Changing of the guard...?

[star197]

I own Sisko a QH gelding who will be 6 in April. We were fostering 'Hoss', a 15 yo Thoroughbred gelding, from a horse rescue. Hoss has found a lovely adoptive home, so we have taken in another foster horse. 'Billy' was rescued from a feed lot in Nevada and just turned 3 years old. A real sweetie.

Anyway, when Sisko and Hoss were together, Hoss was the 'watchdog'...Sisko would lay flat out and take naps and Hoss would stand around nearby, as if watching out for him. Hoss himself never took naps laying down.

Now that Hoss is gone, I see Billy taking naps out in the sun, while Sisko is the one standing guard. I haven't seen Sisko take a nap since Billy arrived a few days ago. Could this change after an adjustment period? Or is Sisko destined to be the protector/boss now and have to give up his carefree life?;)

They get along great, by the way. Both sweet, calm temperaments.

[Equine_Woman]

I read an article once that said geldings get less sleep than herds of mares because they wait on a mare to guard for them. . . glad your boys figured out how to nap in the old days. I bet they will figure it out again with the new herd dynamic it may just take a while!!! My girls take turns as well. Although frequently whoever they leave 'on guard' is secretly sleeping. . . guess they feel pretty secure here, I've made it all the way out to the guard before and started her when I touched her. (Sterling) Horses are so funny!