Herd problems

[Grumpymoo]

My two horses (welsh gelding and Shetland mare) are turned out with two other Shetlands (one gelding and one mare) My gelding is the boss followed by the other mare and the other two are bottom of the herd.

This has been fine although the other mare does occasionally bully my mare by chasing her around but its nothing awful although if I take my mare away the other mare gets terrible seperation anxiety and gallops around calling for her and gets herself into a bad state. They were moved into a smaller paddock and since then she has bullied my mare quite badly to the point of mine escaping through the electric fencing on more than one occasion. If she doesn't escape she continually chases her around and my mare ends up a sweaty mess. I have sepperated them for now but they can not stay this way as there is no grass at all where my two are currently so they need to move back ASAP. Whilst they have been sepperated the other mare is going crazy and will not settle. Has anyone ever had this problem?

It seems so odd that she bullies her the whole time she is there but can't cope when she is taken away and why is she worse now they have moved fields?

 

[thehorsephotographer]

No idea why the change of paddock should make a difference but had something similar with two geldings. What I would do is divide the new paddock into two with eclectic fence and out your gelding and mare into one section Thr other two into the other bit that way they are still together but apart.

 

[thehorsephotographer]

Sorry excuse typos - on phone!

 

[Grumpymoo]

Thank you. That is exactly what I did . It took an age as the Shetland gelding won't be caught but will follow the rest of the herd and the mare was in a bit of a state! We got there in the end. The other mare is still a bit unsettled but is better that she was thank god.

You are helping with all my problems this weekend. Thank you xx