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Question about herd behaviour
I recently retired my horse Donnie and he went to my friend's farm where for the first time in many years he was turned out with another horse (normally horses were in paddocks beside him).
His new friend's name is Rascal and the two boys were out in their own field for a couple of months with Donnie being the more dominant of the two.
Recently my friend introduced three more horses from another field and all five get along beautifully.
What I would like to know is, Donnie ALWAYS places himself between the other herd members and Rascal. He won't let anyone get near Rascal and makes a face at them if they try, so the horses are all out together, but they are divided into two groups - the three, and Donnie and Rascal in their own little group.
Donnie doesn't mind if one of the other horses comes up to him, just not to Rascal. Also, all seem very content with the situation, as Rascal used to be the outsider in the herd and had no friends before Donnie came along. Now he and Donnie graze nose to nose.
Thoughts?
Views: 38
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ellen Ofstad on
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I have seen similar behavior where it seemed to me that the horses wanted to keep his friend to himself. "Thou shall not have other friends than me…" kind of thing, but that was just my impression, and I could be wrong. What are your thoughts about it?
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Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on
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That was my first thought too. This is MY friend and no one else can have him. Then I thought maybe it was something protective, although the other horses are extremely laid back.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Lamm on
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my horse treats my friends like that... he won't let anyone near me....
he has been read by a communicator who told me that he told her that no, he won't let anyone near me and that if we ever make it out on the trails he should be wearing a red flag on his tail and I should let people know to stay away.. he is fiercely protective of me..... .... he is not nice about it either... he chases people away..... I must handle it... and it is not easy... and it is a constant struggle... however, he had NEVER chased a horse away from me until this weekend when a new mare came courtesy of my trainer, who needed a place.... Oliver is being really mean to her.... anyway, it is so interesting....... :) my horse is an orphan so he's just wierd all the way around... but he is so lovely to me...
He is civil to people sometimes until he sees me and then he chases them away.... ugh...... -
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