Horse Psychology: I wonder...

[carla]

I would be interested to know what Jack's behavior with his "alpha" pasture mate might say about him. I don't have a lot of "herd" experience, but what I have seen has been different from this:

When Mira does anything alpha-ish toward Jack, he doesn't do anything back (well, so far.. it's only been a few days now). In fact, he totally ignores her, and a few times I've seen him actually look in another direction like he "sees" something more interesting. It's pretty funny, lol.

It's like, "oh, do you hear something? I could swear I hear something, but I don't see anything.."

This morning, I hear that he saw an opening for Mira's hay and took it. When she came back for her property, ears pinned and nostrils flared, he ignored. Mira stood for a few minutes, waiting, and then finally gave up and got in beside him to share.

Apparently, he was somewhat of an alpha at his old home, but the owner made it sound like he had more aggressive behaviors than this. At Buck's Hollow, so far, he's been quite mellow for the most part I wonder if he just works his way quietly to the top? LOL

I've only seen either 1) a physical conflict, until one or the other backs down or 2) new guy getting OUT of the way and letting the alpha have their way. This sort of ignoring behavior is new to me, but that doesn't say much.. it may be totally common. ;)

[lovesfortune]

Hmmm.. I haven't seen the ignoring behavior here either. Sounds like he's in stealth mode and will be the head honcho before no time. Unless maybe he has a crush on her and is trying to woo her? ;)

[carla]

Hmmm.. I haven't seen the ignoring behavior here either. Sounds like he's in stealth mode and will be the head honcho before no time. Unless maybe he has a crush on her and is trying to woo her? ;)


:hysterical: Ya know, he just might have a thang for the cougars!

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

I am here to bet that Mira stays the "Alpha". Tonight at feeding time...she went to both Buck's feed and Jack's feed. From now on...Mira gets fed first. lol. I almost never got them all at their feed buckets and eating. Once I did, however, they all settled down and ate. Buck and Jack were quite and mellow. Miss Mira, well, she was very aggitated. I had to go into the paddock and pet everyone once they quieted and they all loved it.

Oh, and when I went up to feed. Buck was under the shed and Mira and Jack were out in the paddock on opposite sides.

[carla]

LOL! Glad to hear she's holding her own!

Opposite sides? Lovers' spat, maybe? LOL I hope my boy was sweet for his petting!

edit: I'm GOL (giggling out loud) because I'm now picturing you, trying to get eveyone situated. Mother hen, maybe?

[Cat]

Hmmm...Strong but silent type?

Seems he is sending a clear message - "I'm not moving" and the boss is always the one to move last.

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

LOL! Glad to hear she's holding her own!

Opposite sides? Lovers' spat, maybe? LOL I hope my boy was sweet for his petting!

edit: I'm GOL (giggling out loud) because I'm now picturing you, trying to get eveyone situated. Mother hen, maybe?


Yep, Grandaddy was inside with the two boys watching cartoons and I went out alone...I needed the "be with the horses" time...if you know what I mean.

Anyway, You would have laughed at me if you saw me. It was pretty funny.

Jack was very very sweet. I petted him and kissed his face bunches and bunches. Buck was on the other side ...so he did not see.;)

[carla]

Yep, Grandaddy was inside with the two boys watching cartoons and I went out alone...I needed the "be with the horses" time...if you know what I mean.

Anyway, You would have laughed at me if you saw me. It was pretty funny.

Jack was very very sweet. I petted him and kissed his face bunches and bunches. Buck was on the other side ...so he did not see.;)


I'm so glad he was sweet. He does love attention. I can't wait to squish him tomorrow!

And- I know I would have laughed. I would've been no help at all because of it. :popcorn:

[elevenelevenxo]

There is a wonderful equine behaviorist named Mary Ann Simonds (I think that's spelled right). She's done a lot of studies involving wild Mustangs and equine hierarchy and the differences between mares and geldings, mares and stallions, stallions and geldings, and foals, adolescent horses, and adult horses. Reeeally interesting stuff - if you ever have a chance to sit in one of her seminars, I highly recommend it! I listened to her speak at Equine Affaire last year and I hope she'll be there again this next year.

