Horse acting up :(

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Reddwild

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So I’ve had my boy 3 months, he moved from the homes he’d lived in most of his life to a field then to a yard. Currently at the yard and we’ve had a few issues but then seemed to sort it out and he was next to 2 mares and waiting for another gelding to join him. The gelding joined and he became very dominant and bullied the gelding, never been like this before. Now every time hesnout in the field he gets out or causes havoc. Crashes through, lifts it up, goes through the middle or jumps the electric fence. I thought it was boredom but he’s ridden every other day and we had a very tiring jumping lesson and he still did it and yesterday was chasing one of the mares. I just don’t know what to do :(. He’s also quiet bolshy on the ground.
 
Can you separate him from the mares? Mixed turnout can have a negative impact on behaviour. I know there are situations where mixed turnout works - but there are as many where it doesn't and if you are having trouble in the field that would be my first port of call.

You are also at that point in a new relationship where the horse can start to really test the boundaries - that might also be part of it. He has worked out he isn't going back to his old home and now wants to know what behaviours are going to be allowed and not allowed with you. Combine that with feeling his oats a bit because of the mares and he could become increasingly dominant. It might be worth getting some professional help in ground handling so that you can set appropriate boundaries for him and remain safe yourself.
 
Separate him from the mares. Some Horses do not mix well with the other sex. My mare being one of them, with the wrong type of gelding she is an absolute pain in the bum!!!
 
Don't forget he's had a huge upheaval, coming from the home where he spent most of his life to a new yard and knew his place, whereas now he is trying to assert himself and become the top dog.
 
Hi guys. Thanks for the replies, I was worried people would be mean. He’s in the ‘starvation paddock’ all wooden proper fencing and by himself but can see the others. This paddock is really wet and not much grass so been giving hay but he seems a lot happier now. I can keep an eye on as right by the yard and it’s secure. I think he just wants to be in his own and he doesn’t feel the need to be protective or dominant.
 
shay said:
I know there are situations where mixed turnout works - but there are as many where it doesn't
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Silly Servant said:
Exactly what Shay said!
Mixed turn out isn’t really a good idea as many geldings get a bit upset .
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Some geldings, very few of them, can cause issues, especially if they are rigs or riggy. But most of the horses in the country are turned out in mixed herds with no issues at all. It seems to be becoming a bit of an accepted myth that the sexes need to be separated.
 
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Reddwild said:
Hi guys. Thanks for the replies, I was worried people would be mean. He’s in the ‘starvation paddock’ all wooden proper fencing and by himself but can see the others. This paddock is really wet and not much grass so been giving hay but he seems a lot happier now. I can keep an eye on as right by the yard and it’s secure. I think he just wants to be in his own and he doesn’t feel the need to be protective or dominant.
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Was he with other horses when you bought him? I've had one horse out of dozens who really was happier on his own. You do get the odd one.

If this behaviour continues I would test his testosterone levels.
 
He wasn’t cut late so shouldn’t be riggy.
He’s never been with mares before and in his old home had just one other little gelding pony.

He is just a bit of a bolshy boy but is slowly learning some manners.
He wasn’t out with the mares but next door. When he was with the gelding before he jumped a hedge a couple of times to get into neighbour garden.
He’s a monkey but we will get there slowly.
 
It does not matter when a horse is cut to be riggy. The vet can get it wrong and leave some testosterone producing tissue, and some horses only drop one testicle and a unscrupulous vet will turn it into a 'gelding' for sale.
 
ycbm said:
Some geldings, very few of them, can cause issues, especially if they are rigs or riggy. But most of the horses in the country are turned out in mixed herds with no issues at all. It seems to be becoming a bit of an accepted myth that the sexes need to be separated.
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Really? Most livery yards I know have separate turnout.
 
ycbm said:
Some geldings, very few of them, can cause issues, especially if they are rigs or riggy. But most of the horses in the country are turned out in mixed herds with no issues at all. It seems to be becoming a bit of an accepted myth that the sexes need to be separated.
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I wish my lot had read that memo. I've got 4 geldings and 4 mares, and I wouldn't trust any of them to cohabit without shenanigans. Three of the mares are trollops, and two of the geldings have previous form for obligingly hopping on board to show the girls a good time (both have been bloodtested - not rigs). The other two boys have been observed being a bit fruity over the fence!
 
