This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Behavioral Problems topics not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Divide and conquer?
Author Message
Member:
Choney

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 - 1:18 am:

Once again, I need to dip into the HA's expert pool of horsemen and horsewomen.

Would you kindly share your experiences regarding whether or not to keep a horse in a separate turnout vs. being with the herd, and why or why not to?

My horse (unknown social history prior to last year) has gone from having been with a bullying gelding for almost a year, to being alone in a paddock for a few months- but able to greet other horses over a fence/stall, to now possibly being in very large pasture setting with about 4 other mares.

I am worried about how she'll behave. Is the more natural setting of being in a herd a problem for a horse that might not be used to it? Should I be concerned she'll hurt another horse or vice versa? I should add that she's recovering from a right shoulder injury, and that the mares she'll pasture with are older, sedate mares. From what I've seen, my mare appears to "like" some other mares, but not all of them. I've been assured by someone with tons of experience that "mares will work it out with no long-term issues as long as there is plenty of space for them."

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Cher Mc.
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 - 7:26 am:

I have a mare that in the past 2-3 years has become very aggressive with my other 2 horses. She waits until she has one of them cornered and then starts kicking with both hind feet and doesn't stop until they manage to escape or I intervene. I don't know where the behavior came from but I don't feel safe leaving her with the other two (gelding and 28 yo mare). I'm really surprised she didn't manage to seriously hurt my gelding the two times she got him cornered. She has been with the 28 yo mare since she was 2 when I purchased her. I would love to turn them out to pasture together but am afraid to do so.
Cheryl
Member:
Dres

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 - 10:16 am:

I play it safe... my young horses stay together till they are pulled to be backed.... when i bring them home , i separate them, no longer are they in with a herd... its to big a risk in my book for one to get a hard kick in the knee/ shoulder and then have a lame horse.... i separated them with a single or dbl line of electric tape.. so there is still bite face over the fence and even shoulder rubs...

On the first day God created horses , on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
Warwick

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 - 11:49 am:

Cher, I treat mine the same way Ann does. Once they have started on their career path, they are turned out alone. They can always see their neighbors and talk over the fence but that's the extent of contact. Otherwise the risk of injury is too great as I mostly raise them for working and/or sale purposes. Plus it really helps to eliminate separation anxiety and allows them to better focus on their work. I haven't had one yet that doesn't settle into the routine after a day or two at most.

Cheers
Sue
Member:
Leilani

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 - 2:42 pm:

Cheryl,

I read somewhere that the behavior your mare is exhibiting is fairly normal. It's the corner that is abnormal. She is kicking to get the other horses to move. They can't of course because they are in a corner, so the mare continues to kick because they are not responding to her 'request'.

I have used pvc piping to block some severe corners in our pasture. Next life, no 45 degree lines. Leilani
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC