My two horses hate each other...

[normandy_shores]

. We will have 5.5 acres with 4 or 5 reasonable sized fields. Current owners have two horses per field right now.

I don’t expect them to be best friends, but apparently sharing a fence line in their adjacent paddocks at the boarding barn didn’t even go so well last night! Both were rearing over the fence and would not back down. My BO said it was pretty vicious, not a fun playful thing.

They previously shared a fenceline one night at the new horse’s previous property, and I’ve turned them out together in the ring once for a little bit. They were both too preoccupied to care about each other then.

Horse #1, 12 yo gelding, has been both submissive and dominant depending who he’s been out with. He was with one very passive horse and was kind of a jerk.

Horse #2, 7 yo gelding, is new to me, but I was told he’s middle of the pack. He’s a lot more outgoing than horse #1. He’s a mischievous almost arrogant personality (I love him, I say this endearingly!). He’s a pest!

Once I have access to a big field or the ring, do I bandage the heck out of them and let them work it out? Do I just plan on never having them share a field or a fenceline? I obviously don’t want anyone to get hurt, and I’m on the hook for both vet bills AND horse #1 is in the middle of a rocking competition season (though obviously that’s a secondary concern to general health)…

Ironically, they’re like brothers from another mother – very similar in most everything. Both very smart, just that the older one is smart in a “want to work with you” kind of way.

Turkey #1: [IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/moosouthlands_zps210a7fc8.jpg)

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps5ae1a486.jpg)

Turkey #2: “who, me?” [IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse2e4ee5e.jpg)

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsafe6b363.jpg)

[TheJenners]

I’m inclined to say “let them work it out.” But that’s not always the case. WHY were they rearing at each other, etc?

[Alagirl]

some horses - like people - don’t get along.

While horses do have a set of ground rules while duking it out, I don’t think I would just stand by and watch. Not over a fence line anyhow.

reminds me when my dad and uncle introduced a mare with foal to a pair of yearling fillies. Both were armed with longe whips, should the mare get it in her head that the youngsters offended her maternal instincts!

You could very well end up with a catastrophic injury! :no:

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=TheJenners;7657419]
I’m inclined to say “let them work it out.” But that’s not always the case. WHY were they rearing at each other, etc?[/QUOTE]

They aren’t fed near the shared fenceline and would both be way too focused on eating to leave the food to fight. I’m guessing just later in the evening both standing near the fencelines or gates. These paddocks are probably 60x40 or so, not overly large.

I’m thinking I’ll let them work it out, but in a larger turnout or the ring where there’s no fence line between them. Boot them both up, watch, and wait I suppose. Doesn’t need to happen today as we don’t move to the new property until the 21st, but I’d like to know they’ve worked it out before then. They did spend 5 hours in a trailer together with no issues (pest in the front slant stall so he couldn’t reach over and bite the other one!)…

[CrowneDragon]

If they are really acting aggressively toward each other over the fence, there is no way I would put them in together.

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=Alagirl;7657434]
some horses - like people - don’t get along.

While horses do have a set of ground rules while duking it out, I don’t think I would just stand by and watch. Not over a fence line anyhow.

reminds me when my dad and uncle introduced a mare with foal to a pair of yearling fillies. Both were armed with longe whips, should the mare get it in her head that the youngsters offended her maternal instincts!

You could very well end up with a catastrophic injury! :no:[/QUOTE]

They were separated so they didn’t share a fenceline after that was witnessed. I’m debating how to handle it going forward, particularly when we move to our new property. Any introduction now would be done in a large turnout so there’s room for one to potential submit to the other and run off, and under supervision.

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7657438]
If they are really acting aggressively toward each other over the fence, there is no way I would put them in together.[/QUOTE]

Ever? Should they never share a fenceline? My new property has 4 good sized paddocks/pastures set up currently, kind of in an L shape around the edge of the property.

[Simkie]

Ehhhh…things might really change once you bring them home together.

When I moved Seven and Blush from one barn to the other, I tried to get them used to each other prior to the move. It was TERRIBLE. AWFUL. Blush went charging at Seven, teeth bared, so many times. Blush never tolerated Seven at all.

But when I moved them, and it was the two of them in a new place in a field, with other horses across the fence? Instant buddies. In fact, Blush got SO ATTACHED that it became a problem, and I had to drug the snot out of her to separate them.

I’d leave them across the fence for now, as long as the fencing is safe and they’re not likely to get hurt with their antics across it. Don’t sweat it too much now and see what you have when you move them home.

[Beverley]

When all they have is each other, they’ll get along just fine. They’ve been introduced in ‘new’ territory for one and ‘established’ territory for the other, with other horses around. Completely different dynamic than two, alone, at your new place.

I had two that hated each other, in a group of four, for years, but they were all pastured together so there weren’t confrontations, just avoidance. When the two oldsters had to be put down, the two mutual haters became fast friends, okay maybe not bosom buddies but peace definitely reigned, until the older one died some years later.

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=normandy_shores;7657440]
Ever? Should they never share a fenceline? My new property has 4 good sized paddocks/pastures set up currently, kind of in an L shape around the edge of the property.[/QUOTE]
Not if it looks like someone is going to get hurt kicking through the fence or rear up and come down on the fence or something along those lines. Horses fighting through a fence will result in injured horses or a busted fence eventually.

If they were play fighting playing wild stallions over the fence I’d say toss them in together and that would be safer. If they hate each other, no way would I risk it. It takes no time for a kick to break a leg or for one horse to take the other down and try to savage them and that’s not a good thing to be trying to break up. There is a chance that someone wins and things are copacetic, but that may not happen without significant injury.

