Random.. what the bleep is going on here.. youtube

I'm utterly perplexed by that. Organised horse fighting is a thing, but it's usually one on one and more of an Asian thing. Those horses look extremely well cared for, too. (Fighting horses don't.) Maybe it's some kind of display about how horses work out herd dynamics? They seem to have pretty much worked it out by the end of the video.
 
I know a little bit about this. They are Noriker stallions, who are turned out to graze on the Alps during the summer. They re-introduce them all every year in a flat, safe environment, where they can be supervised (and treated if they get hurt), rather than just bunging them all out on the Alps, where its more difficult to monitor them.

No idea why it's a spectator sport though!
 
That was all very interesting. You can tell they have been around others though - they are not fighting they are just shuffling. I think it's safe to say the bay and the appy have put themselves to the top there was two distinct groups left lol
 
I have a herd of geldings and stallions, so I have the privilege to see something similar (but a bit lower key - mine are really quite quiet children's ponies) each time I bring two groups back together, or introduce a new one. These boys are meeting each other and socialising. There is no fight happening. They're being friendly and open towards one another, and not one blow is struck with intent. It's all show.

As to why it's a spectator thing. I simply love watching mine get back together. I've seen a 12hh pony do 12 paces in spanish walk in joy at meeting his best friend after 4 months apart, and paces I can only dream of getting out of them under saddle. It's beautiful, and I can quite understand why it would be a spectacle in a quiet alpine area.

Give them another 10 minutes and half of them will be mutual grooming, whilst the others are either eating or having a roll.
 
Auslander said:
I know a little bit about this. They are Noriker stallions, who are turned out to graze on the Alps during the summer. They re-introduce them all every year in a flat, safe environment, where they can be supervised (and treated if they get hurt), rather than just bunging them all out on the Alps, where its more difficult to monitor them.
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Exactly:)
This is in Rauris (Austria) and they do it every time the breeding season ends (last 25 years or so). Those stallions mostly know each other, it's claimed none of them were ever hurt except for scratches. After this reintroduction, they turn them out at alpine pastures where they stay until the snowfall.
I personally like it a lot, since it's a chance for those horses to enjoy some herd life, which is commonly denied to stallions:)

[video=youtube;g7ZBc2ei30o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ZBc2ei30o[/video]
 
That's lovely to see with an explanation, thanks auslander!

You can see that they are all well behaved really, and makes total sense to do it in an enclosed space, and yes I'd totally go and watch it.

That's exactly how our old gelding used to greet anyone he didn't know, except he was more aggressive with it!
 
Loving number 10 - right from the start he mainly would like a quiet life so he can eat!! Really interesting vid.
 
That was amazing to watch! Looked like they were sorting out team positions, like who will be captain/dominate one. Love the one at the start who would rather have a roll than fight:p

Thanks for explanation! :)
 
Auslander said:
I know a little bit about this. They are Noriker stallions, who are turned out to graze on the Alps during the summer. They re-introduce them all every year in a flat, safe environment, where they can be supervised (and treated if they get hurt), rather than just bunging them all out on the Alps, where its more difficult to monitor them.

No idea why it's a spectator sport though!
Click to expand...

That's really interesting and a great way to do it!
 
jojo5 said:
Loving number 10 - right from the start he mainly would like a quiet life so he can eat!! Really interesting vid.
Click to expand...
LOL, Me too.I think he might be a closet Irish Draught , **** all this fighting ,I want to roll,I want to eat! But he was quite capable of seeing off any of the others , and diverting an aggressor onto another horse .Very sneaky!Bet there are a lot of little number 10 s running about . Keep your strength up with some good grass and let the others knacker themselves out .
 
Please don't say they are fighting. They're excited, but not aggressive; like when your normally quiet gelding squeals and stamps over the fence at his friend they're pleased to see each other. In the wild (and it looks like these lucky guys have a life which is quite close to that), stallions often form lifelong attachments, especially if they're together as a bachelor herd.

All this prancing and rearing is a bit full on, but is quickly followed by eating, grooming and rolling.

Now if the pasture was sparse, and there was only one hay pile... then you'd see some hooves flying. They look like they enjoy their food, that lot.
 
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