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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Feb 2010 : 7:32:10 PM
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Me again, sorry, having lots of questions at the moment 
After having bad separation problems with Mush and the other two horses in his field I have spent months working on Mush and getting him to a pretty good state where he could come in and go out on his own without being too stressy. Anyway, while I've been doing that the other two have gone mental and now can't be left on their own, and have problems while coming in. One of them broke lose from his owner yesterday and caused all sorts of problem. So, we decided to put the three into the bigger field with six other horses, so that none of them would never have to be on their own.
I was a little dubious as I'd finally got my horse to a better state of mind. But, it was making my life difficult to have to fit in with the others so I agreed. A day later and we've had to get the vet out because of the carnage my horse is now causing 
It's fascinating to watch but I've really no idea what to do next. Mush is herding 'his two' from the others, doing all the classic stuff I've learned while doing NH and Parelli. He's circling, driving, pushing and controlling them. While he was out of the field his mate kicked the current boss in the field and the blood came gushing out (hence the vet visit, poor owner just had her other horse pts the other day, again it was me finding her horse). So, luckily the boss is now on box rest for a few days but I'm really really worried about what's going to happen when he comes back out. Mush now gets extremely anxious again being away from them, we're literally back to square one again, and he's causing all sorts of problems in the field which is likely to lead to more carnage - he sustained a couple of smallish cuts on his head last night, I'm hoping there's not more tomorrow!!!
What do I do? Leave him in there and let them get on with it? Do we separate him from his pair bond completely? Do I put him on his own in the field next to them?
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2010 : 07:45:40 AM
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I really cant help you I'm afraid because I am no expert but I wanted to say that I really feel for you. My old girl is a nightmare not with separation cos she seems quite happy on her own, but with jealously.
She "pretended" to colic when I bought my 2 year old because she could clearly see that she was a younger carbon copy of her. I gradually got them out together until she kicked her so hard on the front of her knee that the vet thought we would have to PTS. They have not been together since although quite happy over the fence with each other.
I have now bought another palomino - this time a foal which I thought would be no threat to her and I think she would kill it if she got to it. She is so so jealous.
So unfortunately her lovely companion who she adores has had to be stolen to look after the foal and Fayre is on her own! I really didnt want her to be on her own in her twilight years so I am really hoping that she will calm down.
So as you can see, with all mine in separate feels I am a failure on the herd mentality bit. I really hope that someone on here will have a plan for you. It is really stressful.
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jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2010 : 08:20:09 AM
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Hi Tabitha,
I've PM'd you. |
    
Borders, Scotland |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 11:58:45 AM
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Well, after a completely stressful day on Sat and ending up being the 'most wanted' on the yard yesterday Mush is starting to settle in his role as new herd leader. The owner of the mare in the field has decided not to let her horse back into the field as Mush is completely in love and won't let anyone (horse nor human) near her, he will apparently lunge with ears back and teeth wide open - it took them half an hour and three people to get her out of the field yesterday
The old herd leader who is now on box rest after the kick and staples will not be put back out there either - he's going in another field with the mare. Two owners very upset as they feel like they've been kicked out but I'm hoping I've smoothed things over.
The other two horses that we moved at the same time are really enjoying bigger herd life and have become real sweeties to deal with, no separation problems or anything. The pony is really happy as it's no longer bottom of the pecking order and is squeaking with delight because it's part of a gang.
When I came yesterday to get Mush out he herded the three 'new' ones away from me, allowed his best mate to come up to me and he then came too. It was like watching a sheepdog herd sheep, he's that good, separating them, putting them back together, controlling where they were going etc.
I now know for definite that Mush is the herd leader, which helps me a lot - just have to go read more about the behaviour and training of herd leaders!! 
Sorry for the long posts......... |
West Sussex |
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flosskins
Silver Member
345 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 2:33:34 PM
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| oh it all sounds awful, i hope you do manage to sort it out! my mare is dreadful as well, she gets an attachment and then it doesn't matter how many other horses are around she throws a right stress if her best friend is out of sight and they aren't even in the same fields - this is just from seeing them over the fence! |
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birdof1977
Silver Member
308 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 6:05:58 PM
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Zar sounds a bit like your Mush. He has aspirations of being the herd leader, without a doubt!
When I got him last year, he was turned out in an established herd, with about 10 others. Within days, he had claimed the mares as his own, rounding them up and away from the other geldings, and striking out at any of them that dared to come near. After a while, the mares left the big field to go to their winter grazing, and he did make friends with a couple of the geldings, two of which he ended up wintering with, but I was not allowed to go into the field and catch, or pet another horse, without him kicking up a fuss. They also all suffered form anxiety when one of them left the field. Charging around, and generally making a right fuss.
It won't be long, and I'll have to go through all of this again with him, when they move over to their summer grazing again.
Not much help really, other than to know that you're not on your own here :) |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 6:53:40 PM
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The title say's it all, herd behaviour!, of course you have put them all into a herd situation and that will always cause trouble until pecking order is acheived , in the wild they settle this themselves.
just imagine that in the wild there are two herds , they come across each other and there will be fights, some may get hurt , but usually they can get away from flying feet if there is enough room . then they go on their way , but by putting horses in a small encloser you are forcing them together and it is asking for trouble, .
my herd have built their own pecking order slowly over the course of time.
I personally wouldnt have done it. |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Herd behaviour
