Dominate Mare --sorry long post

Livin the horsey dream · 11-03-2009, 04:36 PM

I just recently adopted two QH's a 7 yr old gelding 'Tom' and a 14 yr old mare 'Elly' that were basically left out in pasture for the past three years. They have been together forever according to their last owner. The owner kept them in a pasture along with a much older gelding. Now that I have had them at my place they are in their own pasture . I am giving a few of my other horses a break for the winter so I have found myself able to spend a bit more time with these two newbies at the barn and the mare is just kicking the *%$% out of this poor gelding whom is MUCH larger than her and she seems to be doing this consistanly so I don't think it is a matter of her being in heat or anything it seems to be something she does all the time but it gets ten fold worse when it is feeding time even though they are both fed the same (they are both on diets right now as their previous owner really let them go). She won't let the poor guy near the shelter they have which is big enough for four horses. which is really starting to worry me as winter is kicking into full swing up here in alberta and I don't want him to be stuck out in the cold while there is a perfectly good run in shed for him. I really would like to keep the two of them together as I am very happy with the herd systems my other horses have going on, and don't have a pasture with a shelter in it to keep them seperated. Very sorry about the long winded-ness but I was wondering if anyone has delt with this and would have any ideas as to how to get these to apparently life long buddies to get along. I figure that the seperation from the older gelding (previous owners horse) might have something to do with it all but I think this gelding has always been a bottom of the totem pole kind of guy. I just want this mare to give him a break.
any thoughts would be very helpful

Cutter'sGirl · 11-03-2009, 04:42 PM

could you possible split the shelter in 2. with maybe panels or something so that there is a seperation there..and just feed them way far apart..we have had to deal with this also and sadly ended up selling the mare to a home better equipt for her needs..i hope it all works out..

Livin the horsey dream · 11-03-2009, 04:46 PM

Ya we did just that this past weekend we went from a shelter big enough for two horses comfortably and expanded it to be big enough for four with a huge divider wall in between the two they are fed apart but the mare will run from pile of food to the other keeping him off both. I am really hoping not to have to sell her as she is a sweet little girl in everyotehr case but when it comes to him she is just evil. If I have to I will remove the mare and feed them apart then put them back together when they are done eating but she picks on him all the time

granny2u · 11-03-2009, 04:56 PM

I went thru the EXACT same thing last spring! Same big run in shelter, same mare, same gelding! The only difference was it was the gelding that was dominering one. He actually hurt the mare from kicking her in the chest

, she was fine after a few days BUT I couldn't put up with that so I sold him to someone who had more room and could keep him seperate from other horses (he was like this with all horses). Now he's used for kids lessons and is very happy and content.

Now on the other hand, I brought in a new pony to keep the little mare happy and she tried being like the gelding treated her

so I tied her off during feeding so the pony could eat in peace. I only had to do this twice and she stopped completely! Now they're best buds

Slim Pikkens · 11-03-2009, 05:13 PM

Having experienced this more than a few times you need to put out 5 piles of feed, at least 20' apart out in the open. She will chase him away but there will always be one or more available to him. After a few minutes she'll tire of the chase as she cant eat very well and chase him. Make sure the gelding can at least bum up against a wall or two for protection from the winds.

qtrhorse1993 · 11-03-2009, 05:29 PM

i would tie her mean a$$ up and make her stay that way till every one is done eating.there is no need for her to chase that gelding off or to put out more feed so she can chase him off of more buckets. this way he can eat in peace and get all he needs and she cant get what every one else needs. with your shed devided they shouldnt have to much trouble there, and he can go to the other side of it.

Horselady44 · 11-03-2009, 05:38 PM

My mare used to be the same way...I dont know what happened to her now...but shes a total sweetheart to our gelding...but she also pisses around him alot I think she thinks hes a stud

But, she used to be the same way to all horses...except her baby Sweetie...which even after we weaned her we put her back in afterwards and they were best friends until we lost her last winter...and now Tilly is nice to everyone...its weird...but that dosnt help you...so sorry

Heres my input
I would separate them if at all possible. Having them pastured together and having them corraled(sp?) together is totally different. Is she mainly more aggressive when its feeding time? If thats the case then I would tie her up and give her meal to her while she is tied...or else your going to end up with a skinny gelding and a very FAT mare.
But, I think I would try to just separate them completly. Can you put up a fence down the middle of the corral so each side has access to the shelter? Or put the gelding in with your other horses and keep her seperate?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Long post about an injured filly	Ari Goddin	Health & Nutrition	12	05-04-2007 05:20 PM
Any guesses on how long before this mare foals?	kytrailrider	Breeding & Genetics	5	04-27-2007 08:26 AM
Riding Mare Post Weaning	Luv2Ride	General Horse Advice	1	07-21-2006 08:19 PM
What would you do? LONG Post! Sorry!	jmprider	General Horse Advice	3	03-21-2005 02:11 PM

