Hello, everyone.
I'm relatively new here but after reading some of the posts, I feel like I'm with family! Therefore, I come to my family for some help and advise.
I have two horses. They are not my first horses; my other two lived for many years...the oldest was put down at 30! My heart was really crushed. But, after several months without horses, I couldn't go any longer, so I bought my current two.
Here's the story (so that you have an understanding of the problem). The first one I bought is a quarter horse, currently 3 years 4 months. I bought her November, 2016. She was in a pasture with many other horses and mules. They were on 30+ acres, grass fed only. It appeared they were well cared for. In fact, when I went to look at her, she came right up to the owner. This, of course, was because they fed treats! (Not a good thing but that's what they did.) I have named this horse Emzara...Em, for short.
For a pasture mate, in January 2017, I bought a paint filly, 1 year 7 months. She is just a delight! She is so gentle I can't believe it. She had been lovingly cared for by the farm that bred her. Her mother was still on site although, of course, she had been weaned. I'm not sure that the break from her mother was complete although, what would I know? The hint I have seen is that she comes up to Em and gives the foal mouth opening deal, like she's saying I want to be friends. I've named her Zipporah...Zip, for short.
I thought these horses would be close enough in age to be compatible. Em is larger than Zip but they are both still growing a little. Em is definitely the one in charge. At first I thought it was food aggression. Em had not had regular feeding before and I had started a twice/day feed routine. She would put her ears flat and try to chase Zip even though they were not even in the barn yet!
To remedy that, I would have the feed pails ready so that when I went to feed, I could get Em to her stall quickly and then bring Zippy in. That has helped with that issue. But, having had them for 6 months+, the problem is not diminishing.
Now, things have escalated. Em tried to bite and/or kick at Zip for no reason. Well, there is a reason but I don't know what it is! She has also become more aggressive with me. She will waggle her head and prance around me in the field. In the 6 weeks I had Em before I got Zip, I had done the chasing away thing in the field. She got the idea and had joined up. She whinnies at me when I come out and she willingly comes up to me in the field.
Yesterday, when I went for the evening feeding, Zippy had marks all over her from bite marks on her forehead above her eye, to scrapes all over her legs and face. It appears to me that she had been cornered by Em and couldn't get away. I'm am just devastated over this.
I do not have facilities at the moment to separate the two. I have a round pen ordered but it won't be delivered a another week or so. Meanwhile, it is so hot in my little structure that I call a barn that I hate to pen Em in there, but I don't know how to proceed with this. I thought maybe Em was jealous of Zip but I'm not sure. I try to give attention with grooming, and just being with each one to "talk."
I bought the Dually halter and Em is wonderful in it! In just a couple of sessions, she has learned to stop when I stop and is currently learning to back up. Yesterday, she tried to rear with the halter on and I was able to school her immediately. We continued our session without issue but she gives me the idea that she continues to want to be in charge.
All of this is a lot of verbage but the question is...what is the best way to correct this behavior from Em? I think she will make a wonderful horse once I get through this. Meanwhile, I don't want Zippy...or me...to be injured. If there are suggestions, I would certainly appreciate any input.
I'm relatively new here but after reading some of the posts, I feel like I'm with family! Therefore, I come to my family for some help and advise.
I have two horses. They are not my first horses; my other two lived for many years...the oldest was put down at 30! My heart was really crushed. But, after several months without horses, I couldn't go any longer, so I bought my current two.
Here's the story (so that you have an understanding of the problem). The first one I bought is a quarter horse, currently 3 years 4 months. I bought her November, 2016. She was in a pasture with many other horses and mules. They were on 30+ acres, grass fed only. It appeared they were well cared for. In fact, when I went to look at her, she came right up to the owner. This, of course, was because they fed treats! (Not a good thing but that's what they did.) I have named this horse Emzara...Em, for short.