Anyway, as I'm sure everyone here knows and would agree, geldings are SUPER aloof, lol. Maybe that's all it is? Him just being a silly boy. :) Mary Ann talked a lot about this type of thing in her seminar. I think she has a book and a site.....

[JackieB]

Cougars. You're funny, Carla! :)

OK, here's my guess. The looking away behavior is Jack being somewhat deferential to Mira, but not so much as to move his feet. Kind of like when we turn away from our horses in the round pen to remove some of the pressure.

The hay situation I'm pretty confident is him saying that he will be willing to be her equal and doesn't have to be dominant, but he's not moving. Perhaps they had a bigger argument about it when nobody was watching and have it fairly well sorted out. This definitely goes on at our farm. There is at least one other horse that Buster will pin his ears at, but won't get more aggressive. I know that they had a huge fight two years ago with the other horse coming at Buster on hind legs with forelegs flailing, so I think they just worked out that they are equals.

Whatever the reason, it sure is great that you have a horse!

[alittleoffkey]

Mares are typically the herd 'leader' - in the wild the lead mare typically leads the herd, and the stud follows, making sure no one goes astray. The smallest herd I've ever had mine in is their current herd of four (the largest was 12 mares and 3 geldings). There's usually a lead mare and a lead "stud" or male - mine are Pinto and Legacy. Legacy knows Pinto's in charge, and Pinto lets him be obnoxious to some extent, but once he makes her mad then we can all tell who's in charge. :D

I'll bet Mira stays alpha, too. :)

[Remali]

My Arabian mare Kara was real passive and just sort of "ignored" all the other horses.....she didn't pin her ears, and just sort of stayed neutral, even at feeding time. She just kind of waited for an opening for her own pile of hay, and ignored the other horses......lol.

[carla]

Jackie- why thank you, I do try! And yes, I think he's great so far, too. :)

Eleveneleven.. that does sound very interesting. I would like to sit in on something like that!

ALOK- I think I'm with you and Diane on Mira staying on the top. I totally don't mind. ;) She deserves it... sweet girl.

Remali- that's cool about Kara always being that way. I hope Jack will, too!

In the meantime, here's a super-cute pic I made of the two today (Jack and Mira..) I just told lovesfortune I think it would make for a great inspirational siggy about not letting anybody push you around... :hysterical:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p214/carcar_020/1230610307-1.jpg

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

Jackie- why thank you, I do try! And yes, I think he's great so far, too. :)

Eleveneleven.. that does sound very interesting. I would like to sit in on something like that!

ALOK- I think I'm with you and Diane on Mira staying on the top. I totally don't mind. ;) She deserves it... sweet girl.

Remali- that's cool about Kara always being that way. I hope Jack will, too!

In the meantime, here's a super-cute pic I made of the two today (Jack and Mira..) I just told lovesfortune I think it would make for a great inspirational siggy about not letting anybody push you around... :hysterical:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p214/carcar_020/1230610307-1.jpg

Oh my!!! Look at her. Too Funny!!! See ya tomorrow.

[lovesfortune]

Glad to see you got a siggy.

When I had four horses Booty was the head mare. Now that we only have two, we didn't have a head horse for a while.. hard to believe, but they just did everything together and I NEVER EVER saw any ears pinned back or anything. About 3 weeks ago Norman figured out that he can move the cows around and that he can be the boss. I've seen a change with Booty's behavior and she definitely sits back and waits for Norman to do what he wants first, etc.

[TheBadLands]

It's kind of the way you ignore bad behavior when schooling horses... like if I get a buck, I keep riding as if it didn't happen. As opposed to getting into a fight and it turning into a bronc ride... or with small kids and tantrums.. there they are on the floor thrashing about, I just step over them and go on with my business like they're not there. Then they eventually give up.

That's one human horse you have there lol