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  Discussion on Sweet Gelding, bad behaviour with mares
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2000 - 3:05 pm:

Need some help. I have a 5 yo TWH Gelding. He is usually low in the herd and in Feb we moved to a new barn with our other horse. Both were introduced slowly, and the 5 yo was the one to go with the herd first. He got along fine with everyone (there are 4 mares and 6 geldings, including mine in the herd) When we finally introduced our other TWH (who is a little studdish) things went well. But the other TWH likes one of the mares and he really protects her and they hang out. Our 5 Y.O. decided he didn't like her (a chestnut mare) or the other 3 which are grays and he chases them. Once he bit the chestnut mare and left a hefty bite wound. The barn manager is wonderful and she keeps trying him with the girls. He is okay for a day or so and then he chases them again. We thought he was jealous at first, but now we would like to stop the behaviour before he or someone else gets hurt. He never kicks, just chases and bites. The barn manager suggested a correcting collar, but they are expensive and I haven't heard of correcting horse behaviour that way. Any suggestions? We can and do separate them But would like them all to be together if possible. this is funny behaviour for the 5 YO because he usually likes everyone and is usually the low horse in the herd. Could use some advice. Thanks, Noel

Posted on Friday, Oct 13, 2000 - 9:52 am:

I am having a similar problem with my 13 yr old gelding. (I posted msg about this yesterday, but couldn't find it anywhere, so it probably didn't work..I apologize if this is a repeat)
My gelding was always a VERY docile horse. He seemed happy just being with other horses and being on the bottom of the pecking order..that is until recently. Within the last couple of weeks, he has become the MOST aggressive horse in the pasture. He is really mean! He not only displays dominate postures with all the horses, but when they turn to run, he will chase them until he catches up and bites/kicks. We can't keep him with any other geldings, and this is how he acts with the mares. He even tried to attack a filly in a nearby paddock! He used to love the mares (sometimes too much, when in heat), but now he only gets along with one other horse- a mare. Can anyone offer some advise...we can't put him in the pasture, but hate to keep him in a stall.
Vicki

Posted on Friday, Oct 13, 2000 - 1:18 pm:

Apparently Tufts University has a department that deals with the well-documented fact of hormonal changes being a strong influence in behavioural changes.

A horse cannot behave calmly and nicely while his/her mind is intensely on breeding or fighting - and it seems your gelding is deeply into such a "stress reflex" state.

Perhaps all these mares in heat have affected his hormonal balance - it does happen, even if he is a gelding; blood tests would show his levels of testosterone and adrenaline. If the levels are too high, your vet could prescribe drugs to balance him and calm him down so he can start "thinking" again, instead of "emoting".

If it is not hormonal, I would suspect pain somewhere as a big change in behaviour always needs investigation for physical problems which could be causing it.

Posted on Monday, Oct 16, 2000 - 12:42 pm:

Can you divide the herd by sex and turn out geldings with geldings and mares with mares? Many of the boarding facilities I've come in contact over the years insist on this to minimize the possibilities of horse-horse injuries.

Cheers.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 17, 2000 - 8:27 am:

We thought about seperating the the herd, except there are only 2 gelds. and he doesn't get along with them either. I talked to my vet about this, and about testing for excessive hormones or testosterone. He said the test is usually inconclusive. He doesn't recommend it. We are trying to reduce his "herd hierarchy" by seperating him, and keeping him in a side paddock. He can see the herd from here, but cannot interract with them. I don't know if this will work, but it's worth a try. I'm hoping that when we do introduce him back into the herd, we can "buddy up" the geldings. Pasture space is an issue where I board, and with most of the herd being mares, it might be difficult to keep them seperated. I do agree though, that seperation is probably the key. Any other advise out there?
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