Sudden change in pecking order - worried.

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Crazydancer

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I know horses will be horses, and there is a pecking order, and sometimes this is re-inforced quite aggressivley.

BUT......

I am a bit concerned. I have a mare (5) and a gelding (20) who have been living together, out 24/7, since I bought her in April. She is very playful, but he has had the upper hand and kept her in her place, and he is very food orientated.
About 3 weeks ago, overnight, this changed. She is now boss, even around food, he will stand back and keep out of the way. Even when I put 5 or 6 piles of haylage out, she will for a while move him from pile to pile...
I posted the other night that she had bitten his tail as well, poor little guy.

I do think she needs work, which I can't give her right now as we have no lights or a schooling area, and hacking is right out onto a road and my brave pants aren't that big just yet!!

Has anyone else had this happen - a sudden shift like this? Part of me thinks I should let them get on with it, the other is worried about my little guy. :(
 
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One of mine seems to constantly re-inforce his ranking even though the other never fights him for his place. Its not nice, but I just leave them to it. As long as they have their own access to food and enough space to get away from each other. They will settle again.
 
When my husband's horse arrived aged 4, he was bottom of the pecking order - even the 12h pony bossed him around. He got truly battered! After a year he must have thought, "Hang on I'm bigger than the lot of you!" and he started standing up to them. He very soon became top dog, and still is. I'm now down to two horses and he adores my mare, but will spend all day moving her from one pile of hay to another, just because its nature and he can.

So I would think that she is growing up and testing her standing, while he is getting too old to bother argueing. If nothing is getting hurt and there are enough piles of hay that she can't keep him from all of them at once, then don't worry..
 
Sounds normal to me, unless she is really bullying him and booting him with intent and he is terrified of her I would just let them get on with it, as long as he is content.

I think the thing that took me a long time to come to terms with regarding herd politics is that the horses just accept the changes and don't appear to hold any grudge as we ourselves might if we were ousted from our pedestals by some bright young thing on the way up the ladder :)
 
Thanks all - I am letting my own emotions cloud this I think.
He is my little boy, have had him for 19 years and he is 'my special one'.
She is very affectionate, and once I get her going, will be a really lovely horse, and although she follows me round like a puppy, I just haven't fallen in love with her, and that is also part of the problem.
Not her fault..... just one of those things....
 
My old boy who is rising 23 has always been the big boss of my field but he has taken a back seat over the last few months and my new boy had taken over. He will still boss the ponies about if they come near but he generally stands back and waits......very unlike him but i'm thinking he's just keeping himself out of harms way as he knows he's not as quick as he used to be and is a bit stiff so its more hassle than its worth. I think they are very good at self preservation. Could be the same for your guy.
 
I can't quote as on my phone but I know exactly what you mean i've had mine 19 years to and its hard to see! I think he's lucky though that my new boy has my daughters pony to play with their on the same wave length!
 
Agree with all of the above, and its prob just her age coming into a new herd as a youngster and now realising she can now be the dominant female! Same happened with my two boys, one 5 one 21 - the older was top for ages until my new one grew a pair and got established. Was sad to see the older one drop down the pecking order as had him for 15 years but he seems happy enough with the new arrangement :-)
 
This is something I am expecting to happen with mine. I have a 21 year old and two 3 year olds together. One 3 year old has been with the 21 year old since shortly after weaning and they adore each other. The older one can keep them in their place but is finding it harder work especially when she is having a bad day with her arthritis.
 
Same here, my old boy gave the youngster both barrels when he first arrived as a petrified 4 YO who let everyone bully him, now they are out together and it is sooo sad to see oldie being chased off by the now 2 years older boy who is clearly in control, upsets me, but natural I guess :((
 
Thanks again folks. Guess it's just inevitable..... I will try and get the mare back working again soon, I think that will keep her mind busy and give him a little peace! There are 3 youngsters I would love to put her out with as I'm sure they would all love to play, but they are all geldings so could cause trouble, and they aren't mine - although she's the most un-marish mare, I've yet to see her show a season!
 
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