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Mary Ream
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 5, 1999 - 12:40 pm: |   |
Iv'e run into a new problem and am a nevous wreck about it. I just bought a new quarter mare and our 4 yr arab quarter cross hates her.He was a very nevous in his stall and when i led him up to her he showed teeth and went after her. She kindof egnores him. We put him and the other 2 in the pasture and her in the round pen, side by side and her herds the other 2 away from the new mare and trys to go after the new mare. Anytime the others go close to her he lunges to put hisself between them and her. Any sugestions or should i just calm down and let it be. I figured waiting a good week before introducing them in the pasture together.Another problem i bought this mare before i sold my paint therefore dont have an extra stall so this new mare will have the barn isle as her stall till i sell one.
mary |
Chris Mills
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 1999 - 4:41 pm: | |
Mary,
Can you turn out the new horse with one other horse at a time, gradually working through the entire herd? This way, she'll have time to work through relationships with the less disturbed members of the herd before the 4 year old has a chance to whip the rest up in a frenzy.
I like the idea of having her in an adjacent paddock for getting acquainted, too. Perhaps you can stagger the turnout such that the other horses have an opportunity to chat over the fence line while you keep a couple of horses in for a half day (including the grouchy one).
What is the sex of the other herd members? Usually I see gelding/gelding dislike, or mare/mare dislike. It is more unusual for a gelding to pick on a mare. What I've seen is for a gelding to try to keep other geldings away from the mare(s) - sorta stud like.
I'd probably not have hind shoes on her or the gelding trouble maker for herd introduction and spend a lot of time supervising.
As far as keeping her in the aisle ... can you close of the tops of the stalls so the other horses can't get to her (i.e. the aggressive gelding)? If not, I'd probably keep her and the grouchy geldin in their own stalls and allow a more placid member of the herd to be in the aisle at night.
Or, I'd keep a couple of horses out overnight, weather permitting.
Take it slow and easy. They'll gradually work through their differences.
Maybe someone else will have some other suggestions. |
Darren Robertson
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 1999 - 5:09 pm: | |
Calm down Mary horses is just horses.
I always allow 1-2 weeks before putting any new horses together, and I find quarter horses to be the nastiest about new horses.
This gives the horses a chance to accept that each other is there to stay, and gives you some idea of how they will behave when they get together.
and don't forget those rear shoes, my arab mare ended up with the brand name of the shoes imprinted on her butt when her and the quarter horse gelding were finally let together. I could see each of the bumps and hollows of the shoe. She still has a dent in her muscles from that one a year ago.
My quarter horse gleding got the stuffing knocked out of him by the arab/quarter cross mare that is a bit mean, my boy deserved it and hopefully he will behave from now on. Not too much damage just some lost skin and a light coloured patch on new hair.
You might have to put the trouble maker in his own paddock and let the others who seem quieter stay with the new horse in a week. Then he may settle down as he has suddenly been removed from the herd :-) |
Mary Ream
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 1999 - 9:08 pm: | |
Chris and Darren, thanks for the help. Later that afternoon things started to calm down. The new mare is in the paddock, the other 3 in the pasture. They can all 3 meet over the fence. I just never expected this behavior from the gelding. We have him,the paint mare and a 2yr. gelded donkey, plus the new mare.
We ended up putting the new mare in the isle.The stall doors are all one not the dutch doors so no, theres no way they can really get to each other. There are bars in front so they can nose each other. Believe it or not the new mare and the paint mare get along good.The paint is in heat that might have something to do with that. The new mare doesnt seem to like the donkey and that upsets the gelding.
Well I asked the neighbor to come over sat and my husband and he can work at putting them all together(gradually) and I will go shopping! What I don't know won't hurt me. lol
I wouldn't consider taking the 4 yr out by hiself. He'd really freak. I thought i really made a big mistake by all this but people do it all the time and i guess it works out. I'm just not good at it. I have a problem seeing anything fighting especially 1000lb animals out for blood.
