Gelding aggressive behavior, mares?

[Michen]

My gelding is stabled in between a mare and a gelding (with bars as dividers in between), and turned out with a very friendly and low key little arabian. He's being increasingly aggressive towards him, and whilst he's a bossy/dominant horse he's never been like this (both back legs out kicking for no reason etc).

I am going to do a round of omeprazole, as he's had a LOT going on with a yard move in October (and a pig that terrified him for the first week), and various other large things. That said, he's not showing the other signs I saw when I last suspected/treated for ulcers.

Barn owner suggested we move his stall away from the mare, as maybe that could be creating a shift in his character? He was gelded late, and 5 years ago when we tried to turn him out with another gelding and in a field with a mare next door, he wouldn't let the gelding anywhere near the fence line and was a real pain. But the mares are no where near him in turnout, not even in site.

Has anyone had general mare influence/closeness alter a geldings behaviour like this!? If he doesn't respond to ulcer meds and moving stables, I'm at a bit of a loss. He's really nice to/with the horse when inside and turned out in the indoor arena together, or if you let them touch noses over their run etc. Seems to be just the field.

 

[twiggy2]

Stabling him away from mares sou ds like a really sensible place to start given his history

 

[Michen]

Stabling him away from mares sou ds like a really sensible place to start given his history

Unfortunately for him that means going next door to the pig, who sleeps in his arabian friends stable. But given they touched noses the other day, hopefully that'll become a true friend

 

[twiggy2]

Unfortunately for him that means going next door to the pig, who sleeps in his arabian friends stable. But given they touched noses the other day, hopefully that'll become a true friend

Ah, maybe not ideal but worth a try

 

[Gloi]

Unfortunately for him that means going next door to the pig, who sleeps in his arabian friends stable. But given they touched noses the other day, hopefully that'll become a true friend

That's what he gets for being mean.

 

[Michen]

That's what he gets for being mean.

I totally agree

 

[SEL]

My old YO ended up putting her ancient TB gelding on a course of hormone drugs when he started thinking he was a stallion - it came out of the blue.

Same stuff they use for hormonal mares but I've forgotten the name.

I think he had it for about 6 months, then they took him off it and he was back to his usual self.

Might be worth asking your vet.

 

[Michen]

My old YO ended up putting her ancient TB gelding on a course of hormone drugs when he started thinking he was a stallion - it came out of the blue.

Same stuff they use for hormonal mares but I've forgotten the name.

I think he had it for about 6 months, then they took him off it and he was back to his usual self.

Might be worth asking your vet.

Oh interesting, thanks for that! I guess we have to be careful what we give him drugs wise at the moment, I'm not sure. Vet back for more e stim accupuncture in 10 days so I'll ask.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's ulcery given everything he's gone through although he was treated for a full month post hospital discharge, but he's all sweetness and light the rest of the time so seems a bit odd.

 

[AutumnDays]

A friend had a late gelded lad who was horrible to other boys after being near mares (like Bog, stabled next to a mare, turned out with boys). Like he was having hormonal mood changes too! I jokingly suggested trying some of the Oestress I had her on for her mood swings to see if it helped.... And it did! Took a bit of time to build up but it definitely helped him. Not too sure if you can get that out with you, or if it's suitable for him given he's had a lot going on, but just thought I'd share an experience

 

[Michen]

A friend had a late gelded lad who was horrible to other boys after being near mares (like Bog, stabled next to a mare, turned out with boys). Like he was having hormonal mood changes too! I jokingly suggested trying some of the Oestress I had her on for her mood swings to see if it helped.... And it did! Took a bit of time to build up but it definitely helped him. Not too sure if you can get that out with you, or if it's suitable for him given he's had a lot going on, but just thought I'd share an experience

This is really interesting, I thought it was such a long shot that this could be triggering the behaviour but maybe not. Maybe should have tried that first before I bought a load of omeprazole but hey ho

Thank you- I'll look into this!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi was gelded late and he will turn on geldings his previously been ok with if mares are around, I always had to have a field that was away from mares or he just got a pit with the others in his field.

I've actually opened up my small field so he likes to stand at the back gate looking at all the mares in the that backs on to mine, the mares also stand in the corner so they are all close.

I've seen him chase off Louis several times while he is entertaining his fan club his just a little shit sometimes, hopefully the novelty will wear off soon.

 

[mavandkaz]

I can easily see that being near the mare could cause these issues. Sham is a complete tart, and although he generally loves everything, there have been mares that he has become fixated on and does his best stallion impersonation.
When he was being overly friendly with belle I did come across some comments from people who gave Oestress to their geldings.
It tends to be belle that gets defensive of Sham, and she will go for other geldings if she thinks they are getting too friendly with him

So yes, my money is on the mare causing Bog to get hormonal and display his assertiveness

 

[Jenko109]

I've seen geldings become nothing short of dangerous with too much influence from a mare.

Moving him away from the mare sounds like a smart move.

