Expert: Lyn Kamer, C.E.S.M.T. - 6/26/2009

Question
Hi - I have a visiting horse to keep my horse company.  Daily, the two horses
are  let out into a field for a few hours.   when I head to the gate, the mare
Bella charges down to the gate.  twice she has nearly run me down ( i walk
down with my horse Penny).  i am walking beside my horse and she comes
running up behind be.  I turned around and pushed her away.  she bolts down
to the gate.  I have tried haltering her and walking her quietly to the gate.  
She bolts when she is not haltered and will run anything down in her way.  
she is not respectful of my space.  what do you suggest?..thank you.

Answer
Gayle,

The best suggestion I can give you is get her in a round pen and teach her some respect for you and to realize that you run things.  If you're not familiar with round pen work there are some excellent videos out there.  You may want to check several different people to watch their technique in round pen work and then figure out what works for you.  You can do it in a small pen but a round pen makes it a little easier because there are no corners.  It may take a couple of sessions to get your point across.  The other horse is an alpha-type mare so you have to establish yourself as "head mare" in your relationship.  Bella is being a bully and running the show right now.  She needs to be taken down a peg or 2 and round pen work is wonderful for that.  Respect from mares like her is not automatic, especially if she's been allowed to get away with it before.  

She'll come around, they all do.  

Lyn