Strange mare behaviour

[Maclinda]

Not sure if this is in the right section but didn’t know where else to put it! My mare is in a mixed herd and until recently she was the only mare in amongst geldings. Herd is really settled and there are no issues. We have recently introduced a new mare and again everything is fairly settled.

Over the last few days this new mare has become obsessed with my mare to the point she’s chasing other horses away and also trying to chase us humans too.

Now for the strange behaviour! This morning we were in the field and my horse did a poo! New mare then went over, sniffed it, kicked it up and (I’m sorry as I hate this word) “squirted” on it! I have never seen this behaviour before and was wondering what on earth it meant.

 

[HeyMich]

I'd assume the squirting on top of the poo is some kind of marking of territory, just like when dogs pee over other dog's pee. I guess the new mare is trying to make her 'scent' the stronger of the two mares? Ditto the herding instinct - the new one is being more assertive over the old mare and trying to physically put her in a less dominant position.

I'd just leave them to it. A herd with a strong hierarchy is a settled herd. Sounds like the new mare is becoming the matriarch!

I'm no behavioural expert though, I'm sure someone with a better insight will come along soon!

 

[Maclinda]

Heymich, that is exactly what I thought, just never seen this before. Interesting to watch!

 

[HeyMich]

Heymich, that is exactly what I thought, just never seen this before. Interesting to watch!

Yes, if I were you I'd get a cup of tea, pull up a chair, and enjoy watching the next installment! Let us know how it unravels...

 

[Auslander]

They'll sort it out eventually!
I've got a very complex mare herd - they are all dominant, although a couple are cowardly with it. When one of the most dominant mares came back, after a year elsewhere - one mare (who didn't know her) bullied her terribly for quite a long time. Phoebe, who had been the matriarch previously, was bottom of the pecking order for a while, but then decided that enough was enough - let rip at the bully, and then told the others in no uncertain terms, that she was back with bells on. Not only did she climb three places in the herd, but there was a complete switcharound, in a previously settled hierarchy - everyone appointed themselves a new position! It was chaos for quite a while, but now they seem to have sorted out who's who!

 

[SEL]

We had a new mare on our yard this year who caused problems with the hierarchy. She's actually had to go in a field with just her new bestie (who was bottom of the pecking order, so is mightily chuffed she's got the bully as a best friend) because the kicking and squabbling was causing injuries.

My mare is in a separate paddock due to metabolism issues so only gets to join in over the fence. Even so its funny seeing how deferential she is to some of the other mares and how she is obsessed by others. Reminds me of the school playground!

My gelding shares with her and when all the hormones kick off he can usually be found standing in the furthest corner minding his own business. Sensible boy.