horses reaction to foals

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clairefeekerry1

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a foal at our yard was weaned this weekend, was decided he'd spend day in stable next to my gelding then turned out with him before being grad introduced to the others-mine is mr easy/not bothered, keeps himself to himself type hence why colts owners wanted to start with mine. although he didn't kick colt, he was v aggressive towards him, constantly chasing him away and charging into him. poor foal wasn't overly bothered and tried best to keep out of way but i was surprised how mine reacted, normally he can be turned out with anything and doesn't bat an eyelid? any experiances/advice?
 
I had a similar experience when a foal was put out with my lad, he chased him, knocked the poor mite over and pawed him! I think they expect instant submission from foals and yearlings and if they don't get it they see it as lack of manners and deliver a lesson. Needless to say Cappy has not been out with the foal, now a yearling, again. But when ever the little lad sees my boy he chatters his teeth in submission.
 
when my horse was about 10 a foal was put with him and he hated him, cos he just wanted to eat whilst foal wanted to play. I think they're best off with other youngsters
 
Several years ago my mare (then around 5/6) was introduced to a new arrival in the yard, an Arab foal. They were then turned out in an adjacent field and she was totally vile to it and tried to attack it through the fence and was not happy with its presence at all.

A few years later, she produced her own foal and was a complete bozo with him - he totally controlled her and she never disciplined him at any stage in his life....???
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My lad is next to a 3yr old filly in the stable,and in the nxt field to her,she mouthed at him over the fence and he flew for her
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,he didnt like her(still dosnt,lol)at all,he isnt field aggressive,he is the boss but not aggressive,confuzzled me as to why he took an instant dislike once she mouthed at him
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odd thing is the colt and mum were in field right next to my gelding since birth, in fact the mare gave birth in field next to mine and neither batted an eyelid for 6 months, just today when they were turned out together
 
My TBx mare gets very upset by them but then she is a little psycho
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Ponio (ex broodmare) gets very distressed when she sees a foal and tries her hardest to get to them. I have to avoid shows where they mix mares with the mares and foal classes or where the foal classes are just after the barren mares because they really, really upset her
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Daft thing is apparantly she was never bothered about her foals and self weaned them.
 
I have my foal turned out with two other geldings, they play with him and keep him in check, he hangs out with my big horse more than his mum tbh!
 
well i'm hoping as grad more geldings get introduced my boy will re-discover his manners and remember he is not field aggressive and mr colt will be okay.
why do you think as mentioned above he actually tries to push/charge colt to the floor, and i dont mean a shove, he actually attempted to take him to the floor! :-(
 
when i first put mine in together, mum wouldnt let them anywhere near, and with time she became more tolerant, if she saw them lay ears or anything she would be over in a flash, sheilding him away.

I suppose its more of a problem if mum isnt around to look after them as at a year old he is still just a child!
 
Years ago my friends mare had a foal and she wouldnt let me turn my mare out in the same field in case she killed her foal. My mare had to go next door on her own and chat across the fence.

Finally the decision was made to put her in same field. It was wierd. Her own mare, the foals mother, appeared to heave a sigh of relief and disappeared off to the other end of the field to eat. My mare and the foal spent the rest of the summer together with the foal clearing off when it needed a drink but following my mare everywhere.

It was a complete pain in the ass when I wanted to take my mare out to ride.
 
My gelding loves foals and will babysit them to give their mums a break. But if he EVER showed any aggression to them, he wouldn't get a second chance - foals are spindly enough as it is and he's a big lad!

So I have no idea if your gelding is likely to settle down with the foal or not, sorry
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Maybe it's like some people like kids and others don't?
 
I`m afraid this is just your gelding asserting himself, nothing to worry about to much.
Remember that foals dont have the same amount of communication skills as older horses and your boy will have to be much more "obvious" with the foal, whos usual reaction is just submission.

Your lad is probably using the same amount of force as he would with adult horses but because the foal is only about 1/4 the size, the outcome will be different (flat on the ground)

Dont worry, it will soon settle down and the foal will be learning some valuable lessons in life!

I put my weanlings in with mares and even they can be a bit tough on them, if possible, try and get a young horse in with the foal who has similar energy levels!! lol
 
When I bought Howie he was 10 months old and we turned him out with Donkey- an unshod New Forest (13hh 5 years) and they got on well- the big 16.2 Andalusian Gelding hated him and hounded him for about a week- we had to bring Howie in at night for a break- now they are best buddies- the Andy and him play and graze together- the Andy calls to him when they are seperated although Howie doesnt care. This months I bought another yearling this time 16months old and the Andy did the same thing to him- hated him etc (be put a bucket grazing muzzle on him to stip him biting the poor fella) but they are OK now 2 weeks later. None of these boys are shod in this field so that made things a bit easier and there is always someone on the yard in case of a real scuffle.
 
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