>>>> When he chases the other two around, I am tempted to shoo him away, but >>>> am afraid I'll just make things worse.
We've rarely interfered with herd dynamics, but one case does stand out in my mind. Thunder and Mac were best buddies when they were our only two horses, way back when. Then, we got Holly...who promptly went into heat the day we brought her home. Thunder instantly turned into a holy terror - he wouldn't let Holly out of his sight, and he wouldn't let Mac eat, totally terrorizing poor Mac. That's when we realized the truth: two horses are friends, but three horses make a herd. Mac was much bigger, but Thunder was bound and determined to be the boss, and in your word, not a very benevolent one. We decided we couldn't take it, so Cary went out at feeding time with a lunge whip, planting himself right beside Mac. He never really hit Thunder, but if Thunder lunged at Mac and tried to drive him from the food, Cary moved towards him and let him know in no uncertain terms that he HAD to let Mac eat. It only took a couple of days for Thunder to realize that Cary was serious, and that Mac WOULD be eating, thank you very much. Then Holly went out of heat, and they found their groove - surprisingly with Mac as the herd leader, a position he basically held until his death. (Ok, granted, I eventually separated the old horses from the young whippersnappers, but he remained herd leader among the old guys.) I'm sure if we were in that situation today, we'd have more "savvy" about herd dynamics, but honestly, looking back, I have to say that Cary did a fine job - being firm, but not mean. BTW, Thunder and Mac remained very best buddies until Mac died back in August. Thunder does ok without a best friend - he's in with Joe and Holly, but he still stays to himself a lot. He seems content enough, but it makes me sad to see him alone. I'm glad Mac went first, because Mac couldn't stand for his little buddy to leave his sight the last couple of years. Believe me, there was a time when I thought they were mortal enemies for life. I was wrong - very wrong. I know that Falki is a very sweet guy...but you never know how herd dynamics will play out when you rearrange the herds. When I first met Holly, she was a three-year-old in a herd of huge, older Saddlebred brood mares. She's only 14H, and they were all at least 16H. She had kick marks all over her. I felt so sorry for the "poor little thing" - then she moved here and promptly became the dominant mare, in charge of everyone. I can't remember the last time ANYONE felt sorry for Holly! Falki was fairly low on the pecking order here, so go figure. Maybe he's "drunk with power" to discover that, after all these years, he CAN be boss. I have a feeling that he'll always be a meek and mild guy at heart - so maybe he just needs a little reminder that, just because Buck, Melnir and Skjoni aren't around to boss him around, it doesn't mean he can get away with murder. Do you have a Parelli carrot stick, or similar? I'd practice just walking with it, and just casually swinging the string - not in a threatening way particularly, but JUST enough that they have to get out of your way when you walk through. This is a case where "phases" of pressure are important - I wouldn't use any more pressure than necessary, knowing Falki can be a little tenderhearted - or at least he could be before his self-promoted "promotion" to Big Fish in a Little Pond. I betcha it won't take much to call Falki's bluff, and make him be mannerly again. As far as being dominant though - well they are herd animals, and there is always a little bit of a power play going on in any herd. They probably will work it out on their own, but unless we just got unusually lucky with Mac and Thunder, I don't think it would hurt to try to encourage manners, at least at mealtime. Just stay safe. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.12/1162 - Release Date: 11/30/2007 9:26 PM
