Probs with colt/rig pony - Advise pls

[Len]

Hi guys,
I would like to know your thoughts on this issue and what you would expect to be done about it. I have livery on a working farm (around 25 horses total) we recently had a v small pony 2yrs old go in with our herd of 3 geldings and my mare. My mare took an instant dislike to it and was forever chasing it round - I spoke to the owner who had concerns to see what we could do however she just said dont worry they will settle but its been getting progressively worse.
This weekend 3 people saw the pony mount another small gelding in the field who has had mysterious cuts to his legs this week. They spoke to the farmer who said they would speak to the owner.
Yesterday another owner saw the same pony mount my mare who is 14.3 - he was scrambling on her back legs and I arrived to find her with a nasty 3 inch cut to her rump last night.
My mares large fieldmate knocked the pony off her and proceeded to attack it.
I took my mare out of the field and went to see the owner last night - I said I dont know if you are aware but the pony has been on 2 horses in the field both have injuries we cant turn them out together. It came from a local dealer and the lady was told it was cut but we can not be certain of this as others who know of it have said its been taken off the moor and brought here.
So the owner said dont worry I dont want any probs in the field I will see the YO - the YO told her they will pen it on its own - then after leaving the yard the owner rang to say I had upset her etc etc. I was very careful not to be angry and was mostly teary at the state of my mare.
Anyhow the general opinion seemed to be that as it was said to be cut theres no problem and as our horses were seen having a go back so they can look after themselves - we explained thats not the point both horses have injuries - the pony has none - and they are all v unsettled and usually a v quiet herd. So the pony is being taped off - what are your thoughts on this - has anyone else had problems like this?
I would move my mare but she is very happy here and in her herd so I feel we shouldnt be pushed out but this is the 2nd time this has happened in 6mths and its very disruptive and upsettling for all involved.

 

[AmyMay]

Get a vet to examine the youngster to see it it's been cut (although it should be pretty obvious), and keep it out of the field (not taped off - fenced off).

Others may disagree - but my experience with very young horses is that if you put them in a field of established older ones, they will get bullied to hell. So for the sake of all it's better off out of the field.

The owner may be upset - but the only thing she should be upset about is that she may have been lied too - and that her horse is causing problems......

 

[Len]

Thanks Amymay, I tried to speak to the owner when she had expressed concerns over how the others were treating it but she clammed up and didnt want to talk - my mare is muzzled during the day but I kept the muzzle on 24/7 so she couldnt bite etc - my mare does react strongly in some situations but there always turns out to be a reason for it - I thought she just wasnt a fan of youngsters as he had been seen trying to feed from a large gelding! but having seen the recent behaviour I would say thats been her problem with the little chap.
We def dont want to see him hurt but seem to be seen as the bad guys for even mentioning it!

 

[girla]

The YO doesn't seem to be handling his/her responsibility. The pony should be removed from the field as he alsmost certainly sounds to be a rig. Sectioning the poor sod off on his own isn't the answer, as you are aware horses are herd animals, perhaps the owner can find a companion for him.

It's hard to sort these matters out without coming across bullish, but to be honest if it were my mare and i knew for a fact this pony was mounting her & causing damage to her and you have already had a quiet & civil word with the rigs owner i would then move on to perhaps more direct action as advising the owner of the rig that there would be legal action taken if the rig was not removed from the field. Also perhaps have another word with the YO & the other owners of the horses to perhaps persuade her that the rig is causing the others injury.

 

[Len]

Hi girla, thank you for your reply - we def dont get far with the YO - they are not knowledgeable but also dont listen - however they have said it will be sectioned from today but we know from the weeks its been without ours that it is somewhat of an escape artist so we are worried about it getting back in with our 4.
I have been told that DEFRA rules that if a colt is kept then its the land owners responsibility if there is any damage to property or animals not the colts owner - obviously we dont know if it has or hasnt been cut as yet - the owner was told on buying it a cpl of weeks ago thats its recently been cut.
The owners in the field are extremely concerned for the well being of their horses and for this pony too but really feel up against it and that we are being seen as being awkward!

 

[jewel]

my boy was only cut at 2 and half, he is sometimes riggy when out with other. so he is now kept by himself for his safety and others. if the owners can be 100% sure he is a gelding then they need to get the out to scan to see if he is a gelding.

 

[scrat]

We have similar situation with our small herd. We share a yard with one other person and her horse. They are all geldings but we recently aquired a colt and the only horse that has a problem with him is the other persons. He has settled well with our other three geldings but the other gelding will not have any of it. We have tried twice to introduce him but he turns into some sort of demon horse and attacks the colt by holding onto his neck and trying to pull him down or shove him into the fence. The colt is very submissive and does the foaly mouthing thing but to no avail. We have decided that he should stay with the others and the other horse is separeted but next door. I think it is a pecking order issue with him as he was the bottom of the herd and wants the colt to be there however the attacks are too violent. I don't think we want to risk injury to any of them even after he is gelded so we have had to compromise. I hope you can sort yours out having a mare in the equation is bound to be worse if he is still coltish.

 

[AmyMay]

How old is the Colt Blagdon??

 

[scrat]

He's 15 months.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
He's 15 months.

[/ QUOTE ]
So a real baby - too young to be fending off the bigger boys imo. Thanks goodness no serious damage was done to him.....

 

[Damnation]

All I can say is get the clot removed from the field for his own safety and for others safety.
My mare went out with a gelding who was 19, but was cut at 7 and he tried to mount her. He was removed from the field instantly. Funnily enough this gelding has been out with other mares in full blown season and not touched them, he had a thing for my mare.. The point is that he was removed before any other damage could be done..