Brought a new horse home

Red · 05-11-2006, 06:25 AM

Hi There,
I am leasing a horse for a month with the intentions of buying of him. When I intorduced him to the the other 2 horses ihe is with he did a bizarre thing that I haven't seen before. He put his nose to the ground and arched his necked , like a u-shape and chased the horses. He did this for about a half a day and now it seems he is the boss . Both horses are 15-16 and have been here about 8 years. One is a mare and one is gelding and they are inseperable. They have alwyas been together and are exrtemely herd bound to each other.
The new horse seems a bit bossy when it comes to feed time and the other two defer to him immedietly. He is 7 years old. '
We have intro'd many horses over the years but never had one act like this. It has since stopped but I just wonder what kind of "horsey" message he was giving.

Thanks. Red in NWO

Squeekers Tovero Kid · 05-11-2006, 06:32 AM

Seems like you hit it on the head. He was saying I am the new boss and your other horses said, "Okay, this isn't worth our aggravation!"

When we introduce a new horse it makes my dad nervous, I just sit back and watch the sorting of the herd. As long as no one shows really aggressive behavior, squeals, snorting, tail, neck and legs extensions are welcome. We did have one horse who was super aggressive...into our herd mama pasture he went. Suffice to say our old girl showed him her backside and got respect.

KJUN · 05-11-2006, 07:19 AM

This is kind of funny to me So Sorry but I had a mare who was attacked by some pack dogs that came through our place a few years back when we lived close to the bottom of the mountains and she was only about 1 & 1/2 years old Well after that happened IF a dog would come around her she would arch her neck and put her head down close to the ground and chase the dogs away. This was probably a behavior I should not have allowed but she never got mean or kicked or anything she just warned them in a way I am thinking to say HEY GET AWY from me or I can be mean. If this is something I should not allow a horse to do PLEASE tell me.... She still does this on occasion when a strang dog comes around but my black lab was fine just other dogs she didnt know she would do this behavior with

KJUN

Sundance · 05-11-2006, 08:22 AM

I believe that action is called "snaking". Wild stallions do it to get the herd moving.

**TDH** · 05-11-2006, 08:29 AM

Got pics??

Yep, he's definitely playing the dominant horse part and it sounds like it's working. Long as he's not bullying, and his dominant attitude doesn't extend to humans... they'll likely be okay. Any time a newbie is put into a herd, there's a shakedown on heirarchy... and the "type A" horse will dominate!

Now about those pictures....

muttduck · 05-11-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundance

I believe that action is called "snaking". Wild stallions do it to get the herd moving.

Berry does/did it to our dogs all the time. It's her way of getting them to run so she can chase them when Lily wouldn't play with her. I am sure that dominance was a part of it, too.

I allowed it to continue to let the dogs learn their rank. As long as they know she outranks them, they don't slink up behind or bark at her, and they respect both horses a lot more for it. And, if the dogs are respecting the horses' personal space, the horses couldn't kick them. Win-win in that situation.

ToveroMom · 05-11-2006, 10:22 AM

Yep it is a dminate horse thing. Mare or male it is a move it along I am the king of THIS hill.
Whoever can make the other one move-wins

luvnhrses · 05-11-2006, 10:51 AM

Not sure what it is really called but I say my stud is goose necking it when he does it(I have had a goose chase me and do the same thing

)....he will do it when I put a new mare in with him and he wants to move her around the pasture.....

KJUN · 05-11-2006, 11:04 AM

:rotfl: :rotfl: Goose Necking that is a very cute and funny way to put it

KJUN

KJUN · 05-11-2006, 11:05 AM

AAWWW the smiley thig sisnt work the :rotfl: was a smiley rolling on floor kicking his feet laughing oh well

KJUN

Red · 05-11-2006, 04:12 PM

Ok Guys ,

Thanks very much for the info. It only happened that one day although he does seem to have taken up the lead in the little group. What I found so odd was that when I picked him up he had a few nasty bites on him and the girl told me that he is low man in the hierarchy and got pushed around quite a bit....................then he comes here , acts all "dominating and stuff" and doesn't seem to be intimidated by any of the horses.
I thought maybe he was tired of being pushed around and saw this as his oppurtunity to assert himself. I don't know.

He seems to be fitting in pretty good . Which is great because introducing horses is one of the most stressful things for me. I never know if ........throw them in and let them work it out or slowly introduce them .
Some people say that they will have to sort it out for themselves eventually and we jsut prolong the inevitable by doing it slowly?

So what do people think ? Or is there a previous thread for this ? I am interested to know what other people do.

Once again thanks for the advice.