Thanks for the input again and the comforting words. Ill let ya know what happens over the week end.
Mary |
Jay Miller
New Member
Username: Jaymjudy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003 - 8:00 pm: | |
I recently brought a well mannered quarter horse to our property. Before introducing him to the other three horses on the place, I kept him in a paddock of his own for a few days. When I put him in with the other three horses, two paid no attention to him. The third horse, and the one that I would least expect to, went after him with a vengance. Kicking, biting, chasing, etc. If anyone has any suggestions as to how I can curb this behavior, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Jay Miller |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 290
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003 - 9:58 pm: | |
Hi, Jay,
Were the horses able to "nose" eachother over the fence before you put the new gelding in with the others?
Basically, you are seeing perfectly normal behavior . . . . there is really nothing you can do about it . . . it is something that has to happen between "the new guy" and his pasture mates. They will work it out between themselves . . . and after the horse you least suspected is finished "getting to know" the new guy, don't be surprised if one of the others takes his/her turn . . . . .
If the behavior is extremely vicious and you are afraid your new horse is going to be badly damaged, then the alternative is to change the herd dynamics by subtracting one or two horses from the pasture and placing them in an adjoining pasture.
Holly |
Dan Hunt
Member
Username: Dhunt
Post Number: 6
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003 - 10:55 pm: | |
Jay - Hollywood is correct, this is normal behavior and you should not try to worry. These things have to be worked out amongst themselves. Get some ointment for the bites/kicks, but it should not come to more than that. It may take up to 2 weeks but normally just a few days and you'll find that your horses have paired up. I've found that an even number of horses seems to work best in the pasture as nobody is odd man out! |
Leilani Clark
Member
Username: Leilani
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003 - 11:37 pm: | |
I would also remove back shoes if any. I understand that teeth can do a lot of harm also, but there is not too much you can do about them |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 350
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 24, 2003 - 1:08 pm: | |
Take heart Jay - this too shall pass, even though it doesn't seem so right now. Our new quarter horse mare had the stuffing knocked out of her by both her new pasture mates (they took turns) after they had spent a good week visiting over a fence. When we finally turned all three together there was definitely action, but all quite normal, although I was worried too. It's been a month now, and they are co-habitating just fine. She is definitely bottom horse but she knows it and keeps her distance if she has to at times. Nothing left now but some hairless bite marks that are recovering nicely. The aggression towards a new horse usually looks a lot worse to us humans than it actually is, horses have to be horses. The most important thing was to make sure she had access to her share of food and shelter during this difficult time. We just made sure there was always more than 4 or 5 piles of hay so if she got chased away from one, she could always find another one. |
Jo Beasley
Member
Username: Beasley
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 8, 2003 - 9:20 pm: | |
I've gotten into a bit of trouble when trying to add a new horse to my group of two geldings. The two guys are normally easy going, kind, etc. My new horse is under weight and in medium/poor condition. I made a mistake by putting my "boss" gelding with the new guy in a large paddock. It was ugly. The new guy stuck in a corner while my "kind" horse beat him up....vicious biting mostly. Now, I am keeping the new guy separate, but accessible over a fence and doctoring his wounds. My questions are: how long should I keep them separate? Should I try to put the 2nd (not boss) gelding with the new guy before putting all 3 together? Should I wait longer for the new horse to get stronger? The problem I have is my good pasture where the two boys are is my only grass (about 8 acres) and I need to get the new horse on the grass, gradually, but ASAP. Any help would be appreciated, knowing how bad a feel about the error of too much too soon. Thanks. |
robertjbraun
Member
Username: Rjbraun
Post Number: 45
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 8, 2003 - 9:57 pm: | |
Hi JO ,I had this problem with a boss mare she was with 4 other horses and I let in a 2 year Q,H this mare beat the hell out of him. Tryed 10 times same deal . JUST HAD TO KEEP THEM APART .Or have a on happy group AND A BEAT UP HORSE OR HORSES. Bob. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9589
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 6:55 am: | |
Hello Jo,
We have a whole other section on this at » Care for Horses » Routine Care & Procedures » Horses & Pasture Mates. There are many helpful suggestions there. Note: I would not introduce horses together in a paddock, there should be plenty of room for all.
