hollyflower
Well-Known Member
I have livery at one of my closest friends farm, where she trains her competition horses. Previously I have had my retired pony and riding horse there and although we do things very differently, have had no real issues. This summer I took on a weanling, which has sentimental value as it is the grandson of my best ever horse. He was a bit of a handful when he first came, most of the fields are pretty sparse hedging that is newly cut and he was running through it, I kept him in a while and after that he calmed down. My aim has always been to turn him out with my retired pony and do lots of groundwork but let him grow up, after a month or so my friend turned one of her ponies out with him, the foal, now 8 months has got really attached to her pony, tolerates the retired pony, whenever she takes the pony out, the foal is getting frantic, tearing around, trying and succeeding once to get out of the field. We kept the foal in a couple of days and then back out with the retired pony and have been keeping the other pony out of the way hoping he will forget, but weeks on he is still climbing the hedges, tearing around, whenever she is in the school he is going berserk, so she can't ride hers without them being out of control because of the foals behaviour, going mad at the gates when she hacks out. The retired pony may as not be there as the foal sees it. Pulling my hair out now, we are barely speaking, I have had to find alternative livery for them, I'm just worried he will never be settled and be happy with his companion. Don't know what to do!