Horses NOT getting along

[lovesfortune]

We introduced our two horses to Reno the new gelding yesterday. There were minor issues and everyone seemed to be doing alright. Today they have decided to gang up on Reno and charge him and just 'herd' him around the pasture.

They don't do it all the time. Sometimes when I sit out there and watch or check from the window they are all grazing together nicely, with no issues what-so-ever.

Well we had to move them from the winter pasture into the cowpasture (the smaller one) because we started building our run in today and now they can't be in there with the materials, holes, etc.

The cow pasture is bigger and it has the run-in shed. Norman kept letting Reno in the shed, then he would charge in there try to corner him and then kick at him. Reno doesn't kick back, he just bolts out of the shed. Yesterday I saw him kick at Norman once and make contact and thought he would be okay.

Now I KNOW that they need to figure out their pecking order and all the dominance etc. But I'm worried that it won't happen and I'm worried about Reno. He was banged up today with a few minor cuts/scrapes that I cleaned and treated. He's not lame at all and has been running around.

Tonight we let them out into the 80 because we have to get Reno onto a grass only diet and we figured that way he has more room to get away from Norman and there isn't a shed he gets stuck in.

I had to go to work, but hubby went out there and followed the 3 of the horses on the four wheeler and there weren't any major issues. Norman charged Reno twice, but Reno just back peddled and learned to keep a broader distance.

But from work, I had hubby to out just now and check again and Reno is in the far back of the pasture by himself and my other two are in the front. :( Hubby said Reno isn't calling for them, and that my 2 even called for him at one point but he didn't answer.

Can anyone give advice, calm me down, or anything?? I just want Reno to be happy here and I thought that he would fit in alright. I know Booty is a witch with new horses, but Reno's old owners said he was higher up in the pecking order - so I wasn't too worried?

How long will it take to calm down? Do I seperate them? When we introduced Norman & Booty to our two fosters we had at the time - everything went smoothly and there were NO ISSUES so i'm out of my element.

[carla]

How many days has it been now? I personally wouldn't worry as long as there's nobody really getting hurt. Sounds like he's got plenty of room to get away and is keeping a safe distance for now.. we'll see what everyone else says though, that's just me. :)

(off to see the "he's here!" thread that I think I missed :doh: )

[WashingtonBay]

Give it a little more time.

Bay charged at Cyn for a few days and made some marks, but usually they settle down.

[lovesfortune]

Well he got home yesterday morning. So it is still early. I cleaned out about 6 cuts on him today. About 3-4 kicks and the rest scrapes from biting or being pushed into a tree or something.

Oh and Booty seems to be okay with him and then if Norman gets aggressive it's like she'll suddenly decided to be a witch because Norman is.

Side note, my two were also being big jerks today with haltering and wouldn't let me catch them to halter. Normally they are great. So I took the lunge whip out there and chased them for a good 20 min (all while Reno just quietly sat munching on hay and being a good boy) and then I stopped. Norman decided he didn't want to work anymore and was good with haltering the rest of the day, but Booty still had issues.

[Equine_Woman]

I don't think you should worry. It took about a month for my girls to figure out Mack wasn't leaving. 2 out of 3 still don't like him but they accept him into the herd. Your two will get used to him soon. It might help to take the most dominate of your original two on a trailer ride with Reno, stay gone for a few hours. . . maybe do a ride/ walk with the two of them, or take them to the vet together, even if it's just for one of them, that helped bond Mack to Sterling. .

[lovesfortune]

Okay, thanks WB. I guess it just scares me because I've NEVER seen that aggressive behavior at all from my two. And I really wish Reno would stick up for himself.

Do you think he'll be okay being somewhat of a loner out in the pasture if they don't get along?

[WashingtonBay]

I think just see what develops over the next few days. Hope for no more scrapes that need tending!

[Equine_Woman]

He doesn't seem to be too fussed about it. If he's not calling for them I wouldn't worry. He's fine being on the outskirts for a little bit. It could be that Norman is trying to establish Booty as 'HIS' Mare. .

[lovesfortune]

thanks guys. i will be hoping for a better day tomorrow. will update when i get out to see them in the a.m.

[JackieB]

I would just make sure that Reno has room to get away. Also, the water tank needs to be in a place that isn't too dangerous for him to drink from it, like not in a corner where he's trapped.

[Petra]

It took several weeks for my girls to accept Trigger. At the beginning he was often grazing on a different side of the pasture keeping as much distance as he could. He got few bites and Bullet still kicks at him if she has a chance...just because.
But they do get along great now. If Crystal isn't around, Bullet will not move anywhere without Trigger.
I wouldn't worry at all. You are keeping them in a big pasture. He can get away if he needs to. It takes time.

