Pony kicking another pony - PLEASE HELP

[VikkiJones23]

Hi

Please can you give me some advice...

I have 4 mares who have been together for a year now - 16.2hh, 15.3hh, 11.3hh, 10hh.

The 11.3hh is a 4 year old, hadn't been handled hardly at all before we bought her a year ago. She has been backed and turned away over winter. She is still sharp and green at times but generally a nice pony to handle. However, I have a massive issue with her bullying the little sec A who is 20 years old. When they come to the gate she will corner her and kick her with both back legs and chases her away whenever she comes close. When they have been close coming into the stable she tries to do the same, corner her and kick her. The Sec A just stays bck every time now and is very wary coming close to her. When he is cornering her the Sec A doesn't retaliate. They are separated now and I did this as soon as I noticed that this happened more than once. When she is kicking she is making a squealing noise every time. Why is this happening do you think? She doesn't try it on with the other two big mares.

Many thanks

Vikki

 

[Michen]

Just horses being horses. You may have to simply separate them full time if the pony isn’t savvy enough to keep out of the way of the dominant one.

 

[greenbean10]

Are the other mares younger? It's sometimes the older horses that are picked on. I'd just divide them into pairs and put the 20 year old with one of the others.

 

[Annagain]

They're horses, it happens. There's a hierarchy and the 11.3 is above the Sec A so is asserting her authority over her. She doesn't do it to the others because they are higher in the pecking order than her. If it's only when they come to the gate and they generally live fairly happily I wouldn't worry too much about it. If she's constantly worrying the Section A, not letting her graze or interact with the others, then keeping them apart is the only thing you can do. A year isn't a huge amount of time, they may well still settle better given a bit more time. My new boy has been with us 7 months and is only in the last week or so allowed within 5m of the boss of the herd and never at coming in time.

 

[VikkiJones23]

Thank you so much for your responses. The Sec A just keeps herself to herself. It doesn't seem to stress her out, I almost feel like she's probably had to put up with this most of her life being so small. Just nice to hear that other people also think it's just likely to be a hierarchy thing.

 

[J&S]

My companion pony is not quite so companionable when it comes to coming in for food in the winter, or when trying to get the juiciest bit of grass on the strip! She is only 14 compared to the older mare who, although larger , is 24. Older mare knows the score, sighs (metaphorically!) and moves. As all others have said, its horses for you, survival of the fittest comes to the fore.

 

[Gloi]

Yes typical pecking order behaviour , just be careful she isn't put in a position where she can be trapped in a corner and that you don't get caught between them and make sure there are plenty of piles when you feed hay.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Can you safely fence off the corners (with wooden rails not electric tape) so that the welsh can't be trapped in a corner?