have thought he'd be left on his own as I ALWAYS bring them out together.

Probably just the extra grass went to his head!

 

[Sarah Sum1]

Ah, yes think he was high on long grass! Wanted to see his mummy first.

 

[YorksG]

Ours behaved very badly with the electric fence last night, had a strand across the gate way to back up the gate. As I opened the gap with the electric gate handle they went a bit bonkers, I think that because the ground was damp it was conducting the electricity particularly well and the sensetive little petal picked up on it, maybe the same with your lad?

 

[Sarah1]

I think you might be right - he was hopped up on grass!!!!!! Either that or he thought pony would get something edible he wasn't having - that boy only think about his stomach!

 

[Sarah1]

No, I don't think the electric was on as he'd actually trashed the fence! When it's on he does at least have the good sense to steer clear!

 

[marmalade76]

Although I don't think horses love like we do, they definitely get jealous and possesive, as do dogs.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Sounds perfectly normal to me (well not abnormal you know). I wouldn't worry. Your big horse was probably just shocked to see the little one being caught before him and felt he had to tell her off to remind her that he is boss. He should be back to normal tomorrow (as long as he doesn't escape again!). He only acted strangley due to being in shock at having found himself in a different field last night (I know he put himself there, but he probably forgot how he got there hence the silly behaviour and enormous leap over the strand of wire etc).