Post by natural on Mar 4, 2012 12:47:23 GMT 1
Herd dynamic change, affecting my horses behaviour out riding?
Hi I’m new to the forum, and often read interesting posts, but have found myself recently pondering a question, suppose it’s one way to join a forum! And was hoping for some input, and hopefully you might find it interesting too.
I’ve cared for and had horses of my own for 35years. I’ve got two horses; one I mainly hack out with a bit of stuff in the school, the other is his field companion. I keep them at my home. They live out 24/7/365. The horse I ride is now 18, and I’ve owned him for fourteen years. The companion I’ve had for seven years, and he’s 15. The companion has always been the herd leader over the ridden horse, and I’m their herd leader so to speak.
For a bit of companionship and to help cover most of their expenses, I take in a livery. The livery horse is quite sweet, nothing nasty anyway. The pecking order has now changed. They all accept their positions no prob, and is quite peaceful. The livery horse also more often than not positions himself between my two, keeping my two separate. Me top, livery horse 2nd, companion 3rd, riding horse bottom. Thing is the horse leader is a bit spooky/nervous. He’s definitely top dog over the hay piles. In the field he’s the most aware (which maybe his job I suppose, not sure), and can sometimes dash off in fright. My two are pretty chilled and hardly flinch at anything, but it can sometimes alert my two when livery horse dashes off, which I suppose is natural, but my two don’t do it if on their own. I’m feeling it’s disturbing my twos peaceful environment as it were!
Out hacking though I’ve noticed that my horse is a little more “alert” than usual. He’s usually a very sensible hack (maybe with the odd little “moment”). It’s making me a little nervous, coz the other day he did a little funny near home and I fell off and he cantered off home
Do you think this livery horses behaviour could be having an affect on him?
Ideas/opinions welcome
Hi I’m new to the forum, and often read interesting posts, but have found myself recently pondering a question, suppose it’s one way to join a forum! And was hoping for some input, and hopefully you might find it interesting too.
I’ve cared for and had horses of my own for 35years. I’ve got two horses; one I mainly hack out with a bit of stuff in the school, the other is his field companion. I keep them at my home. They live out 24/7/365. The horse I ride is now 18, and I’ve owned him for fourteen years. The companion I’ve had for seven years, and he’s 15. The companion has always been the herd leader over the ridden horse, and I’m their herd leader so to speak.
For a bit of companionship and to help cover most of their expenses, I take in a livery. The livery horse is quite sweet, nothing nasty anyway. The pecking order has now changed. They all accept their positions no prob, and is quite peaceful. The livery horse also more often than not positions himself between my two, keeping my two separate. Me top, livery horse 2nd, companion 3rd, riding horse bottom. Thing is the horse leader is a bit spooky/nervous. He’s definitely top dog over the hay piles. In the field he’s the most aware (which maybe his job I suppose, not sure), and can sometimes dash off in fright. My two are pretty chilled and hardly flinch at anything, but it can sometimes alert my two when livery horse dashes off, which I suppose is natural, but my two don’t do it if on their own. I’m feeling it’s disturbing my twos peaceful environment as it were!
Out hacking though I’ve noticed that my horse is a little more “alert” than usual. He’s usually a very sensible hack (maybe with the odd little “moment”). It’s making me a little nervous, coz the other day he did a little funny near home and I fell off and he cantered off home
Do you think this livery horses behaviour could be having an affect on him? Ideas/opinions welcome
