My daughters pony has started acting weirdly?

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Suzie G

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Sorry didn't know what to write as a title!

The mare in the stable next to my daughters gelding pony has just had a bogof foal on Wednesday.

The mare and foal were turned out (by themselves) for an hour yesterday afternoon and our pony went mad in the stable, neighing, turning circles, just not happy at all. He settled down eventually but then when they came back in he started again until they were back in the stable and he'd had a look over his door to make sure they were ok!

Is he being protective? Why would he be? The mare isn't in his field when they are turned out.
 
I don't really know (that's helpful, isn't it?) but I do know that some horses can behave very strangely towards foals -with intense curiosity and sometimes aggression. The just don't seem to know what it is! We were always careful to segregate mares and foals, some horses will have no qualms in attacking a foal. Very strange really, because I don't think this happens in the wild, unless someone knows better.
 
vickyb said:
I don't really know (that's helpful, isn't it?) but I do know that some horses can behave very strangely towards foals -with intense curiosity and sometimes aggression. The just don't seem to know what it is! We were always careful to segregate mares and foals, some horses will have no qualms in attacking a foal. Very strange really, because I don't think this happens in the wild, unless someone knows better.
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I remember watching a documentary about the herd of Prewalski horses and the stallion did just that, attacked and killed the foal. Was awful especially as they are so rare.

Some horses get quite clucky when there is a foal around.
 
Yes I think you have hit the nail on the head. Even though gelded he may feel protective or even jealous to the mare and her foal.

Also no different to introducing a new comer to a yard. So fireworks and the fact that the mare is gonna protect her foal.

He could also feel protective towards them both and getting himself stressed out that they are away from him. Hope he should just get use to it. Any change on a yard with new horses etc will always change the dynamics.
 
Pheromones?

I know newborns give them off, it's why babies "smell" so nice. My old pony used to bury his nose in my very young childrens hair and follow them around.

I would think he will settle down after a few weeks.
 
Be very very careful as I have known geldings to kill foals, I've seen it with my own eyes and once it starts there is nothing you can do.
 
A friend has a gelding who loves foals and protects them to the point where he will not let the mother have the foal so its very possible that he wants to protect it
 
I have a gelding who absolutely adores foals and is really protective. We have had three foals whilst he has been with us and he has loved them all. However, the first was very special for him and he used to guard it lovingly, standing over the foal whilst it was sleeping and nibbling its ears! Much more loving than its mother!

The last mare foaled in the field with the other three and they all protected the newborn foal.

It is lovely to watch a herd all looking out for each other.
 
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