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  Discussion on Pasture Buddies?
Author Message
Member:
Horse4u

Posted on Sunday, Jul 17, 2005 - 9:23 pm:

I have a mare who is the herd leader to another mare and a gelding. She used to be at the bottom of the pecking order in a herd of mares before I bought her. When she came to our place she was 2nd in a herd of 3. The gelding was herd leader. They all got along fine. The gelding had to be put down and we bought another gelding. This one is very sweet, but skidish and doesn't appear to be standing up for himself. The new gelding and 2 mares have been together now for 3 months and at first they got along great. During the last 3 weeks, my mare has been biting him. He has at least 10 bite marks (small ones) and my husband is not happy with the way he is looking. They had lots of grass and that has been rather sparse lately due to poor pasture management where we board. I'm not sure they get enough hay during the day. What could be causing her to be so aggressive towards him and is there anything we can do aside from taking him out to prevent the bite marks? She is a bit overweight and I thought about putting a grazing muzzle on her, but I'm not sure how she would act. She loves to eat! Help....
Member:
Sr26953

Posted on Sunday, Jul 17, 2005 - 10:39 pm:

A good head mare would share the food. Sounds like she is feeling her Oats from finally being top dog. I'd take the gelding out as he is probably not getting enough to eat. Geldings are often at the bottom of the food chain.

Suzanne
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 18, 2005 - 6:20 am:

I am interested in the fact the aggression seem to worsen as the grass has become sparse, it may well be that your gelding is suffering from the feeling of increased competition for food. Horses only share food when there is plenty of it and often not even then. Can you insure that there is plenty of good quality hay that is spread about in piles far enough apart to insure everyone can munch? It does sound like your mare's health could be improved with a muzzle to decrease her ability to graze, I find horses tolerate them pretty well.
DrO
Member:
Horse4u

Posted on Monday, Jul 18, 2005 - 7:42 am:

Thanks for the replies. I want to tell you that when we take my mare and the gelding to our friends farm that has a huge pasture with lots of grass and space, she did not bother him over the 4 days we were there. This is what leads me to believe that it could be food related. I disagree with the comment that a level headed mare would share the food. Even the friendliest horse is protective when they perceive that the food is scarce. The gelding is getting enough food. He gets grain and whoever feeds makes sure that the horses don't go after each others food, the hay gets spread in 3 piles about 15 feet away from each other. However, I'm not sure they get enough hay. They get 1 flake each and with the shortage of grass, I think they need more. Often when I go out, I give them more hay which is gone by the time my husband goes in the evening. My mare gets 1/2 cup hoof supplement, 1/4 cup triple crown light, teaspoon of garlic, tablespoon of electrolytes and a small handful of forage to make her think she is getting more than she is. Any suggestions on whether I should change this? Is there something I can give her that is low in calories that will make her "think" she is getting more food. A friend suggested hay pellets?

I think I'll try the grazing muzzle and see how she does. She looked great in the spring as she was getting lots of exercise, but with all the heat and rain we've been having, it's been difficult to maintain that regimen.
Member:
Horse4u

Posted on Monday, Jul 18, 2005 - 12:01 pm:

Biting Pasture Buddies? What do you find causes it and have you found any solutions other than separating them. Today I went out and they were fed at 7:30 AM. At 8:30 they were all in the run in with no hay and no grass. I put out 2 flakes and took my horse out to work her. 2 hours later, I put out 6 more flakes and put her back in. My husband will go tonight and check on them. The pasture is pretty much all weeds at this point so they aren't getting much grass. Do you think I should ask the barn manager to increase their hay? They were all getting along just fine when I put my mare back and later when I was leaving. They were happily munching and no one was chasing anyone or biting.
Member:
Canderso

Posted on Monday, Jul 18, 2005 - 6:16 pm:

Hi Vicki,
Not suggesting this is the absolute solution, but I see you have 3 horses and 3 piles of hay.

Put in a fourth pile of hay (so one is always free) and you may see things calm down a bit...it might also give a reason to have a bit more hay for them...
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