Old Pony being picked on Advice Please!

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Loopy Lu

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I have a 26yr old 11.1h welsh pony (gelding) who is fit and well and permanently grumpy (but always has been). I used to keep a mare (Lu) with him who picked on him mercilessly, but they were more like the odd couple than anything else and appeared to bicker continually but called for each other when apart. Most of the bickering was laying ears back and pulling faces (both of them not just Lu). I understood this mainly because I had bred the mare and old George had come to keep her company when she was about 2, so she saw me as hers and was jealous if I gave him attention. Lu is now out to pasture to see if she will come sound again (only 7 ...) and I have a 7yr old 15.1 gelding. He is a bit of a thug and rather thick and hasn't had that much done so he is pretty immature. He is horrible to George, really lunges at him and takes chunks out of him if he can. It is a while since I have seen him kick out at him, but he goes full out with the teeth and is forever spitting out white hairs and leaving George with black bald patches. I have had Banks now for 4 months and things don't seem to be getting any better and George appears to be getting depressed and withdrawn.

Has anyone any ideas as to what I can do about it? Banks is very food orientated, so food related training of some sort? Obviously I only tend to notice it when I am around, so it is then related to jealousy (I'm his) or food (it's mine all mine type thing). He was very spoilt and fussed over by his last owner and I am now his 5th, which seems a lot for a youngish horse so some of it may be due to lack of confidence and mental immaturity. Again though, when they are apart, even if one is in the field and one in the stable they call for each other.

Or am I being soft and this is what all horses are like when it a pony/horse situation rather than two more equal animals? it just seems a shame that George's lot in life seems to be to be picked on.
 
I'm afraid that is how horses work - he probably sees the pony as old and needs to be kicked out of the herd so to speak. Personally I don't think it's to do with jealousy etc.....

Ty calls at random horses when we're out on a hack - not because he's attached to them but because he's feeling a bit insecure and would rather be with other horses than on his own - lke he would be in the wild.

Can't you put George in an adjoining field where he won't get picked on?
 
I would seperate them. The pony is better off by himself , but where he can see another horse. He has been dominated by this gelding and sees him as alpha so he will look to him as the head of the herd and call to him but he will stop after a short while. I would be depressed to if I were being terrorized. I agree with Stimpy about it being horse nature and politics, but if it is that severe they need to be apart before he gets seriously injured. He sounds much smaller.

another question...my horses show no aggression when in the large open pasture. When they are in the smaller winter pen the agression happens more often. Are they in a smaller area together and if so, do you have the option of trying them in a bigger space first?
 
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another question...my horses show no aggression when in the large open pasture. When they are in the smaller winter pen the agression happens more often. Are they in a smaller area together and if so, do you have the option of trying them in a bigger space first?

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very good point Jade - I think horses can be like humans sometimes and need space so that they can take or leave the herd security
 
As long as George keeps out the way there is no problem really, though if he comes within 20' when I'm around Banks will go for him, though normally he wouldn't if they were on their own. I am going to give george access the another area (he can duck under the fence whilst the other one can't), so that will eleviate the problem in general, but I was wondering if anyone had any success in changing the behaviour. The only worry is that Banks goes through the fence once he sees George on the other side, he's a bit numb that way. Thanks for your response, I'll get onto making the access so at least he is away from him during the daytime.
 
Good luck
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I hope it gets worked out for you. I imagine someone will know some tricks to modify the behavior. Just not me sadly.
Just keep checking back I suppose
 
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