Experience Horseman of over 40 yrs., certified equine massage therapist, trainer both riding and driving, endurance riding
Organizations American Endurance Ride Assn., Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Assn., New Jersey Trail Ride Assn., Aromatherapists International, American Mustang and Burro Assn., United States Trotting Assn., Standardbred Pleasure Horse Org.
Question a friend purchased a mare with a 2 month old filly at her side a year ago. They kept the mare and foal away from their two other horses until this spring (Feb) when the filly was weaned. They put the filly in with the two mares (introduced her to one for a few days and then put the other in) and the 2nd in command mare is harming the filly. She will seem fine for awhile and then will chase her and corner her and has hurt her to the point that the vet has come out twice. The filly is now in a seperate pen with her Dam but they would like all 4 horses together. The 2nd in command horse will kick at them through the gate charge at the gate and makes it obvious she will harm them. You can not even ride the 2nd in command with the new mare without behavioral issues. How can this be stopped? The second in command mare is in danger of hurting herself and the other horses.
Answer Carshon,
This is a tough on to handle. They may never be able to put all the horses together. The two mares they had developed a relationship with the one mare being very possessive of the other horse and "their" space. I have had to hobble a gelding of mine who had similar issues with new geldings being added to my herd until the new horse learned to stand up to him. He wore side hobbles for a long time, ripped up the pasterns on one side so I switched the hobbles to the other side until he had made his pasterns on that side raw too. I took the hobbles off and he was too sore to chase the new horse for a while. Long enough to give the new horse a chance to fit in. Still had some nonsense to asked my animal communicator to "talk" with Lightning and see what his problems were. We did get things worked out but he will still periodically chase the one other gelding, just to assert that he is the dominant male.
You could suggest that your friend get an animal communicator to talk to the mare and see if something can be worked out. Otherwise, the horses will have to be kept apart.
There's no real explaining this, some horses are just that way and have to be kept away from certain other horses.
I'm sorry I cannot give you a quick "fix" for this. Herd issues can be difficult to handle. My herd is used to new horses coming and going because I train horses but I still have issues at times. This is best I can offer, I hope it helps.