[lovesfortune]

well i have been out there for the last hour. Right now Reno is in the shed (in the front pasture) and the other 2 are out in the 80 acres not caring at all. :(

I know Reno is drinking, since I brought him to the waterer (not in a corner, so we are good there - thanks JackieB :) ) but i'm not sure on him eating. He's just standing in the shed, so i've thrown 3 seperate piles of good hay in there and he hasn't touched it. So now i'm worried about that.

Also thinking about putting them all back into the front pasture today when hubby gets home, gating off the run-in so they can't try to corner him in there, and then just letting them duke it out. I feel like they aren't even working out their 'issues' when they are 80 acres away from one another.

The other thing i was thinking about is having me hand walk Reno and hubby hand walk Norman and we'll take them out for a stroll, make them 'work' together. Would that maybe help their issue? Or I was thinking of pasturing Booty with Reno and having them maybe get along and then put them in with Norman?

[WashingtonBay]

The walk together idea is a good one. When we brought Cyn in, we lunged Bay and Cyn in each other's vicinity before turning them loose.

But don't try to force them to 'work on their issues' by putting them together in a smaller space. Distance is good, distance is safe, for now. You're worrying more about their 'friendship' than they are.

[lovesfortune]

okay, thanks WB. i guess i am more worried than they are, but i'm also worried about Reno not eating.... i am headed out to check on him again at 12 or so to see if he's eaten anything.

[WashingtonBay]

Yes, keep an eye on the vitals. As long as they aren't fighting, be happy with the dynamic, and it will probably work itself out.

[carla]

Reno won't starve himself. Not over being "snubbed" by his new friends anyway. He'll eat when he's hungry, as long as it's available- as you are so kindly making sure of. :)

And I'm with WB- I wouldn't close them in a smaller space; just let them be. Be sure to update us again later!

[lovesfortune]

okay. thanks guys. while i was out there earlier he peed and pooped - all looked normal. So i will just keep watch and make sure he's eating and that's the best I can do.

My mother in law can see the 2 appy's from her house and she says it seems like Booty is looking for Reno, but Norman couldn't care less, so i think she is just sticking with how she knows at this point.

[Petra]

Be very careful walking them together. My neighbor's sister tried to introduce horses that way and her horse (he is normally pretty nice) got mad at the new one, reared up and broke her arm with his front hoof.

I would just leave them in the big pasture. Horses are herd animals, they will eventually figure things out. I was worried too when we got Trigger because it looked like he is just going to be by himself. They didn't call each other either. It changed after few weeks. Give them time.

[lovesfortune]

okay, well i'm back in from checking. i walked him to the waterer again and he drank. i am unsure if he's ever been drinking from an automatic waterer that looks nothing like a trough, so i'm just going to keep taking him until i see him go up and drink by himself.

i also snuck up quietly when i first went out there and he was eating. lol. not from the 3 piles, but reaching his head up and over the fence and grabbing mouthfuls right from the other large square bales! :)

but after drinking i just walked him on a lead around the pasture and let him graze with me holding on to him... then i just quietly unclipped him and walked away... he's still out there grazing, so that's a good sign!

[WashingtonBay]

Good... :)

[BlessingInDisguise]

I wouldn't worry to much. When we introduced Bear we were so worried because Tyke would NOT leave him alone and poor bear could not even walk past any if them without getting yelled at. Seems like he had a new wound every other day. I remember Morgan said just let them sort it out...and in time, they did. I think it was at least a month or so though. Now we even catch them standing near eachother grazing, although Tyke does look over at him and give him the stink eye at times.:doh: He doesn't make it a mission to ruin Bears day anymore.

[lovesfortune]

lol. i think Norman has a permanent stink eye for Reno. :)

[carla]

Hey loves, you didn't comb his hair funny or give him any silly-looking part in his forelock yesterday, did you? None of that spit-slicking stuff new moms sometimes do? :nono:

[lovesfortune]

no. i groomed all 3 equally. in fact, right now Reno has a nice big burr stuck in his forelock which he won't let me get out because we are working on his head shy issues and we aren't there yet.


the other horses have decided to come up and check things out. as of right now all 3 are PEACEFULLY grazing within 20 feet of one another. *knock on wood* i hope it continues.

[JackieB]

the other horses have decided to come up and check things out. as of right now all 3 are PEACEFULLY grazing within 20 feet of one another. *knock on wood* i hope it continues.

