Post by ms on Jan 3, 2008 16:40:58 GMT 1
Basically the situation is ;
I have to bring in 4 horses at night, they are in a sparse winter paddock and are given ample haylage in the morning, but they are all 'live to eat' types, so its all gone by bringing in time and they're anticipating being fed, which doesn't help the situation.
-horse 1 is alpha mare, no-one messes with her, she stands by the gate so shes first in and the others accept this.
-horse 2 is alpha mares gelding pair bond, they've been together for 10 years , semi-retired and hes always been 2nd in command to her, and 2nd to come in untill...
-horse 3 who has been with the group for 3 years as a youngster; matures and decides hes moving up the pecking order; fed on readigrass as cannot tolerate anything else,has had some slight squabbles with no 2 initially but no 2 now accepts his lower position in the herd.
-horse 4 has been with the others for 4 months, is bottom of the pecking order, and gets very stressed if left alone or anticipates being left alone ( even if its just for a few minutes )Currently being hacked out twice a week and fed alpha a, sugar beet and mixed flakes .(is a hardy native type)
So I bring in horse no1, no problem.
By the time I've got back to the paddock(about 2 mins) horse no 4 is galloping about madly, setting off no 2 who can be a bit of a giddy knickers anyhow but has been fine untill no 4s feed was upped. No 3 has been content to hold his new position at the gate, but gets caught up in the sillyness, as hes only rising 6.
I'm faced with trying to bring in 3 well hyped up and upset horses , through a narrow inwards opening L shaped gate, and its an utter nightmare, the 3 left behind after tha alpha mare comes in are all fighting and kicking due to no 3's actions.
Had a word with YO over this, and shes told the owner of no 4 that she will be feeding her horse for the next 2 weeks as she feels is necessary for the safety of the other horses and the people handling them ie happy hoof and low sugar sugar beet as she is in low work and is a good doer.
She also suggested that the mare was fed hay in the morning due to the increased calorific value of haylage .
Have tried putting out haylage prior to bringing them in, but they only snatch mouthfulls in between argueing !
I have to bring in 4 horses at night, they are in a sparse winter paddock and are given ample haylage in the morning, but they are all 'live to eat' types, so its all gone by bringing in time and they're anticipating being fed, which doesn't help the situation.
-horse 1 is alpha mare, no-one messes with her, she stands by the gate so shes first in and the others accept this.
-horse 2 is alpha mares gelding pair bond, they've been together for 10 years , semi-retired and hes always been 2nd in command to her, and 2nd to come in untill...
-horse 3 who has been with the group for 3 years as a youngster; matures and decides hes moving up the pecking order; fed on readigrass as cannot tolerate anything else,has had some slight squabbles with no 2 initially but no 2 now accepts his lower position in the herd.
-horse 4 has been with the others for 4 months, is bottom of the pecking order, and gets very stressed if left alone or anticipates being left alone ( even if its just for a few minutes )Currently being hacked out twice a week and fed alpha a, sugar beet and mixed flakes .(is a hardy native type)
So I bring in horse no1, no problem.
By the time I've got back to the paddock(about 2 mins) horse no 4 is galloping about madly, setting off no 2 who can be a bit of a giddy knickers anyhow but has been fine untill no 4s feed was upped. No 3 has been content to hold his new position at the gate, but gets caught up in the sillyness, as hes only rising 6.
I'm faced with trying to bring in 3 well hyped up and upset horses , through a narrow inwards opening L shaped gate, and its an utter nightmare, the 3 left behind after tha alpha mare comes in are all fighting and kicking due to no 3's actions.
Had a word with YO over this, and shes told the owner of no 4 that she will be feeding her horse for the next 2 weeks as she feels is necessary for the safety of the other horses and the people handling them ie happy hoof and low sugar sugar beet as she is in low work and is a good doer.
She also suggested that the mare was fed hay in the morning due to the increased calorific value of haylage .
Have tried putting out haylage prior to bringing them in, but they only snatch mouthfulls in between argueing !