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Discussion on Mixed Herd Geldings and Mares
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 - 9:33 pm:
The barn I board at has always separated geldings and mares. My horse is a 7yo gelding and has never been pastured with a mare before, until today. When I found him today he was standing with the one mare and obviously very smitten with her. When I led him away, he became very unruly and whinnied all they way back to the barn. Inside, he continued calling for the herd and was very difficult to manage. I did ground work with him and got him listening to me, but as soon as I tied him again he continued calling for the herd.
The barn staff says he will calm down in time. What I would like to know is if others mix their herds this way? If so, do the geldings calm down and go back to being the way they were before the mares moved in? (I liked him that way).
Any ideas or suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks,
Linda
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Member:
leilani
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 - 11:02 pm:
Hi Linda,
I have only boarded 2x, but both ranches mixed mares with geldings with no problems. They usually split up into mini-herds.
I have 2 geldings with my 2 mares with 2 gelding in an adjacent pasture. My older mare, Mele is the boss with my younger mare, Anuhea not far behind.
Funny, years ago when Mele was at another ranch the older gelding in our herd was the boss guy. He is almost 23 now and how things change. Leilani
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2008 - 6:14 am:
Occasionally you run into a gelding who's studdy nature makes the situation hard to live with but many barns mix geldings and mares without problems. They are almost certainly right: your horse will settle down in a few days to a few weeks.
DrO
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2008 - 7:48 am:
Until recently, we had 2 geldings and 2 mares in one pasture. The remaining geldings are separated in their own pasture and there are 2 pastures with just mares. I notice no differences in behavior between the mixed group and the groups seperated by sex (in terms of herd bound issues, anyway)
I'm sure your gelding will settle down...and until then...consider it a new challenge!
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2008 - 12:38 pm:
I have a 'mixed herd' two mares two foals and a gelding, and yes the gelding adores the little ones so much he is protesting a bit when taken away. He does settle in his routine though easily and they have so much fun in between...
The only reason I separate is if the gelding starts fighting other geldings to 'own' all the mares, that's a risk I do not want to take.
Jos
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 - 2:30 am:
Usually the boss mare will sort it all out. That's her job. Your job is not to worry too much in the meantime...
The only time I worry is when you have a horse of either sex that is a real let-fly-with-both-barrels mean kicker that can damage others almost without intent and has shoes on.
I have seen more damage to animals caused by poor fencing here in Ireland than by horse to horse aggression. I'm not saying it doesn't happen - just not as often as you'd think.
Imogen
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Member:
horse4u
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 - 9:34 pm:
My mare was in a mixed herd and one of the geldings would mount her. He was a large horse and she is not. We are at a small farm, so I was able to get the owner to put my mare and my husbands gelding together in a field and haven't had any more problems. I was concerned that she might get hurt since he was so much bigger.
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 12:18 pm:
The mares, I am told, are rather easy-going. So this gives me great relief to know it is commonly done. I will just give him some time and see if things settle down. Thanks for sharing your experiences. You guys are great!
Linda
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