I'll bet it will continue. Once they get that sorted out, it appears to stick for good. At least that's been my experience.

[lovesfortune]

well they are now all 3 out in the 80. i am headed out to check on them again. from watching them this afternoon it appears that Booty is rather fond of Reno and they do famously together - then jealous ol' Norman decides it's enough and charges Reno. Repeat.

Although right before they left the front paddock, it seemed at though Booty was trying to run interferance and when Norman would go to charge she would get inbetween the two of the geldings and pin her ears at Norman and then he would back off a bit.

So i'm hopeful!

[Remali]

I bet things will start to calm down.....it takes them a while to figure it all out....but I know it can be really nerve-wracking. They will still have a few issues yet now and then, probably, but hang in there....as long as no one is getting chased too much or trapped in a corner, and they can all eat and drink.....sounds like you're doing a good job keeping an eye on them. :)

[lovesfortune]

well we had a few rough days while i was offline. norman ran reno through the fence. reno jumped it, which amazes me that he made it and didn't injure himself with his bad leg. :(

he was ran through the ringer - had lots of cuts, scrapes, etc.

BUT as of the last few days - they are all getting along. Norman still has the stink eye for Reno and chases him off of our mare and around the pasture at a full gallop (Which scares me) but Reno seems to handle himself well.

So most days now they graze together and then the other 1/2 of the day Reno is up in the front pasture by himself and our mare is heard out calling for him in the other pasture. :)

[WashingtonBay]

Yikes...

Maybe he's not as lame as he looks.

You think it will sort itself out to a happy place in time?

[magayle]

wow i feel for ya loves...i don't think i could bare to watch so much fighting for so long....going thru the fence would be the last straw...having 2 geldings with one mare just may be too dangerous...sure hope things work out for ya all

[luvs2ride1979]

Well, hopefully your past the worst of it. I know some geldings can get protective of their "girls", so maybe Norman and Reno have come to an understanding ;).

[lovesfortune]

yes, it does seem to be getting better. they do normally graze together peacefully for most of the time. maybe once every few days i'll see Norman going after him. Booty is such a hussy though, lol. This morning hubby saw her 'cuddled up' to Reno instead of Norman.

I think i am going to give it another two weeks and see how they do. hopefully they continue to improve. i know it sounds bad with the fence issue, but that was a week ago. we've since closed the shed off since that was a trouble spot, and made other corrections.

[magayle]

yes, it does seem to be getting better. they do normally graze together peacefully for most of the time. maybe once every few days i'll see Norman going after him. Booty is such a hussy though, lol. This morning hubby saw her 'cuddled up' to Reno instead of Norman.

I think i am going to give it another two weeks and see how they do. hopefully they continue to improve. i know it sounds bad with the fence issue, but that was a week ago. we've since closed the shed off since that was a trouble spot, and made other corrections.

my lead mare, honey, is a hussy too and would get aggressive during heat towards mini mare babe...i have them both on a product from madison equine called MGA mixer that safely and affordably keeps both mares from goin' into heat....it's a life saver for being able to keep our herd together and peacefully at all times....it sounds like you've got everything under control since it's been a week since the fence thing...sorry i didn't follow the whole reno story....i'v since read most of the posts and it's a wonderful thing you and hubby are doin' for poor reno...surely you'll be rewarded with a happy herd soon

[lovesfortune]

thanks, that's what i keep telling myself when i'm ready to throw in the towel on them getting along peacefully all the time. i'm hoping we can be a happy SAFE home for him.

[Country Girl 43]

My geldings still do not get along. :( I ran a hot wire on the top of the fence to keep them from go at it, now they are fighting UNDER the hot wire, so I need to run another strand.... ugh!

Every day I go out there, I find new scrapes on their faces. :nono: Drives me crazy!

[lovesfortune]

well as we speak they are out grazing together in the front. i am less stressed as it seems that he is happy to graze on his own and not be a part of the 'herd' ALL day. he's not calling or running around looking for anyone, etc.

i guess as long as they work out their differences before winter, i will feel alright. i am more worried about Reno running in winter conditions with his leg. Although he's showing me just how much he CAN do with all his running, which is much more than I even thought possible.

Side note: with all the running, our horses are losing weight (which is good) and we've added grain to Reno's feeding as he is a bit under what we would like to see him at. And there are no issues at feeding time because he seems to have figured out what time feeding time is EXACTLY and manages to ditch the other horses and come up to the front pasture by himself so no one is fighting over food. :)