Yearling struggling socially

[maya2008]

Has anyone else experienced this? She is often to be found on her own away from the others, and even when in a smaller group (4 ponies) tends to end up alone. She seems to do best if there’s only one other in the field with her, presumably because they have no choice but to hang out with her. She adores people though, is very friendly and trusting. My kids adore her and she them. It’s almost as if she was bottle reared, yet she came off Dartmoor in a drift sale so…

 

[dorsetladette]

My newest baby (just a year old) is the bottom of the pecking order and is often found on his own. He's quite boisterous when he is with the others so I think he just gets told off and goes off to find his own entertainment. It takes a while for an established herd to accept a newbie and sometimes babies take a while work out how the pecking order works.

 

[maya2008]

My newest baby (just a year old) is the bottom of the pecking order and is often found on his own. He's quite boisterous when he is with the others so I think he just gets told off and goes off to find his own entertainment. It takes a while for an established herd to accept a newbie and sometimes babies take a while work out how the pecking order works.

Thanks, she’s got another yearling in with her who’s keen to be friends but the DHP filly doesn’t seem to get it. No one is chasing her off and she sleeps with her yearling buddy, right next to each other with the adults on look-out duty. I often arrive to find her literally in another field though (gates are open), well out of sight of the others.

On Saturday, we brought home a new pony of similar size. He is receptive to the friendly yearling’s advances and they are now best buddies. So he settled in immediately, and the little DHP filly is now even more left out.

 

[SEL]

My hand reared one is now 12 and struggles socially. She doesn't really understand grooming for instance.

There's not a lot you can do apart from let them get on with it

 

[dorsetladette]

Thanks, she’s got another yearling in with her who’s keen to be friends but the DHP filly doesn’t seem to get it. No one is chasing her off and she sleeps with her yearling buddy, right next to each other with the adults on look-out duty. I often arrive to find her literally in another field though (gates are open), well out of sight of the others.

On Saturday, we brought home a new pony of similar size. He is receptive to the friendly yearling’s advances and they are now best buddies. So he settled in immediately, and the little DHP filly is now even more left out.

On a positive note at least you won't need to worry about her not wanting to leave the herd. She sounds like a independent young lady. I wouldn't worry to much.

Our babies (2yr old and the yearling) play together and sleep together but then the 2yr old decides he far to mature to play with the baby and goes back to the older boys. Yearling doesn't really care and just gets on with having fun or eating on his own.

 

[paddy555]

. It’s almost as if she was bottle reared, yet she came off Dartmoor in a drift sale so…

it doesn't necessarily mean she wasn't bottle reared. Do you know she wasn't? It is just a thought if you think she may have been.

I have a 35 yo Hill pony that lived on the common for 20 odd years producing lots of foals. Her own mother had died all those years ago when she was a foal and she was bottle reared. I know of another who was bottled reared due to mother's death.
It may be unusual but it has happened.

If she is a yearling she was presumably sold last Oct as around a 5mo foal? you may be able to get the sale catalogue and trace her back to where she came from?
OTOH some of the hill ponies are just very friendly little souls who love people and you may just have one.

 

[paddi22]

I've one who was very antisocial even as a foal. he would always be away by himself miles away from the herd. he's grown up into a fine little youngster. a definite benefit of it being that he doesn't care if horses leave arenas, canter past him on hacks, or if he';s left by himself if others go away for a while etc.

 

[Patterdale]

Try not to anthropomorphise, she’s not ‘struggling socially’ she’s making the choice to just be a bit more independent. She sleeps with the others and no bullying issues, so I really wouldn’t worry about it