My herd :) tell me about yours......

[cob&onion]

I love watching my *herd* out at grass living together

We have
6yr old TB mare who is very much the *boss* - first at the water, the newly stripped back grazing patch, feed times etc basically everyone respects her and moves out of her way - all she has to do is pull a face and they all scarper!

3yr old cobby mare who was the boss until the TB joined in a few months back
Ancient little pony (not mine) who is at the bottom of the herd -who the cobby likes to bully around and chase most likely after *the boss* has chased her off - although the ancient one and the cobby can be seen grooming each other!

16 month welsh D - although bottom of the herd he always goes round with *the boss* which seems to give him rights to drink from water trough with *the boss* after its just been filled, and even share *the bosses* dinner out the same bucket! *the boss* throws ears back at the other 2 and chases them off, the welshie looks very smug

Normally the ancient one is on *guard watch* whilst the others lay down and rest, looking out for potential threats because there are alot of lions in our field don't you know


They really make me giggle, especially the cheeky welsh D which they all seem to tolerate even at meal time. Love watching them all together and happy

Tell me about your herd

 

[StormyMoments]

i dont have a very big herd but i think taz has enough personality for a herd

taz - 17.2hh ISH currently living the life of luxury as a field ornament hes a funny beast wants all the attention from everyone then he'll change his mind and will pull faces .. super attached to missy (my 2 year old) cant deal with life without her but is boss when she is in the field

missy - 14hh ish 2 year old also a field ornament due to her age loves to have attention but it very nervous loves to have a gallop around the field in a demented fashion as she is a trotter x tb fussy eater doesnt like carrots apples blackberrys, loves gromming taz although she does struggle because of the size of him when the flies are out she walks around with her head in taz's tail even ith a fly mask on, has her funny 5 mins when she gallops at full speed around the field then stops rears then rhodeos

they are both grumpy about food but will tolerate eating out of the same bucket even though they have their own strange beasties but they do make me happy even if they do cost me a fortune

 

[Hippona]

I have 3....

arab gelding aged 6
highland gelding aged 7
Cobby ID/shires type mare aged 15.

Mare- grazes constantly....the 2 boys play together a lot- rearing up, nipping- running about....usually in circles around the mare who totally ignores them...

Highland starts a game often....involves him cantering around in a perfect circle as though he's being lunged ....then arab joins in and they do manic racing and skid-stops....snorting- leaping around like mountain goats and generally throwing shapes for the fun of it. Mare grazes and ignores...

I open the gate into the yard at tea-time and they bring themselves in....always the same order......highland, mare then arab.....they run straight into their stables and I shut the doors after them.

Arab is very loving but gets bossed around by the highland who is very bossy and nosey.....mare just grazes

 

[PolarSkye]

Well, I only have KalBear but he goes out in his herd of friends, does that count?

Kal - wants to be friends with everyone, is a giant wussy boy, will play forever and has a thing about putting his nose right up either horse's backsides

Ollie - herd boss . . . 17.2hh ISH cross something else big . . . really looks out for the rest of the boys, worries if one of them is not there for some reason but is very independent in the field (Kal adores him) . . . despite his size (he is huuuuge) is actually very sensitive

Dillon (aka Dilly) - newby (although knew many of the boys from a previous yard) . . . only 15.2hh but has a huge personality . . . playful, uber friendly and Kal's new best friend - they are inseparable . . . Dilly loves people and grabs them by the sleeve to get their attention (never grabs flesh)

Frank - (aka Grumps) . . . cob cross, likes to mooch about and do his own thing and takes no nonsense from the rest of the boys . . . doesn't like to play and makes no bones about it - Kal steers clear . . . with people he can be quite aloof - grumpy in his stable but a pussycat on the yard - doesn't like cuddles

Dude - did try and take charge initially but Ollie put him firmly in his place (Dude is only 14.2hh) . . . independent and does his own thing in the field - on the yard he is a babe . . . just LOVES fuss and cuddles and is quite a character

Duke - very new and unfamiliar to all the other horses - remains glued to Dude's side all the time - not really playful - too new to know what he's like on the yard

Guiness - the remaining horse of the terrible trio (with Kal and Dilly) just loves to charge about and play . . . lovely 15.1hh Irish cob . . . just a fab temperament no matter where he is or what he's doing - quiet, gentle, kind - can't say enough nice things about this horse

Their favourite game is playing chase - and then one grabs the tail flap of the other's rug, partner in crime does the same and they go round and round. Other games include "bitey bitey" . . . grab your partner by the knee . . . run/buck/rear and then repeat.

Interestingly, at our previous yard Kal was in a herd of seven horses - herd boss was a big shire cross called Brigs. Brigs would quite deliberately "place" all the horses in the field - i.e., show them where to stand based on rank, PIA factor, etc. If there were occasional rucks, Brigs would sigh deeply and then (calmly) walk over and stand between the two offenders (knowing they wouldn't dare kick him). Every other Friday, Brigs' owner would take him off the yard to go have a lesson with her trainer . . . and the remaining six would stand huddled together in the middle of their field, all facing out, now knowing what on earth to do with themselves until Brigs came back. Fascinating.

P

 

[Daisy11]

I have 3 horses
I have ace a 3 yr friesian gelding who is absolute mummys boy (homebred) so get away with about mostly anything he can , but is also the leader of the pack

Then there is Pollyanna a 2 yr friesian filly , who I imported , who is the bottom peck out them 2 in the field , but only puts up with so much , so much she puts ace back into his place if he over steps the line
Then there is Mindy who is newish of all a 8yr irish cob who keeps herself to herself inless food is involved , then all hell brakes loose Thats my girl nothing stands in the way of her food lol !!