 

[Michen]

I can easily see that being near the mare could cause these issues. Sham is a complete tart, and although he generally loves everything, there have been mares that he has become fixated on and does his best stallion impersonation.
When he was being overly friendly with belle I did come across some comments from people who gave Oestress to their geldings.
It tends to be belle that gets defensive of Sham, and she will go for other geldings if she thinks they are getting too friendly with him

So yes, my money is on the mare causing Bog to get hormonal and display his assertiveness

Actually though I totally forgot Boggle was near Belle, although he couldn’t actually see her!?

So maybe it didn’t cause an extra bit of meanness towards Bear.

 

[Aperchristmas]

I think your instinct about ulcers is very sensible, so no harm in a course of omeprazole. I'd consider moving him too to see if that helps, it sounds like he's never going to be the perfect turnout buddy but he may calm down a bit once he's away from a mare.

 

[mavandkaz]

Actually though I totally forgot Boggle was near Belle, although he couldn’t actually see her!?

So maybe it didn’t cause an extra bit of meanness towards Bear.

It could be horse specific.
Belle is very picky about who she lets near her, or near sham.
(Bear, and Nibs were fine. But she has actually lunged at Locky whilst being ridden. There is now a mare behind her through the bars and she is vile to her.) I can imagine that a gelding who can act a bit riggy might well be similar, and have very different behaviours to certain horses.

 

[Michen]

Arabi was gelded late and he will turn on geldings his previously been ok with if mares are around, I always had to have a field that was away from mares or he just got a pit with the others in his field.

I've actually opened up my small field so he likes to stand at the back gate looking at all the mares in the that backs on to mine, the mares also stand in the corner so they are all close.

I've seen him chase off Louis several times while he is entertaining his fan club his just a little shit sometimes, hopefully the novelty will wear off soon.

Yeah it’s this though.. I saw him go for bear with teeth but never connect plenty of times but actually can’t recall him ever kicking out at him like that. More likely to rear and play.

It’s odd that when we turn them out in the indoor together he’s sweet as pie.

 

[Clodagh]

Is he shod behind? And how does the grey’s owner feel about it? Can he not only be out alone (and I’m sorry, you have probably answered that somewhere!).

 

[Michen]

Is he shod behind? And how does the grey’s owner feel about it? Can he not only be out alone (and I’m sorry, you have probably answered that somewhere!).

No he's unshod. Grey's owner is very sensible about it, doesn't want to split them up but obviously we want to improve things. He has not, yet, ever left a mark on him bite mark or otherwise and grey horse usually gets out of the way but snow/ice can make that challenging!

No he won't settle out alone and the pasture doesn't allow for them to be split up (one pasture, another for mares, then the rest of the geldings roam the property free, frozen ground for any temp fencing, water needs heating etc etc)

 

[Michen]

What a pain in the arse he sounds like lol. Won't stay out happy alone, doesn't like his friend...

 

[tatty_v]

My gelding was turned out with another for years, perfectly civil to each other. Introduced a Shetland mare so we could manage separation anxiety and all hell broke loose. My boy’s formerly polite (and fairly elderly!) companion turned into a raging nightmare in one afternoon. He had to be separated from the other two for his own safety and the experiment ended after 24hrs. He went straight back to being his lovely polite self thereafter!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yeah it’s this though.. I saw him go for bear with teeth but never connect plenty of times but actually can’t recall him ever kicking out at him like that. More likely to rear and play.

It’s odd that when we turn them out in the indoor together he’s sweet as pie.

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Maybe try a few supplements like agnus cactus or rig calm or something similar, it sounds like a dominance thing to me.

It could be a bit of boredom and a bit too much energy as his on rest at the moment Arabi is definitely worse when his not ridden.

 

[Sandstone1]

I was about to suggest rig calm. It might help.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Hang rugs up so they can’t see each other. Some horses prefer this.

 

[teapot]

One specific mare on the same site (not even close field wise) would send my bestie's old enough to know better hoss into a gawping spooking idiot every single time he saw her...

I'd put money on it being the mare as root cause at Boggle's change in behaviour.

 

[ester]

Some of Frank's best friends soon became worst enemies if either of 'their' mares were about.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

My gelding was cut at the right time but would be a tart and flirt with random geldings....or the oseto when she worked a knot out of a rather tight mucsle, lots of deep breaths, sniffing, nuzzeling and becoming rather excited she had to step away for him to calm down and relax

He would also be mean and chase the geldings in his field when he was normally fine....we put him on the gold label ostraban which is agns castus he went back to normal.

 

[Michen]

Well look whose being nicer to his field buddy…still bossy and dominant of course but but seems more his usual “levels”.

 

[Bradsmum]

That‘s very trusting of the grey considering. Long may it continue.

 

[ycbm]

Well look whose being nicer to his field buddy…still bossy and dominant of course but but seems more his usual “levels”.

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That set up with the pens is absolutely fantastic, isn't it? I saw that in a UK livery yard in about 1980, with shorter pens, and I've never seen another.
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