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  Discussion on Herdbound to and Intimated by Stablemate
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Longhorn

Posted on Sunday, Jul 10, 2005 - 4:31 pm:

Here's one for you. I enjoyed the thread having to do with separation anxiety. I added my two cents' worth and used some of the tips suggested by others. Now I realize I have a "push me, pull me" thing going with my two horses. Both horses are herdbound but the gentler horse (Strat) is very intimated by his more aggressive buddy (Ben). So....hmmm.

Here's how I found this out. I had Husband Bob hold on to Brat Ben in the arena. I'd lead Strat out of the arena which caused Ben to get a little antsy although Bob would work with him to keep Ben's attention on Bob, not on Strat. Strat and I would linger out of sight of Ben under the shade of a tree, then I'd lead Strat back into the arena and start to lunge him. The thought is, "Away from Ben is comfy. With Ben means work," right? Well, instead of being calm by being closer to Ben, Strat would act as if he wanted th'heck OUT of that arena and rush toward the gate in the opposite direction of Ben and then he'd buck when I asked him to walk. Bob was about 100 feet away with Ben, lunging Ben at a controlled walk or trot. Strat isn't a lazy guy on a lunge line, either. He has a good work ethic, goes pretty well, very compliant and willing, not given to fits or rebellion.

I finally figured out that Strat was intimated by Ben when it appeared Ben was coming in Strat's direction even though they were 50 to 100 feet apart under Bob's control. (Ben was most likely sending out that Horse Secret Code language to Strat when they made eye contact.) This also explains some trail behavior we've noticed with the two boys. Ben is not intimated by Strat, he's just herdbound. Strat, however, is herdbound AND intimated by Ben in close proximity. While we're on the trail, if I trot Ben away from Strat, Strat wants to rush to catch up and Bob has his hands full. If I approach Strat from behind, Strat either gets a little jiggy or flat panics, tucks his tail, and bolts forward or scrambles sideways because he's afraid Ben's coming after him. If we walk side by side, it's not too bad, Strat seems to do okay. Of course, if Strat walks around a corner or a tree out of sight for a nano second or Ben and I walk ahead out of site of Strat, Ben wants to bolt ahead at a gallop to catch up OR wheel around and run back. That's the herdboud thing we've been working on. At least before I realized there's another element to this rodeo.

Talk about a training challenge! On the ground, on his own or in hand, Strat behaves rather well when Ben goes away just crying and calling (nonstop) and trotting to various viewpoints looking for his buddy. Ben, on the other hand, kicks and runs about, in and out of his stall, grunting and squealing and working up a sweat. (He's controllable in hand, just barely under saddle.) I've been feeding them out of sight of each other and they seem to be quite accepting of that. Ben isn't aggressive toward Strat except for on a very few occasions when I've let Ben run in the arena and neither have been fed. Then, of course, Ben wants to be sure he gets his first. In which case, the extent of his aggression is to chase Strat around the arena (one time) where Strat ends up cowering in his stall and Ben is satisfied to roam the arena looking for goodies. That's it. No biting or kicking. Just a good run around and then Ben leaves him alone. If I feed them together, it's musical feed tubs. Ben eats for a while out of one, then goes in search of more succulent bits out of Strat's chasing Strat away. Strat goes to Ben's abandoned feed tub and, after a while, here comes Ben looking for something better, etc., back and forth, back and forth.

So, it looks like I'll have to be quite calculated in how I manage these guys until I have the time to constantly be riding them and they get desensitized to all this leisurely socializing. Strat's fear of Ben will be the tough one because Strat is a naturally docile, kind, gentle guy and I think even though I may keep them together but separated by fence, Strat will always be leary of Ben and Ben will always be a bully.

All thoughts welcomed keeping in mind the Push Me, Pull Me Factor. Whatever you do to buddy them up and build some trust with Strat may increase the herdbound issues, whatever you do to make Strat more independent may increase Ben's need to intimidate.
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