My horses find enough ways to injure themselves that I don’t even bother in these types of situations. I have dealt with the aftermath and try to avoid it as much as I can.

YYMV, of course. You can always re-evaluate after the move, on neutral territory.

[normandy_shores]

They won’t be sharing a fenceline while at the boarding facility – not worth the tension and not fair to the BO to destroy her fences! I’d wondered if once they were at the new place and alone they might go “Hey you! You’re my only friend!”

sigh Guess I’ll find out in 2 weeks! And maybe upon arrival I’ll turn the fat pesty one out in the ring (no shared fenceline) for the first night or two…

[Beverley]

You will find it will work out just fine.

[Simkie]

Definitely take advantage of the “hey, you’re my only friend!” when you move–I would not keep them totally separated for any length of time. You don’t want either of them to develop the “this is MY TERRITORY” deal. Not sure of your set up, but stalling them next to each other where they can touch noses or across the fence would likely be a Good Thing.

(Me? I just threw my two mares in together, even with the animosity at the previous place. We didn’t have much of a choice, and I figured we’d just deal if it didn’t go well. It was fine.)

[cowboymom]

I bet you a doughnut that they get along fine when it’s just the two of them.

IMO and IME it usually settles with time but in some cases that is years. But with two horses that are alone except for each other I think the ol’ herd instinct is going to have happy to have each other in no time.

I posted a few weeks ago about friends that had a new horse that was being driven through the fence and attacked badly by one of their older horses. They kept trailering, riding, grooming and handling them side by side and turning them out in small doses while supervised and now everything is fine. But it was dicey for a while; I wouldn’t just turn them loose to work it out while they’re still new to the other and in the same fighting environment. It only takes one kick or one trip through the fence to kill a horse. We do it from totally separate pens, then maybe over an electric fence or tall strong good rail fence, all the while trailering them together, tying them next to each other, gradually build it closer until we take a calculated risk and turn them out and hop for the best!

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=Simkie;7657465]
Definitely take advantage of the “hey, you’re my only friend!” when you move–I would not keep them totally separated for any length of time. You don’t want either of them to develop the “this is MY TERRITORY” deal. Not sure of your set up, but stalling them next to each other where they can touch noses or across the fence would likely be a Good Thing.

(Me? I just threw my two mares in together, even with the animosity at the previous place. We didn’t have much of a choice, and I figured we’d just deal if it didn’t go well. It was fine.)[/QUOTE]

My set up doesn’t have a barn, just 4 or 5 small fields that run in an L… actually more of a U, around the back perimeter of the property. Each only shares on fence line with the next. The ring is situated in the middle of the U, and only borders one paddock.

I’m just going to trust that it’ll all work out and wait till we’re there.

I appreciate the insight and experiences!

[Simbalism]

I had that problem when I got my new mare in November. My old mare and new mare were attempting to kick the crap out of each other as in butt to butt double barrel kicking as fast as they could. We separated them initially at the boarding facility. I started taking them places on the trailer together and they got better. Now they can go out together. If I were you, since you will only have the two, I would switch it up frequently to try and avoid herd boundness. Pastures next to each other, pastures apart, in together.

[PeteyPie]

Two of my mares were acting aggressive with each other, kicking the fence, biting over the fence. I pulled one out and put a different one next to the remaining mare. It was a little bit better but the first one was still kicking and biting at the new mare who just wanted to be friends. It helped when I separated the feed bins to the farthest side of each paddock. Eventually, I noticed that they were always standing next to each other. I put them in together and all of the aggression stopped. They figured out their pecking order and they get along very well.

I would give it a little time. I’ll bet they become fast friends in a few weeks.

[Bluey]

Fence aggression is not always an indication that there will be trouble when turned out together.
Neither seemingly getting along across a fence means one won’t become an alligator when turned out.

You want to know, you have to find out by turning them out.
Yes, there will be a chance someone gets injured while they sort things out.
Your call if you want to go there.

If you are going to keep horses turned out with others, that someone may get injured is just one of the risks that go with it.

A trainer friend turns horses out every evening, brings them in to pens in the morning.
He said some just spend the day fighting and playing over the fence, that never even make faces at each other once turned out.

[The_Crone_of_Cottonmouth_Count]

I’m certainly no expert, but my own experience with a couple of prima donna mares suggests that the “suddenly you’re my only friend” phenomenon might work in your favor. Hear ye my tale.

In my little herd of three, I had two who hated each other. I found that out the hard way by just throwing them together after a too-short introduction period. The next morning I biffed happily out to the paddocks only to find that New Mare had shredded her hind cannons when she tried to double-barrel Boss Mare and got both hocks over the board fence. A $1200 vet bill and ugly permanent scars (though no permanent lameness, by some miracle) attest to my stupidity.

Eventually, despite my incompetence, they worked it out and forged an uneasy truce.

Then the neutral one died, leaving just the bitter enemies. To my surprise, inside of two weeks they became inseparable in the field. They’re still slightly murderous when stalled next to each other, as they both prefer the option of maintaining bubbles of personal space larger than 14 x 14, but when they have enough room they’re BFFs, often grazing within a few feet of each other.

When I bring in the new third horse, my plan is to ease them in together over a period of weeks, beginning with no shared fenceline for a couple of weeks at least, and gradually closing the distance while working up to group turnout. Fingers crossed.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Often the agression is over worry about relationships with other horses. My horse hated this other gelding and would crazy if he saw that (mild mannered) gelding stand and eating next to HIS (my horse’s) mares. Really crazy bad behaviour. When only the two of them were on the property, they were fine in adjacent paddocks.

Its easy to manage. String an electric wire or two between them. and they can stay adjacent to each other. Do not ever put them together. You’ll be fine.