DrO |
Christos Axis
Member
Username: Christos
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 7:14 am: | |
Removing the naughty ones from the herd IMMEDIATELY when they act up and putting them in a round pen or other area where they can watch the rest of the herd from a distance, seems to work pretty well.
Most horses get the idea immediately, after all this is what they'd get in the wild for bad attitude.
Some others, as Bob says, will never settle. |
Sarah Woodman
Member
Username: Megster
Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 1:27 pm: | |
Although this is natural behaviour, its awful to think that limbs can be broken as a result of these fights, when something as severe as this could be avoided. A friend of mine had to have her horse put to sleep as a result of a kick in the field. I had a similar problem when I bought my Cleveland Bay mare. I took her to a yard where there were 7 mares and a gelding who happily lived together. I was 'told' by the yard owner that my mare would be turned out with her next door neighbour (another mare) for a few hours on their own and then other horses would be introduced to them. Although I didn't agree with this method i went along with it foolishly thinking the yard owner knew what she was doing. She was fine with the mare and then the next horse to be let in was a big cobby gelding who ran up to her at full speed, to which she ran back at equal speed and as they met they turned and proceeded to double barrell each other with their back legs. It was really really nasty and very upsetting for both me and the owner of the gelding. My mare was blamed as the newcomer and I was told she obviously had a condition called nympomania (I'm sure you can work this one out for yourselves) and wasn't allowed to go out again. So, I moved her, this time to a yard with two mares and two geldings. This time, more sensibly, we introduced her into an adjoining paddock so they could nose and squeal at each other over the fence. She was next to the others for a couple of weeks before being turned out with them and things were fine. From other experiences, I would suggest where there is a particularly aggressive horse, that he/she is removed from the situation until all of the other's have been introduced over a fence and are OK once turned out together. Then remove all of the others and introduce the two with the problem over the fence. If the aggressive horse doesn't have any friends to turn to or any other horse he feels he needs to protect the chances are he will eventually turn to his new companion. It may be a bit of a logistical nightmare initially but I would certainly try this approach if I ever came across this problem again. All the best. Sarah |
Sherry Wagar
Member
Username: Tlcstabl
Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 3:07 pm: | |
No matter how you decide to finally introduce the horses in the same pasture, I have found that putting a stable blanket on the newcomer will save some of his/her hide and hair until all settles down! Good luck! |
Jo Beasley
Member
Username: Beasley
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 8:47 pm: | |
Hi all: Thanks so much for the advice and sharing. My heart has finally stopped pounding after watching my new guy get beat up. I will check the referenced article, Dr. O. I need all the help I can get! I think a full two weeks over the fence and I have considered letting the new guy wear a blanket...the other may tear it off, however, don't know. That may be a little tricky. I did remove the boss horse as soon as I could and isolate him...glad that was a good idea. I just did it because I was so upset! Thanks again. |
Holly Zukowski
Member
Username: Cowgrl
Post Number: 259
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2004 - 12:31 pm: | |
When I bought a new QH and turned him out with our other two geldings, he calmly walked over and started eating some hay. One of the others (2nd in command) came over to check him out. New guy (Woodrow) lunged at him with teeth bared sending 2nd in command (Cisco) running back to herd boss (Whiskey). Cisco tried again with the same effect. That was the end of it. Woodrow was now No. 2 horse and never, ever challenged Whiskey for leadership. He was actually afraid of him and wouldn't load for a while if Whiskey was already in the trailer. It's as though Woodrow had no interest in being herd boss but refused to be pushed around either. Of course the three of them became great friends and would often play together. |