For a pasture mate, in January 2017, I bought a paint filly, 1 year 7 months. She is just a delight! She is so gentle I can't believe it. She had been lovingly cared for by the farm that bred her. Her mother was still on site although, of course, she had been weaned. I'm not sure that the break from her mother was complete although, what would I know? The hint I have seen is that she comes up to Em and gives the foal mouth opening deal, like she's saying I want to be friends. I've named her Zipporah...Zip, for short.
I thought these horses would be close enough in age to be compatible. Em is larger than Zip but they are both still growing a little. Em is definitely the one in charge. At first I thought it was food aggression. Em had not had regular feeding before and I had started a twice/day feed routine. She would put her ears flat and try to chase Zip even though they were not even in the barn yet!
To remedy that, I would have the feed pails ready so that when I went to feed, I could get Em to her stall quickly and then bring Zippy in. That has helped with that issue. But, having had them for 6 months+, the problem is not diminishing.
Now, things have escalated. Em tried to bite and/or kick at Zip for no reason. Well, there is a reason but I don't know what it is! She has also become more aggressive with me. She will waggle her head and prance around me in the field. In the 6 weeks I had Em before I got Zip, I had done the chasing away thing in the field. She got the idea and had joined up. She whinnies at me when I come out and she willingly comes up to me in the field.
Yesterday, when I went for the evening feeding, Zippy had marks all over her from bite marks on her forehead above her eye, to scrapes all over her legs and face. It appears to me that she had been cornered by Em and couldn't get away. I'm am just devastated over this.
I do not have facilities at the moment to separate the two. I have a round pen ordered but it won't be delivered a another week or so. Meanwhile, it is so hot in my little structure that I call a barn that I hate to pen Em in there, but I don't know how to proceed with this. I thought maybe Em was jealous of Zip but I'm not sure. I try to give attention with grooming, and just being with each one to "talk."
I bought the Dually halter and Em is wonderful in it! In just a couple of sessions, she has learned to stop when I stop and is currently learning to back up. Yesterday, she tried to rear with the halter on and I was able to school her immediately. We continued our session without issue but she gives me the idea that she continues to want to be in charge.
All of this is a lot of verbage but the question is...what is the best way to correct this behavior from Em? I think she will make a wonderful horse once I get through this. Meanwhile, I don't want Zippy...or me...to be injured. If there are suggestions, I would certainly appreciate any input.
Thanks for your insights and suggestions. I'm in a spot to implement your suggestions so I need to give some thoughts to both of your suggestions.
As to the use of electric fencing. I do have a solar charger and all the materials for the fencing. Of the two horses that I've lost (one was 24 and one was 30; I had them each since one was 6 months and one was 9 months), one was insulin resistant and one had Cushing's, so you can undertand why I would have all the equipment! The "spot" that I referenced was the fact that there is only one entrance into the barn. These horses are free-choice with pasture 24/7. It is sooooo very hot right now that I don't feel that I can leave either of them totally in the barn or totally out of the barn, if you understand what I'm saying. Yesterday was 97 degrees and very humid. No way could I leave any animal out in that...or inside in that. I'm sure you wouldn't either.
With the terrible heat, I only put the grazing muzzle on Em for 2 nights. It just didn't seem right to add to the "misery" of wearing that thing but I know that I'm putting myself into that muzzle. After the first night, she didn't seem too resistant.
So, again, I'll need to see what I can do as your thinking makes sense. As far as getting another horse, I hear your rationale but with only two stalls as well as adding to the cost of feed and vet care, I wouldn't be able to do that. I will keep it in mind, though, as it does have merit.
Thanks for taking time to share your expertise and experience. With acquisition of a new round pen, I am hoping that I can make inroads with Em in joining up. She is young and I am certainly not giving up on her. Miss Zipper will profit from it, too.
One more thing...with the Dually halter on Em, I am leading her around Zip and allowing Zip to come up to us when she wants to. When Em's ears are showing her intent, I give her a little "school time." I think it may be getting through that her aggressive behavior is not acceptable.