11-03-2009, 04:36 PM
Livin the horsey dream Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta Bound (balzac) Posts: 6	Dominate Mare --sorry long post I just recently adopted two QH's a 7 yr old gelding 'Tom' and a 14 yr old mare 'Elly' that were basically left out in pasture for the past three years. They have been together forever according to their last owner. The owner kept them in a pasture along with a much older gelding. Now that I have had them at my place they are in their own pasture . I am giving a few of my other horses a break for the winter so I have found myself able to spend a bit more time with these two newbies at the barn and the mare is just kicking the %$% out of this poor gelding whom is MUCH larger than her and she seems to be doing this consistanly so I don't think it is a matter of her being in heat or anything it seems to be something she does all the time but it gets ten fold worse when it is feeding time even though they are both fed the same (they are both on diets right now as their previous owner really let them go). She won't let the poor guy near the shelter they have which is big enough for four horses. which is really starting to worry me as winter is kicking into full swing up here in alberta and I don't want him to be stuck out in the cold while there is a perfectly good run in shed for him. I really would like to keep the two of them together as I am very happy with the herd systems my other horses have going on, and don't have a pasture with a shelter in it to keep them seperated. Very sorry about the long winded-ness but I was wondering if anyone has delt with this and would have any ideas as to how to get these to apparently life long buddies to get along. I figure that the seperation from the older gelding (previous owners horse) might have something to do with it all but I think this gelding has always been a bottom of the totem pole kind of guy. I just want this mare to give him a break. any thoughts would be very helpful __________________ Just Living The Dream*

11-03-2009, 04:42 PM
Cutter'sGirl Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 75	could you possible split the shelter in 2. with maybe panels or something so that there is a seperation there..and just feed them way far apart..we have had to deal with this also and sadly ended up selling the mare to a home better equipt for her needs..i hope it all works out.. __________________ If life hands you lemons, put them in your sweet tea and thank God your a southern belle.

11-03-2009, 04:46 PM
Livin the horsey dream Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta Bound (balzac) Posts: 6	Ya we did just that this past weekend we went from a shelter big enough for two horses comfortably and expanded it to be big enough for four with a huge divider wall in between the two they are fed apart but the mare will run from pile of food to the other keeping him off both. I am really hoping not to have to sell her as she is a sweet little girl in everyotehr case but when it comes to him she is just evil. If I have to I will remove the mare and feed them apart then put them back together when they are done eating but she picks on him all the time __________________ Just Living The Dream

11-03-2009, 04:56 PM
granny2u Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SW Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,354	I went thru the EXACT same thing last spring! Same big run in shelter, same mare, same gelding! The only difference was it was the gelding that was dominering one. He actually hurt the mare from kicking her in the chest , she was fine after a few days BUT I couldn't put up with that so I sold him to someone who had more room and could keep him seperate from other horses (he was like this with all horses). Now he's used for kids lessons and is very happy and content. Now on the other hand, I brought in a new pony to keep the little mare happy and she tried being like the gelding treated her so I tied her off during feeding so the pony could eat in peace. I only had to do this twice and she stopped completely! Now they're best buds __________________ Life without Horses!! I DON'T THINK SO ! ! !

11-03-2009, 05:13 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Having experienced this more than a few times you need to put out 5 piles of feed, at least 20' apart out in the open. She will chase him away but there will always be one or more available to him. After a few minutes she'll tire of the chase as she cant eat very well and chase him. Make sure the gelding can at least bum up against a wall or two for protection from the winds.

11-03-2009, 05:29 PM
qtrhorse1993 Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johnstown, New York Posts: 706	i would tie her mean a$$ up and make her stay that way till every one is done eating.there is no need for her to chase that gelding off or to put out more feed so she can chase him off of more buckets. this way he can eat in peace and get all he needs and she cant get what every one else needs. with your shed devided they shouldnt have to much trouble there, and he can go to the other side of it. __________________ The world meets no one half way, but your horse will meet you all the way.

11-03-2009, 05:38 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,401	My mare used to be the same way...I dont know what happened to her now...but shes a total sweetheart to our gelding...but she also pisses around him alot I think she thinks hes a stud But, she used to be the same way to all horses...except her baby Sweetie...which even after we weaned her we put her back in afterwards and they were best friends until we lost her last winter...and now Tilly is nice to everyone...its weird...but that dosnt help you...so sorry Heres my input I would separate them if at all possible. Having them pastured together and having them corraled(sp?) together is totally different. Is she mainly more aggressive when its feeding time? If thats the case then I would tie her up and give her meal to her while she is tied...or else your going to end up with a skinny gelding and a very FAT mare. But, I think I would try to just separate them completly. Can you put up a fence down the middle of the corral so each side has access to the shelter? Or put the gelding in with your other horses and keep her seperate? __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!