Possessive behaviour in youngster

[davisn]

Hi, I have a 6 year old Irish Sport horse, who is usually very good to hack out, both on her own & in company. However today we had a bit of a problem & I'd be interested in hearing if you have any advice on how to work through this.

She moved to her current livery yard at the beginning of the year & last week her field "buddy" left & 2 new mares (both of which are currently in season) have joined the yard & become her new turnout mates. She has always had a tendancy to be very attached to her friends, but not so much as to cause any problems.

She has been out for a hack with her 2 new friends during the week, with no issues at all. However, today we went out as a group for the first time (there were 5 of us in total). She was happy & relaxed while the 2 mares were in front of her & the 2 geldings were behind (1 of the geldings in also new to the yard). However, when the new gelding came up alongside her she became quite aggitated, jogging, pulling faces & trying to take a swipe a him. A bit later on whilst trotting, the new boy again tried to overtake & get between her & the 2 mares & she was very upset, cantering on the spot & rearing up (something she never normally does), almost falling right over. (yes, I slipped off the side at this point so as not to end up squashed under her, although I did manage to land on my feet & keep hold of her, so not too bad!!)

I realise with hindsight that I was probably expecting too much from her at her age, going out as such a big group, most of them relatively new to her, but she is normally such a sensible, relaxed girl while we are out.

Do you think this is just her being possessive of her new friends & that as they get more used to each other she will settle back down to her normal, easy-going self? She was certainly excited as she was quite sweated up when we got back & we didn't work very hard. Should I try hacking out with just the boys for a while so that she can get to know the new one without the mares being around?

 

[kerilli]

i think i'd make sure that if someone is going to pass you, they can do so at a bit of a distance so as not to set her off. my little mare gets very jealous about being overtaken by my gelding, even with no other horses about. in fact, they both scowl unless they're in front, half the time!
i would guess that she felt personally threatened by the gelding, more than that she was trying to protect her friends.

 

[Shilasdair]

I agree that she probably felt threatened by the gelding coming into her space...particularly at a time when the herd dynamics have changed; she's lost her best buddy and is out with lots of strange horses.
If she were mine, I'd take a step back and reassure her...and wait until all the new horses are more comfortable with each other as a herd before going out again with all of them.
Don't worry, it'll sort itself out when she feels safer.
S

 

[davisn]

Thanks. The trouble is that she doesn't get a chance to mix with the geldings as the 3 mares have their own turn out field which is no where near the gelding's field. Her stable is next to the new geldings & I have brought her in for a few hours most days this week, so she will have met him through the grill. She has been ok with this, & has felt relaxed enough to lay down & sleep with him next to her, but this is her only contact with him.

I guess she is feeling a bit threatened as there has been a lot of change at the yard recently & she is out with 2 mares who have a long term established relationship even though they are the new ones. She has also been alpha mare for the past 6 months or so, which may be under threat now. Poor thing, what a lot for a young girl to deal with!