Orangehorse said:
Really? Most livery yards I know have separate turnout.
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Whereas I have yards with private owners and livery yards all around me which are mixed, including my own. And on another thread several people agreed with the fact that the majority of the horses in the UK who are turned out are in mixed herds unless they are on their own. Rockley Farm, the barefoot rehab yard, have seven 'stranger' horses at a time on their track system in mixed company. If mixing was that much of an issue they couldn't possibly do that.

Don't know what you're feeding your lot, Auslander, oysters? :D
 
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I won’t mix mares and geldings .
In fact I now will only buy geldings sad because I love mares but a fair proportion of geldings are adversely effected by living with mares and frankly it’s a nuisance I don’t need to deal with .
For years I ran a all mare yard and they are delight when there’s no geldings about never had a issue with mareishness because I kept no geldings then I had a period of mixed and as the mares went I replaced with geldings .
 
OP, your horse will almost certainly be better with company. It isn't natural for horses to live alone - they can't rest as they'd get eaten by wolves or similar and obviously miss out on normal herd interactions. Your gelding will almost certainly be doubly stressed by both the move and also being kept alone 24/7.
 
GirlFriday said:
OP, your horse will almost certainly be better with company. It isn't natural for horses to live alone - they can't rest as they'd get eaten by wolves or similar and obviously miss out on normal herd interactions. Your gelding will almost certainly be doubly stressed by both the move and also being kept alone 24/7.
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He's turned out with a gelding, next to mares!
 
GirlFriday said:
It said that in OP's first post on this thread but OP has now seperated him: "He’s in the ‘starvation paddock’ all wooden proper fencing and by himself but can see the others."
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He is currently in the starvation paddock. He is so much calmer and happier than when he was in with the other gelding, next to the mares.
Yes I know horses naturally must have company but clearly he is such much happier when he feels he gets the attention and doesn’t have to defend himself from other horses and be dominant. We now arnt have as much trouble on the ground as we were having before. He is a very people Horse, as soon as he sees me at the yard he wants to come in or I’ll go out in the paddock with him and he’s happy but just isn’t with other horses. And becomes very bolshy and dominant.
He was also very happy when he was by self completely before but I felt it just wasn’t the best for us both. Hopefully we have the situation sorted now. Happy ponies all round. The gelding and the mares he was previously with are happier now too. Thanks for advice.
 
Reddwild said:
He is currently in the starvation paddock. He is so much calmer and happier than when he was in with the other gelding, next to the mares.
Yes I know horses naturally must have company but clearly he is such much happier when he feels he gets the attention and doesn’t have to defend himself from other horses and be dominant. We now arnt have as much trouble on the ground as we were having before. He is a very people Horse, as soon as he sees me at the yard he wants to come in or I’ll go out in the paddock with him and he’s happy but just isn’t with other horses. And becomes very bolshy and dominant.
He was also very happy when he was by self completely before but I felt it just wasn’t the best for us both. Hopefully we have the situation sorted now. Happy ponies all round. The gelding and the mares he was previously with are happier now too. Thanks for advice.
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I know people who have been on five or six yards and never put horses together, these days around by us mares and geldings are not only separated but most people also want individual turnout. It is deemed much safer, especially when horses often get injured getting the pecking order established. My own horse is on her own but has two next door (same owner) and one on the other side of her with one of the other side of that and one in front of her. Nearly every horse on our 30+ yard is on individual turnout. They can still socialize over the fencing if its post and rail. The only exception is the youngstock that run together, but then that is normal in most yards I guess. I think these days most yards cater and expect owners to want individual turnout. I can't think of a single yard around my way that turn out into large same sex or mixed groups so I don't think the OP should be made to feel bad about doing this now.
 
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