Normal horse behaviour or not?

[KalaJ]

The horse I help look after is out in a field with 22 other horses/ponies. Normally when I go to get her in none of the other horses take much notice of me but a couple of times this week a particular horse has started trotting over and my horse kind of cuts in front of it before it get to me....then it just walks off.

Today, two horses, one of them I kind of know and the other, i've no idea who it is, did what I can only describe as "herded" me away from her.....she was grazing and hadn't noticed me so I've left her out.

I've only been looking after her for 5 week so I'm not that used to bringing horses in/turning them out. I just wondered what to do next time this happens?

I would normally ask one of the girls at the yard but no-one was around today.

 

[Victoria25]

My old horse used to get this off one of the ponies (half his size) at our place when I shouted him in from the gate ... he'd come down the field but the other pony would shove him/herd him away in the opposite direction ... very frustrating - my lad would stand there looking as if to say 'I would if I could' e was a wimp!

 

[KalaJ]

I think if she had seen me then she would have come over but she was too busy grazing at the bottom of the field and no amount of calling her will make her come to me!

 

[Polos Mum]

I'd ask the yard owner/ manager as there might be good ways to deal with those specific horses. It could be she's coming into season (spring is apparently on the way!) and so geldings are being protective of her!
In the absence of specific advice, I'd see how the horses that are 'herding' you react to you ignoring them and if necessary push them physically out of the way (hence why I suggest you check they don't kick/ bite first) then if they ignore that I'd raise my voice at them in a "would you just bog off" type shout and see if that makes them leave you alone. Last resort I'd raise my hands above my head and wave the headcollar around like an idiot - whatever it took to get them out of my personal space!!

 

[Gloi]

Yes it's normal behaviour. If you haven't a lot of experience of horses in groups just remember to be careful. Watch the interactions between the horses and make sure you don't get in the way of or in between ones that are about to have a squabble, especially if they think you might have food on you.

 

[KalaJ]

The horse that I know.....a gelding, is a sweetie, he is not known for being a pain, so I'm not so worried about him. The other one I didn't recognise so going to have to wait until tomorrow and hope someone is up there that I can ask, I don't want to end up being bitten or kicked

 

[KalaJ]

Yes it's normal behaviour. If you haven't a lot of experience of horses in groups just remember to be careful. Watch the interactions between the horses and make sure you don't get in the way of or in between ones that are about to have a squabble, especially if they think you might have food on you.

It's the first time i've been around a large herd, most of them are fine and i've got to know quite a few of them. Just spoken to her owner and she said it sounds like one of the other mares.....not sure why she would be preventing me from catching her though!

 

[Polos Mum]

Might also be worth asking whoevers in charge whether there are any 'tricky' ones out in the field so rather than learning all 20+ you recognise the 1 or 2 to keep an eye on if they are all in a bunch.