My now 25 y.o. Paint gelding has been managing activities for the geldings since he arrived 19 years ago. He hasn’t been challenged. Most of them are the BO’s lesson horses, a few are stalled at night and a couple, like us, are pasture boarded. The herd size runs between 6 and 12 or so, which is where it is currently. His cues are quite subtle because they all know what to do. When he is on the way back out they move off the round bale, let him find his spot, and fill back in. He does more ear pinning with new guys and might show his teeth, but rarely kicks out. The herd reorganizes pretty quickly.
There have been some shifts in dynamics this past year and quite a few people have noticed. He seems to have delegated some things to his #2, who keeps any eye on him now. #2 is a lot brattier with his cueing. There were more new horses than usual in a short period of time this summer and my horse was a bit standoffish. He has a real buddy for the first time, a red roan mustang who is a very recent arrival. A couple of veterans keep an eye on the new guys and will push them around.
It has pretty much settled down. The BO has a good eye for newcomers’ behaviors so we don’t see many problems. A lot of the interaction is related to hay. They are on round bales, usually two. There should be three because of the way they have sub-groups. After watching this for so many years I think there is a degree of stability because there is a group that lives together 24/7. If one is stalled overnight the herd still functions well because they work out the dynamics. There is very little coat damage. They aren’t chewed up… I noticed a scuff mark on his blanket which is unusual.
The mares are next to the geldings in much the same situation. They organize and interact differently and don’t play the way the geldings do. I think mares are kind of boring. :yes:
I disagree with Bluey a bit because I look at them as herd members first, and being alone isn’t good for many horses. You see a lot of solos around here because there are so many backyard farms. I don’t know how you tell if your horse needs some kind of company. Some of them probably should be in a herd, and some herd members should be out on their own. At our barn stalled horses are paired up in paddocks, out all day.
I think stability is important. If you have horses that go outside for a few hours, it should be the same group on a reasonably consistent schedule. I think that they would constantly start working out a new pecking order with a different cast of characters each time they go out. If they need to be turned out alone that will be apparent. We have 4 side-by-side paddocks for stalled horses in pairs. The perimeter is vinyl and they are divided up with wood posts and electric fence tape that is not charged. They share a couple of Nelson heated waters between 2 paddocks which leads to some interaction. There are quite a few pairs that are interacting with mutual grooming and some playfulness across the .tape. They are having a blast. The only time I see a lot of stress and discontent is when an individual is in the barn alone. Another horse within view usually takes care of it.
Years ago there was an instructor who moved her cryptorchid in, calling him gelding. She knew what he was because she refused to have surgery done. The BO didn’t know and tried a few options. The owner insisted he had to out with the herd. It took them less than an hour to run him out of there. He wound up in a round pen. Fortunately she moved on, which is good because she’s a lousy instructor.
