Miffed Only Gelding? Advice Please

zippythepotter

zippythepotter

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My six year old gelding has been "home alone" for the past few months, has always been a happy sociable -with -people and horses sort of pony; then three weeks ago my daughters new pony, a quiet non-aggressive mare, arrived-since when my geldings personality has completely changed. He is indifferent or aggressive to the mare, and grumpy and miserable with me-nippy and nappy. I realise it's a big change for him, she's in his field (separated by tape).I've tried to keep his routines deliberately the same, question is-will he get over it? Soon? Next year? Never? Are there any things I can do to improve his view of this new situation?
Advice from people who've had the same problem, greatly appreciated....:(
 
my mare was like this a year and a half ago when I got my young lad! she loved him over the fence the first morning he was out with them until she saw me get him in! she then got really jealous, she wouldn't even look at him! when he got out of his bit into the main field, she would just walk over and bit him for no reason! she race at him and went to bite him whilst I was stroking him, so I shouted at her and she half stopped but swiped him across the face with her teeth!

I was so worried about her behaviour I even mentioned it to the vet! he said that he was probably annoying her without me realising! I don't think he was! she was just jealous!

but after a couple of months I caught them grooming each other! now they are the best of friends!!
 
I think you find extreme reactions sometimes when a horse that has been on its own is given a companion. It should settle down when they get used to each other, and the more horses are added, the more herd interaction, the less you will see this behaviour. IMO, even though the horse seems fine on its own (sometimes for years) these reactions are signs that the horse has been lonely and has to get used to normal horse behaviour. I've seen it a few times over the years. Initial indifference, then clinginess is quite normal.
 
When my tb came back from loan my mare (who I got after the tb went) and she hated him. He weaved quite badly and their stable doors were right next to each other - the funniest thing ever was he would weave across, she'd scowl at him and he would jerk away! I simply couldn't have turned them out together. She did chill out a little in the time I had them both but he went back out on loan after a few months.
 
Thank you all for your experience and ideas on this. From what you've said, there is hope then! I'll just keep things steady and wait for eventual improvement .
 
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Well he has been his own top dog as well as watch out for himself now theres a mare who is automatically the herd leader no wonder he is confused. Take down the tape let them be a herd, oh he will settle down
 
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