I currently have a small herd of two: one 8yo mare and a mid 20s gelding. In a larger herd, both of these horses would likely be in the middle to bottom of the hierarchy, and would be quite content there.
Before I got my mare, I boarded my gelding and he had been turned out for several years with a bossy mare and he never seemed to object to that arrangement. My gelding is a very anxious, spooky horse - I've had him for ~4 years and don't know his history, but he acts like he has a lot of baggage, even now, so it seems like being lower on the totem pole suits him just fine.
Last year I got a second horse, my mare, and around the same time I also moved my horses home. So by default they became their own little herd. My mare is much more well adjusted than my gelding, but she too seems to prefer to let someone else lead.
So, either because of my gelding's anxiety/nervousness or because my mare is even more submissive than my gelding (never had her turned out with other horses, so I can't tell), my gelding stepped up to the plate as the alpha. However, he is clearly not comfortable with the role. Perhaps in an effort to ensure his position as the leader (even though my mare has never challenged him, as far as I can tell) or because of his insecurity, he's constantly nitpicking at my mare (not to the point where her life is unbearable, just being overly pushy - think of an insecure boss who micromanages). They get along well enough - my gelding isn't causing injury or undue stress to my mare (she eats, drinks, does her own thing, keeps weight on, hasn't changed temperament since being with him) - so I'm not concerned about leaving their herd as is. However, for other reasons, I'm considering getting a third horse, and for both their sakes, ideally, I'd like to find a more dominant horse.
However, I'm looking at a horse that meets all my other criteria and seems perfect for me... except... I'm told he's ALSO low on the totem pole! :???:
I know herd dynamics can and do change, especially when you add another horse into the mix. However, am I setting this herd up for disaster if I bring in *another* non-dominant horse? I don't know how "non-dominant" this horse is, maybe he's more dominant that my two, but less dominant than a truly alpha horse; however, I don't want to create a situation where they're all anxious because someone gets forced into the position of being the leader and the leader does a poor job of it. It might turn out to be just fine or it could go pear shaped. Am I being overly concerned? Any input would be much appreciated! :smile:
Another aspect to this, the third horse I'm considering is a gelding. I've heard gelding+gelding+mare herds can be a bad combination if the two boys start to get possessive of the mare, but I've also heard that it works out just fine. Any insight there?
Before I got my mare, I boarded my gelding and he had been turned out for several years with a bossy mare and he never seemed to object to that arrangement. My gelding is a very anxious, spooky horse - I've had him for ~4 years and don't know his history, but he acts like he has a lot of baggage, even now, so it seems like being lower on the totem pole suits him just fine.
Last year I got a second horse, my mare, and around the same time I also moved my horses home. So by default they became their own little herd. My mare is much more well adjusted than my gelding, but she too seems to prefer to let someone else lead.
So, either because of my gelding's anxiety/nervousness or because my mare is even more submissive than my gelding (never had her turned out with other horses, so I can't tell), my gelding stepped up to the plate as the alpha. However, he is clearly not comfortable with the role. Perhaps in an effort to ensure his position as the leader (even though my mare has never challenged him, as far as I can tell) or because of his insecurity, he's constantly nitpicking at my mare (not to the point where her life is unbearable, just being overly pushy - think of an insecure boss who micromanages). They get along well enough - my gelding isn't causing injury or undue stress to my mare (she eats, drinks, does her own thing, keeps weight on, hasn't changed temperament since being with him) - so I'm not concerned about leaving their herd as is. However, for other reasons, I'm considering getting a third horse, and for both their sakes, ideally, I'd like to find a more dominant horse.
However, I'm looking at a horse that meets all my other criteria and seems perfect for me... except... I'm told he's ALSO low on the totem pole! :???:
I know herd dynamics can and do change, especially when you add another horse into the mix. However, am I setting this herd up for disaster if I bring in *another* non-dominant horse? I don't know how "non-dominant" this horse is, maybe he's more dominant that my two, but less dominant than a truly alpha horse; however, I don't want to create a situation where they're all anxious because someone gets forced into the position of being the leader and the leader does a poor job of it. It might turn out to be just fine or it could go pear shaped. Am I being overly concerned? Any input would be much appreciated! :smile:
Another aspect to this, the third horse I'm considering is a gelding. I've heard gelding+gelding+mare herds can be a bad combination if the two boys start to get possessive of the mare, but I've also heard that it works out just fine. Any insight there?
