Ridecamp: [RC] Alpha mares

This discussion on Alpha horses has really been interesting. One thing I
have noticed for the last few years is the behaviuor of Alpha mares when a
stallion is introduced into the herd. It seems to me that my alpha mares
"protect" the non-alpha mares of the herd when they come on heat - in many
cases now I have seen the Alpha mare chase the stallion away from the lower
order mare and only let him cover those mares once she(the alpha mare ) has
been covered by him. I have 2 very strongly alpha mares who NEVER can be put
in the same pasture- they continually fight and eventually split the herd.
They have never managed to work out a truce and the only way to have peace
on the farm is to let each have her own band in separate pastures.
Another interesting case was a mare I had for a while who had been kept on
her own for 5 years with just human companionship. She became the Alpha of
her herd(the humans) and as long as they were dishing out carrots and food
would tolerate them, but began to turn nasty , especially to the husband . I
introduced her to my mixed herd and after a long period of isolation from
the herd, by the herd, when she was "taught" horse manners and her position
in life she slowly moved up the pecking order to 3rd in leadership.The
interesting thing was that when her "old herd"(the owners) came to visit she
reverted straight back to dominant mode- bullying the husband , and
"protecting" the wife from the rest of the herd with much snorting and
rushing at the other horses. She never did this with me, accepting me as
alpha mare when I was present and falling straight back into her herd
position when I was not.She had always been a very "animated " horse when at
home alone(rushing about and performing) , and after a few months and lots
of LSD with me she turned into a calm sensible stable mare. Unfortunately
the owners, absolutely clueless about horses, removed her from me because
she was "too quiet" so obviously was not happy!!! They could not understand
that for the first time in her life she was happy and a horse!

Regards,
Cindy Budler
Afrox I P Marketing
Germiston
Gauteng
Ph  : 011 876 1179
Cell : 082 464 1809
Fax : 011 873 5902
E Mail : cindy.budler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


_____________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for viruses by the WorldCom Internet Managed Scanning Service - powered by MessageLabs. For further information visit http://www.worldcom.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=