I own a 8 year old QH mare. Big for QH from racing stock. Then I also have a smaller Palomino QH from cutting stock. He is 5 years old. He bite the mare until she finnaly starts kicking him over & over. I have seen him kicked in the side of the head so hard I know he saw stars. he wobbled away shaking his head. 5 minutes later he was back at her biting her again. Help
Viv
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If the horse's are hurting one another in the pasture the first thing is to separate them if at all possible.
There are a number of reasons your gelding (I'm assuming its a gelding - if not I hope you're looking forward to a baby next year) is biting your mare and they all have to do with dominance. Horse's are herd animals and they naturally want to find their place in the pecking order.
It sounds as though your gelding is trying to move up the pecking order and the mare is simply annoyed by him. You need to evaluate your options.
If it is possible to separate them and you believe your gelding is in danger do so.
If it is not possible to separate them and you believe your gelding is in danger then figure out a varied turnout schedule or put one in a lot for half of the day and feed hay.
If the mare occasionally gets in a good lick eventually the gelding will get the point - especially if this is horse play. You need to figure out how serious both horses are about hurting one another - they may simply play rough. Remember that a horse can take a kick much harder than a person because of their size and if the gelding is constantly annoying the mare her only defense is to kick or bite him back.
zakiit
How long have you had both of them?
It is possible that they will settle down, but in view of the hefty biting and kicking going on it might be a good idea to separate them, at least until they have been ridden out together a few times. Failing that, how about stabling one during the day, and turning the other out and vice versa.
It sounds as though the youngster might be trying to play, but it is not doing any good, for either of them. Either that or he is a rig and is trying to display stallion tendencies. I wonder how long he has been gelded?
Wouldn't you be a bit miffed if your big brother kept coming and slapping you or kicking you to try and make you play. You cannot force people or animals to like each other!
Tina C
Any chance you mare is in season or close to. Some gelding react much like stallions even though they have been castrated, this is the reason most equestrian centers prefer to separate mares and geldings.
If possible I would separate them for a week or two, there really isn't much else you can do.
?
he may see her as pack leader and by trying to get himself as "top dog". if she isn't going at him in the first place and when he goes over and starts she then puts him in his place he will or should give up.
it may take a bit of time.and he might even get hurt,but it should settle down.if not could you section of your paddock so they are next to each other.but not with each other.and get them used to each other slowly.
or
is he like it with all others or just her. is he just a nasty horse.
PhntmJmpr08
if it is possible.. i would separate them but keep them in pens side by side or stalls side by side that way they can interact everyday but can do no more than bite each other...once they stop biting at each other try turning them out together and see how they do :)