05-11-2006, 06:25 AM
Red Halter broke Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atikokan , Ontario Posts: 187	Brought a new horse home Hi There, I am leasing a horse for a month with the intentions of buying of him. When I intorduced him to the the other 2 horses ihe is with he did a bizarre thing that I haven't seen before. He put his nose to the ground and arched his necked , like a u-shape and chased the horses. He did this for about a half a day and now it seems he is the boss . Both horses are 15-16 and have been here about 8 years. One is a mare and one is gelding and they are inseperable. They have alwyas been together and are exrtemely herd bound to each other. The new horse seems a bit bossy when it comes to feed time and the other two defer to him immedietly. He is 7 years old. ' We have intro'd many horses over the years but never had one act like this. It has since stopped but I just wonder what kind of "horsey" message he was giving. Thanks. Red in NWO

05-11-2006, 06:32 AM
Squeekers Tovero Kid Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 667	Seems like you hit it on the head. He was saying I am the new boss and your other horses said, "Okay, this isn't worth our aggravation!" When we introduce a new horse it makes my dad nervous, I just sit back and watch the sorting of the herd. As long as no one shows really aggressive behavior, squeals, snorting, tail, neck and legs extensions are welcome. We did have one horse who was super aggressive...into our herd mama pasture he went. Suffice to say our old girl showed him her backside and got respect. __________________ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

05-11-2006, 07:19 AM
KJUN Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: US ARMY...Fort Campbell Kentucky Posts: 866	This is kind of funny to me So Sorry but I had a mare who was attacked by some pack dogs that came through our place a few years back when we lived close to the bottom of the mountains and she was only about 1 & 1/2 years old Well after that happened IF a dog would come around her she would arch her neck and put her head down close to the ground and chase the dogs away. This was probably a behavior I should not have allowed but she never got mean or kicked or anything she just warned them in a way I am thinking to say HEY GET AWY from me or I can be mean. If this is something I should not allow a horse to do PLEASE tell me.... She still does this on occasion when a strang dog comes around but my black lab was fine just other dogs she didnt know she would do this behavior with KJUN __________________ **I am very Proud of My Soldiers...My Husband and My Son.....Good Job Guys...I love you...** Bryan Is home now from Iraq Thank Goodness Mom Loves you!!! Hubby Deploys Real Soon (Afghanstan)

05-11-2006, 08:22 AM
Sundance Coming two Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,598	I believe that action is called "snaking". Wild stallions do it to get the herd moving. __________________ Frustration begins where knowledge ends. -- Clinton Anderson

05-11-2006, 08:29 AM
TDH Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,232	Got pics?? Yep, he's definitely playing the dominant horse part and it sounds like it's working. Long as he's not bullying, and his dominant attitude doesn't extend to humans... they'll likely be okay. Any time a newbie is put into a herd, there's a shakedown on heirarchy... and the "type A" horse will dominate! Now about those pictures.... __________________ "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

05-11-2006, 10:22 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Yep it is a dminate horse thing. Mare or male it is a move it along I am the king of THIS hill. Whoever can make the other one move-wins __________________

05-11-2006, 10:51 AM
luvnhrses Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sanger, CA Posts: 362	Not sure what it is really called but I say my stud is goose necking it when he does it(I have had a goose chase me and do the same thing )....he will do it when I put a new mare in with him and he wants to move her around the pasture..... __________________ Horses don\'t make me money...but they sure make me happy!!!!!

05-11-2006, 11:04 AM
KJUN Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: US ARMY...Fort Campbell Kentucky Posts: 866	:rotfl: :rotfl: Goose Necking that is a very cute and funny way to put it KJUN __________________ **I am very Proud of My Soldiers...My Husband and My Son.....Good Job Guys...I love you...** Bryan Is home now from Iraq Thank Goodness Mom Loves you!!! Hubby Deploys Real Soon (Afghanstan)

05-11-2006, 11:05 AM
KJUN Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: US ARMY...Fort Campbell Kentucky Posts: 866	AAWWW the smiley thig sisnt work the :rotfl: was a smiley rolling on floor kicking his feet laughing oh well KJUN __________________ **I am very Proud of My Soldiers...My Husband and My Son.....Good Job Guys...I love you...** Bryan Is home now from Iraq Thank Goodness Mom Loves you!!! Hubby Deploys Real Soon (Afghanstan)

05-11-2006, 04:12 PM
Red Halter broke Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atikokan , Ontario Posts: 187	Goose Necking Ok Guys , Thanks very much for the info. It only happened that one day although he does seem to have taken up the lead in the little group. What I found so odd was that when I picked him up he had a few nasty bites on him and the girl told me that he is low man in the hierarchy and got pushed around quite a bit....................then he comes here , acts all "dominating and stuff" and doesn't seem to be intimidated by any of the horses. I thought maybe he was tired of being pushed around and saw this as his oppurtunity to assert himself. I don't know. He seems to be fitting in pretty good . Which is great because introducing horses is one of the most stressful things for me. I never know if ........throw them in and let them work it out or slowly introduce them . Some people say that they will have to sort it out for themselves eventually and we jsut prolong the inevitable by doing it slowly? So what do people think ? Or is there a previous thread for this ? I am interested to know what other people do. Once again thanks for the advice.