Erehwemos
Well-Known Member
I know I have posted about this before, but here goes!
We are still in the situation where Ellie is not fully integrated with the rest of the mares (there are 5 of them). Over the winter, she was put out with two mares; however one of these is now in the adjacent paddock (same field, separated by electric fencing) whilst the other stays in most of the time as she cannot be caught easily. There are two other mares in the adjacent paddock, whilst the 'Boss' was put in with Ellie. They have been together, without mishap (well, pretty much anyway - Ellie had a minor scrape on her thigh this week but that has been the only sign of any unwanted contact) for over three weeks now.
The YO is wonderful - I must stress that fact. She is great to talk to, and if you have any issues, worries or problems she makes you feel completely at ease approaching her about them. She has said, however, that her one hang up is the fear of horses being kicked in the field - and as such, she doesnt want to put Ellie out with the rest until they have stopped squealing at each other over the fence. I understand her thinking, but they are all mares at the end of the day, and I cant see them actually settling with one another until they are out together and can sort themselves out. It was mentioned a few weeks ago that Ellie 'acts like a stallion' - I very much refute this, and having had my own vet examine and observe her, I am perfectly happy with the fact that she is just a mare, doing what many mares do! She does have a tendency to arch her neck and prance along the fence - as do two of the other mares on the other side - and I have noticed that they squirt at her a lot, although she herself does not squirt at all - never has done, not in all the years I have owned her. YO said the other day that she got her own vet to observe Ellie and the other mares in the field to see if she thought there was anything abnormal - thankfully, her vet agreed with mine that they are just being mares! But...the problem is now that I cannot see a way forward. If YO wants them to be stay apart until they stop noticing and squealing at one another then I cannot see them ever being put back together
I dont think anyone will be able to give any real advice, as at the end of the day the decisions are down to the YO. But I guess I'm just hoping for some reassurance that they may all eventually settle down and stop squealing...even though I doubt it! A couple of the mares are still on their first seasons...so once these are over and done with is it all likely to settle down? Ellie had her first season a month ago - she's due her second soon. This is another thing that many people at the yard seemed to overlook - the fact that their spring seasons disrupt the status quo greatly!
Hmmm
We are still in the situation where Ellie is not fully integrated with the rest of the mares (there are 5 of them). Over the winter, she was put out with two mares; however one of these is now in the adjacent paddock (same field, separated by electric fencing) whilst the other stays in most of the time as she cannot be caught easily. There are two other mares in the adjacent paddock, whilst the 'Boss' was put in with Ellie. They have been together, without mishap (well, pretty much anyway - Ellie had a minor scrape on her thigh this week but that has been the only sign of any unwanted contact) for over three weeks now.
The YO is wonderful - I must stress that fact. She is great to talk to, and if you have any issues, worries or problems she makes you feel completely at ease approaching her about them. She has said, however, that her one hang up is the fear of horses being kicked in the field - and as such, she doesnt want to put Ellie out with the rest until they have stopped squealing at each other over the fence. I understand her thinking, but they are all mares at the end of the day, and I cant see them actually settling with one another until they are out together and can sort themselves out. It was mentioned a few weeks ago that Ellie 'acts like a stallion' - I very much refute this, and having had my own vet examine and observe her, I am perfectly happy with the fact that she is just a mare, doing what many mares do! She does have a tendency to arch her neck and prance along the fence - as do two of the other mares on the other side - and I have noticed that they squirt at her a lot, although she herself does not squirt at all - never has done, not in all the years I have owned her. YO said the other day that she got her own vet to observe Ellie and the other mares in the field to see if she thought there was anything abnormal - thankfully, her vet agreed with mine that they are just being mares! But...the problem is now that I cannot see a way forward. If YO wants them to be stay apart until they stop noticing and squealing at one another then I cannot see them ever being put back together
I dont think anyone will be able to give any real advice, as at the end of the day the decisions are down to the YO. But I guess I'm just hoping for some reassurance that they may all eventually settle down and stop squealing...even though I doubt it! A couple of the mares are still on their first seasons...so once these are over and done with is it all likely to settle down? Ellie had her first season a month ago - she's due her second soon. This is another thing that many people at the yard seemed to overlook - the fact that their spring seasons disrupt the status quo greatly!
Hmmm
