Turning out 2 geldings and a mare together???

Hels_Bells

Hels_Bells

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I currently have a 31yo veteran gelding and 13yo fairly playful gelding at home. They get on brilliantly. I would say that 31yo is probably in charge (13yo follows him round rather than the other way round), though it's difficult to say as they get on so well. It was certainly the case when we first got younger horse though he was pretty insecure at the time so may have developed into alpha since then. Again difficult to tell!

We have had a call today from someone who has a 23yo mare of ours out on loan. She's getting to the end of her working life and they have got a 3rd horse and its not working out to well. The mare is very bossy and usually alpha female in a herd. She was leader when we had her and my 31yo togther in the past. So the loaners have asked us if it's ok for them to find her another home but given her age we would probably rather have her back with us.

Also am told 13yo was a stallion until lateish - about 6 years old - so wondering if he will become more possessive over mare.

I have never had a 2 gelding; 1 mare situation before as this is the only mare I've ever had. Given dynamics explained above do you think they would happily turn out together? I would obviously keep them separated to start and do a very gradual introduction process etc. But wondering if it usually works to have 2 geldings and one mare out together? :confused:

Thanks!!!
 
i know somone with a couple of geldings who used to be best friends when they were on thier own but when thier mare went in with them one of the geldings started bulliying the other :(
 
I believe something similar is happening at mare's current home. She and another gelding have been together for years, then when they add in the other horse (gender unknown) other gelding goes for it massively. Hmmm. I know every situation is different but would be nice to have some hope!!
 
I had 2 geldings and a mare until recently when the mare passed away, and had no problems at all, although the boss horse could sometimes be quite nasty to her.
Suspect he was just trying to assert his authority, and for the most part it worked fine.
 
That's good to hear Hollywoozle and Spottyappy! Both the gelding are well behaved little sweetpeas and the mare very bossy as I said, so hopefully they will just fall into line behind her and not try to get one over on the other. It would be awful if my poor old boy were to be turned upon he's to old to fight!!!!
 
I have 2 geldings (3yrs and 4yrs old) and a mare (14yrs old) together.

It works fine. Mare is in charge and 4 yr old is bottom of the pile.
Never (touch wood) had any big issue.
I have also moved another in and out of the field on occasion and she is a right soft *****e. Despite this, geldings have never bothered her.
 
You can get power struggles (usually the geldings think they're fighting over the top position, but the mare actually is!) they usually settle down. We have two of each, and they're fine - although when there wasn't much grass the geldings "play scrapped" a lot and actually bit one another now and then - we ended up putting grazing muzzles on for a month
to stop it!
 
I used to have my daughter's pony mare out with my two cob geldings and there was never a problem. Little mare was definitely the boss though but never nasty, just had a certain look she could give the boys and they instantly backed down!
 
I have a 3yo very tarty mare, in with my 2 geldings. Both geldings are quite aloof but one is quite fond of her so does chase the other one away very occasionally, but they tend to hang around by themselves anyway and have never had any problems with them at all. Only thing is that she gets very very annoyed that they ignore her, especially when she is playful but they tolerate her so all is well :)
 
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