Re: 3 alpha horses (4, including me)

[avpinc@bellsouth.net]

Hi, Michelle.
    I don't question a thing you wrote.  I have read quite a bit about herd
behavior.  I'm not in the least surprised about my mare's need for
dominance.  Not only is she the only mare, and the eldest, she's
also the smartest (sorry guys, but she IS a woman!), and the
trickiest.  Oh, yeah, and I forgot to mention, we think the half
that is not Arab is Florida "CrackerHorse", i.e., Mustang.
    My only concern is keeping her safe, in spite of her understandable
instincts to "shake things up" and dominate.  If she get herself stuck
in the middle of a kicking fight between the younger, stronger males,
she could end up with a critical, perhaps deadly injury.  My vet has
told me repeatedly that he has had to put down many an otherwise
healthy older horse due to injuries incurred in pasture with younger
more aggressive horses.  She is much too precious to me to take
that chance.  So she can be as bossy as she likes, and engage
the guys in games, but she has to do it safely.
      Thanks for the info.  All of this is really interesting and no
matter how much we read and study, we can always learn more.
I've copied your post for my file and enjoyed reading it.
                                        Linda*****

MBlanchrd@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/14/99 1:50:04 PM PST, avpinc@bellsouth.net writes:
>
> << he accepts her
>  unequivocally as the Boss Mare.  Unfortunately, she considers
>  herself the boss of everyone, including the younger gelding.  If >>
>
> This is normal! VERY Normal!! consider that, in the wild, a band of horses
> consists of mares: grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, yearlings of both
> genders and the stallion. Despite the very popular image of the "flaming  red
> stallion leading his band to safety", the stallion runs behind, keeping the
> band in one bunch. The Alpha mare does the leading, everywhere..to grazing
> areas, to water, to safe places.
> A band is matriarchial in makeup and culture.
>
> Studies on wild horses have shown that the average tenure of the stallion is
> about two years..basically, long enough to produce a couple foal crops, then
> pfft, he's out of there, replaced by a new stallion. When a colt reaches two,
> the mares and the stallion drive him out of the band. The colts strike out on
> their own and form "bachelor bands". These can be as small as two and as high
> as who knows. In the bands, they practise skills they'll need to be herd
> stallions, and of course, are always ready to try their luck against the
> established stallions.
>
> But the  fillies stay in the band. Sometimes they're stolen by another
> stallion, but usually they stay in the band. Every female has higher "rank" in
> the band than any male, other than the stallion. (by the way, studies also
> showed that a stallion will NOT breed his own daughters unless they've been
> separated for 17 months. If she returns to the band after that length of time,
> he may not recognize her and breed her. This does lead, sometimes, to fillies
> being driven out by the stallion..but not often.)
>
> So for your mare to boss EVERY male on the place is normal. My horses..both
> geldings..live at my neighbors across the road. They, too, have two geldings,
> and just recently bought a warmblood 4 yr old filly. She immediately has begun
> establishing her boss mare rank, and the 4 geldings are all gaga in love with
> her.
>
> However, she has NO respect for my husband, or Bruce the barnlord..whereas she
> defers to me, and June, the barnlord's wife. We females are alpha to her, she
> accepts it..but is having problems accepting that human males can have rank
> over her!!!
>
> Before you ask, my information comes from the book  titled "Wild Horses of the
> Great Basin". I can't remember the author right now, once I go offline I will
> get my battered copy and send it and ISBN to anyone who wants to know. It's a
> fascinating book and a very well done study on horses. If you want to know how
> a horse thinks,, and why a horse does why it does..read this book.
> Michelle