Will they ever like each other?

shahmeil · 08-30-2008, 10:34 PM

Does anybody have any ideas how to have two witchy, dominant mares live with each other? My husband had the bright idea that our 8 year old daughter needs a pony. So he comes home with the cutest little thing ever - a dapple grey shetland with white mane and tail (if she were horse-sized, it would be my dreamhorse). Unfortunately she has a big horse attitude and thinks she can take on the world. Now my daughter's mare has the same kind of attitude, only she is twice the pony's size, and I really don't want the pony to get hurt. Right now she is living in our roundpen with our other larger pony, and they actually get along. I can't see that happening with Shimmer, but I want my roundpen back! How can we get them used to each other?
Do you think if we take them both for a walk down the road and then put them in the pasture at exactly the same time, it would work?
Please help me!

snwflk · 08-30-2008, 10:47 PM

Well they will eventually have to work it out- but we definatly dont want the lil pony to get hurt - so hmmm.. What about (time consuming? but maybe ) working them each seperately in the round pen till they are good and tired (after dinner has settled) , and then letting them be around each other for a while , and you watch them - ie supervision with a whip to crack for attention only if they deciede to do something worse then just threaten? And try that every day/night for a week or two?

Not a whole lot of help but just a suggestion- I am sure there will be MUCH better ideas then mine, (but in my head it sounded good

)

Sorry-

spotteddraft · 08-30-2008, 10:51 PM

I just recently went through the same thing but with geldings. I have a big Spotted draft who is 6 and was only gelded a year ago and we recently brought home a 13 year old Shetland that was gelded at the age of 3 but he can still be a little studdy around other horses. I let them live side by side with a fence separating them for about 2 months before I let them together. I think that because they were used to seeing and smelling each other that when I finally did let them together, things were just fine. You can imagine my concern with an 1800 lb draft horse and a 300 lb shetland. They look cute in the field together though

Mav2007 · 08-30-2008, 10:51 PM

I would let them get to know each other with a fence separating them. So if you can put the pony in a pen adjacent to the other horse for a couple weeks, that would be ideal. Then, I'd put them out together and just wait and see what happens. Herd hierarchy will determine who is the leader.

ecappaloosa · 08-30-2008, 10:58 PM

can you stall them next to each other ? that way they learn to like each other and cant hurt each other ?

horselady · 08-31-2008, 08:01 PM

Sometimes taking two horses that have never seen each other in a trailer for a ride. when off loaded, they are the best buds, I have done that in the past when purchasing horses from a sale, so do you think it might work with them?

Crookedblaze · 09-03-2008, 01:43 AM

This is exactly how Rocket and Stormy were! Both were lead horses.

I put Rocket and Stormy next to eachother (with a sturdy fence inbetween) and let them look at eachother for a week before I finally put them in the pasture with eachother. I put them in a space where they could get away if need be. I have found that generally if they are eating, they could care less.

Good luck!

08-30-2008, 10:34 PM
shahmeil Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 203	Will they ever like each other? Does anybody have any ideas how to have two witchy, dominant mares live with each other? My husband had the bright idea that our 8 year old daughter needs a pony. So he comes home with the cutest little thing ever - a dapple grey shetland with white mane and tail (if she were horse-sized, it would be my dreamhorse). Unfortunately she has a big horse attitude and thinks she can take on the world. Now my daughter's mare has the same kind of attitude, only she is twice the pony's size, and I really don't want the pony to get hurt. Right now she is living in our roundpen with our other larger pony, and they actually get along. I can't see that happening with Shimmer, but I want my roundpen back! How can we get them used to each other? Do you think if we take them both for a walk down the road and then put them in the pasture at exactly the same time, it would work? Please help me!

08-30-2008, 10:47 PM
snwflk Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 523	Well they will eventually have to work it out- but we definatly dont want the lil pony to get hurt - so hmmm.. What about (time consuming? but maybe ) working them each seperately in the round pen till they are good and tired (after dinner has settled) , and then letting them be around each other for a while , and you watch them - ie supervision with a whip to crack for attention only if they deciede to do something worse then just threaten? And try that every day/night for a week or two? Not a whole lot of help but just a suggestion- I am sure there will be MUCH better ideas then mine, (but in my head it sounded good ) Sorry- __________________ Suzie Q

08-30-2008, 10:51 PM
spotteddraft Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 70	I just recently went through the same thing but with geldings. I have a big Spotted draft who is 6 and was only gelded a year ago and we recently brought home a 13 year old Shetland that was gelded at the age of 3 but he can still be a little studdy around other horses. I let them live side by side with a fence separating them for about 2 months before I let them together. I think that because they were used to seeing and smelling each other that when I finally did let them together, things were just fine. You can imagine my concern with an 1800 lb draft horse and a 300 lb shetland. They look cute in the field together though __________________ R.I.P. Bruce. You will be missed. You were a wonderful horse who was taken much too young. R.I.P. Victor Victorius. I will never forget you.

08-30-2008, 10:51 PM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,449	I would let them get to know each other with a fence separating them. So if you can put the pony in a pen adjacent to the other horse for a couple weeks, that would be ideal. Then, I'd put them out together and just wait and see what happens. Herd hierarchy will determine who is the leader.

08-30-2008, 10:58 PM
ecappaloosa Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: quebec,canada Posts: 9	can you stall them next to each other ? that way they learn to like each other and cant hurt each other ?

08-31-2008, 08:01 PM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,243	Sometimes taking two horses that have never seen each other in a trailer for a ride. when off loaded, they are the best buds, I have done that in the past when purchasing horses from a sale, so do you think it might work with them? __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

09-03-2008, 01:43 AM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,360	This is exactly how Rocket and Stormy were! Both were lead horses. I put Rocket and Stormy next to eachother (with a sturdy fence inbetween) and let them look at eachother for a week before I finally put them in the pasture with eachother. I put them in a space where they could get away if need be. I have found that generally if they are eating, they could care less. Good luck! __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab