Mixed Herds

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silverstar

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My last horse was in a yard where they separated the mares and geldings. This new yard has mixed herds and Im not too keen on it.

What are your views on mixed herds?
 
Phil has mostly been kept in mixed herds, in fact he had more of an issue with geldings than mares :p But he's currently in a gelding herd and fine.

Depends on the individual horse. Why aren't you keen on it?
 
Hugo seems to have settled into his mixed herd fine now. He was rather flung in at the deep end - he arrived just as the snow did, so he was put in the field with about 8 others and left for a fortnight! During that time, though he worked his way up the pecking order and is now number 2, I think.

He has become very 'needy' of his mates, though, especially his girlfriend, Dolly (I think that's part of his insecurity problems) having been on his own or just with one other before. But he is getting much better now and I think it will end up fine!!

I feel it is a more 'natural' state of affairs and I think most of them are happiest in that condition (once they've found their place). What makes you think it won't be good?
 
My ponies are all mixed together and I've never had a problem. Many years ago where I worked there was a big gelding who used to kick the stuffing out of any mare you put him with so he was in a gelding only field but that is the only time I have ever known mixing to be a problem.
 
i havent got no problem with a mix herd i think it works out better BUT at our yard they are single sex herds appart from the little ponies
reason being some of the geldings can be a real bully and when you got young teenages going to catch their horses they can get quite scared when alot of horses trying to get out the gate at the same time esp throughout the winter when they become more hungry

also theres are quite a few horses on the yard and its works well that you keep smaller herds in indivial paddocks
 
I much prefer mixed herds. I cannot get over the number of hoses unnecessarily kept on their own in this country. I have had my horses in mixed herds for 10+ years without issue. The only field injury I have had was my gelding being kicked by another gelding - nothing to do with being in a mixed herd!
It would be my choice anyday, but would go with single sex herds if I had to. As long as my horse isnt expected to live on its own Im happy with it.
 
I was thinking about this earlier, I have 8 at the yard, 4 of each. Over the last year or so I have moved them around according to their needs, and wants :) and have ended up with four pairs, and yes, you've guessed, each pair is a mare and gelding! I didn't aim for this in any way, but it is how it has worked out, they more or less chose their own companion. The lot of them will also live happily together if they had to, but at the moment, small paddocks make the pair arrangement work well.
 
glenruby said:
I much prefer mixed herds. I cannot get over the number of hoses unnecessarily kept on their own in this country. I have had my horses in mixed herds for 10+ years without issue. The only field injury I have had was my gelding being kicked by another gelding - nothing to do with being in a mixed herd!
It would be my choice anyday, but would go with single sex herds if I had to. As long as my horse isnt expected to live on its own Im happy with it.
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yes me too,hate to see horses on their own..there are quite a few around my way aswell..some look so miserable and no equine interaction,even if they had a donkey,sheep for company its better than nothing at all..some do have reasons being on their own
 
I much prefer single sex herds.

One of mine is far too interested in mares for comfort. He'd be very difficult to handle in a mixed herd &, given how possesive he gets, I could see there being injuries to other geldings & quite possibly a person if they tried to take away a mare he'd claimed.

My other lad would be ok in a mixed herd, but I'd worry about him running across someone like my other gelding. Also, without wishing to set mare owners up in arms, a lot of the mares I know are witches with their back feet!
 
I've never understood the need to keep them apart. Surely the only time its a problem is if the boys are...erm...still men! Hehe!
I've always kept mine in mixed herds and never had an issue, its more natural this way anyway!
 
Personally I prefer boys and girls in separate fields, my boy is very possessive if he has a lady friend and will kick the s**t out of any gelding who dares to come near his girl. Whether it is because he was used as a stallion before been gelded I don't know but I was going to a yard where they have mixed herds and I chose to put him at his present yard, I quit often see the girls squealing and scrapping in their field whereas the boys normally just carry on with their own thing, but each horse is different and you have to do what you think your horse is happy and safe with :eek:
 
Have always had mixed herds and have no problems at all, Have had a couple of horses not get on with each other when first put together, but make sure the fields are big enough so that they can all move away from each other if need be. Apart from that no worries and I have 30 of them all out together.

The stallions are turned out on their own of course, but their paddocks are next to the mixed fields and everyone is happy - can see each other, call, talk and have their friends at close hand. Very much as I can make it to being 'natural' within the limits of my yard and land.
 
my pony lives in a mixed herd and it is like a little family. there are 8 of them mixed sexes and ages, it very sweet. my pony before he was gelded was a stallion in the new forest and has sired 81 ponies and he does not try to mount anyone nor fight for the girls.

they have their own hierarchy and everyone knows their place but they are all very gentle anyway.

I think how well a herd gets on does not depend on the sex of the horses but the temperament and if they get on well or not, as well as having enough space for them to get away if need be. Some individuals will not get on well with some horses but be fine with others.
 
I see no problem with mixed herds providing the horse is suited to it.
We have two horses - my grandad's veteran mare and my gelding. He has to learn to deal with her grumpiness! If he isn't around the mare will go ballistic, but when he is she'll call my B over with a high pitch whinney and he'll trot over all excited just for her to try and kick him! Thankfully he's the athletic sort and can get out of the way in time. But all that said, they really are the best of friends, so I'm happy :)
 
I keep a mixed herd, but I think it works better with large group on large areas ... I also prefer to have more mares than geldings in the group as they tend to form subgroups.
 
I mix ours, sometimes mares end up with mares and boys with boys but the only reason for this would be keeping our colt away from the mares as he is 1 next month and I dont want any 'accidental foalies'!! The only thing I don't mix is horses with back shoes and youngsters.
 
Never had a problem, mine are always in a mixed group. I'd be more worried if there were too many horses in too small a space.
 
sometimes if a horse is used to being kept in a single sex group, they will get over-excited when introduced to a mixed group of course.
 
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