What is the matter with my horse now?

[horsegirl]

There is a few day old foal at the same yard and everytime my horse sees it he goes mad, if he is his stable jumping around, sweating, neighing and screaming, if he is in the school and they mare and foal or in the field he can't concentrate on what he doing to looking at them and trying to get closer to them. I think he would walk smack into something as he is so concerned with where they are and what they are doing. I lunged him in a pen next to their field and he raced round the far side and then went as slow as possible past them.

What's wrong with him?

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

Maybe he thinks he's the Daddy??? bless him

 

[zigzag]

maybe he has never seen a foal before and is fascinated?

 

[horsegirl]

well he does love his mares!!

 

[Daphnelia]

Ooh I've no idea but its very sweet! (if somewhat annoying for you!)

 

[horsegirl]

I had a lesson last night and fortunately the mare and foal were brought in just before it started as otherwise I wouldn't be able to get him to pay attention.

 

[TarrSteps]

He's protecting his herd.

Some geldings take that very seriously - I had one that couldn't be left in his paddock when the mares and foals came by because he'd jump out. He also called to the foals, went bonkers when the mares were foaling and was generally obsessed with them all. He was also studdy in other ways and I assume it was all part of that outlook.

As far as a solution, we basically treated him like a stallion anyway so he stayed controllable but you certainly knew if you were riding him and mares and foals (or stallions) were about. Your horse should settle, especially if you're firm about keeping his attention on you while he's working, Just be safe in the mean time.

 

[lucysnapshot]

my mare was doing this when i brought my other mare and foal on the yard, she eventually stopped after a few times of meeting the foalie

 

[custard]

Mines like this too! He's a gelding but never displayed riggy behaviour and very gentle with other horses.

The last two summers the mare's in the stable next door have both foaled and he's been pretty obsessed, calls to them whickers to them - I think he's just a modern man who loves babies!

 

[hannah87]

my gelding behaves like that over any small creature, be it a foal, shetland, goat etc he is very odd will do anything to stare at it and tenses up etc and winnys !he is also petrified of cats so mayb he is just abit weird!