Horse play/ fighting

I'm leaving mine to it atm - 26 yo Welsh and 7 month TBXcob foal. Welshy initiates play and then tells the foal when he's had enough. Foal has attempted to push it but the old boy turns his back and foal gets the message. Games involve chasing, biting head and flanks, getting down on their knees trying to grab each other's forelegs and standing up and boxing. Both are just under 14hh.
 
Hic- mine are the same, one 16 hh three year old, one 14.2 14 Year old, they really do play like colts- chewing under the girth, down on knees, full on rearing and boxing- I leave them to it. An fund it hilarious, if a little hair raising at times!!
 
I think my horse plays with the others in the field as the front of his rug has holes on it and so does down one side of the rug. Its really annoying. Im having to get that one repaired and buy another. Hes been in the herd about 6 months now surely it would stop. Ive already had one rug trashed. Hes had cuts above his eye and one on his neck which is healing nicely now.
 
When one is being forced/pushed into defending themselves from a persistent aggressor. If they both start then its a case of whether or not they are trashing rugs. I've split 3 (4,5.6yr yrs old) into the (4 + 5) together as they were being bullied by the 6yr old who used greater muscle mass to flatten them
 
Its a difficult one... my boy ended up with a fractured leg, survived thank god but spent the next 4 yrs seperated by electric fencing as he and his friend were a liability, never seen horses play so rough. I hated him being alone and moved him in June to a different yard and touching wood frantically, they play but nothing like he used to. He is so happy now with company. I never thought Id be able to find horses that would tolerate him.
 
Rebels said:
When one is being forced/pushed into defending themselves from a persistent aggressor. If they both start then its a case of whether or not they are trashing rugs. I've split 3 (4,5.6yr yrs old) into the (4 + 5) together as they were being bullied by the 6yr old who used greater muscle mass to flatten them
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Having a bit of a dilemma, it's early days as horse only been in field for a month but he started chasing my little old pony the other day and now oldie puts as much distance between him and new one as possible and tonight he is having quite heated play fight with a teenager but he obviously annoyed him after a while as teen went to walk away only to be bitten again so he started kicking out to try and put the point across that he was finished playing. They don't have shoes on so injury risk is a little lower. I think I might separate him for the oldie as he has been acting a bit depressed lately, maybe the young one is wearing him down.
 
When one is always going for other. As long as both initiate I tend to leave them to it if obviously play.
More they play in the field the less theyll play with me. Love watching them.
If it's one sided and one is always initiating and the other trying to get away or send other away and going on more than a fair settling period I'd separate.
If it's a young one winding up and older one fed up I'd leave a fair bit longer if the older one could hold its own as they're good to teach younger horses boundaries.
 
PandorasJar said:
When one is always going for other. As long as both initiate I tend to leave them to it if obviously play.
More they play in the field the less theyll play with me. Love watching them.
If it's one sided and one is always initiating and the other trying to get away or send other away and going on more than a fair settling period I'd separate.
If it's a young one winding up and older one fed up I'd leave a fair bit longer if the older one could hold its own as they're good to teach younger horses boundaries.
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Yeah I really don't want to separate as I wanted to keep them as a herd but I doubt the old one will ever stand up to him as he is only 13 hands and bottom of pecking order and new one is 15.3 and vying for top spot.
 
How many are in the herd?
If vying for top spot and you have a decent herd leader already then once that's been settled life will probably be easier for the pony. If targeting the oldie I should imagine he knows his chances aren't great for top spot and will be put in his place soon enough.
If it's affecting ponies health I'd probably do some jiggling round though and separate.
 
PandorasJar said:
How many are in the herd?
If vying for top spot and you have a decent herd leader already then once that's been settled life will probably be easier for the pony. If targeting the oldie I should imagine he knows his chances aren't great for top spot and will be put in his place soon enough.
If it's affecting ponies health I'd probably do some jiggling round though and separate.
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Theres 5 so not the best number to split but i will if neccessary.
 
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