-=-Turnout Bullies -=-

[Gracie]

My horse is turned out with two other horses who are fairly agressive. Yesterday I brought her in and theres a scab on the back of her leg near the hoof .. that little part that kinda dents in! Sorry for my bad description. Anyways, it isn't sore and shes not lame.. I don't know if that would even make her lame! But anyways is it normal for a horse to get a little "beat-up" during turnout? Should I worry? She always has little bits and scratches. The thing is if i dont turn her out with them, then she'll have to be turned out alone, which I cant see being much better for her. Any suggestions?

[jUmPingIsLifE]

whenever there is more than one horse, there will be a pecking order established.

when we brought annabelle home she was a 'boss' than autumn came to live with us and he had been the 'boss' they kicked, bit, fought until they got their pecking order established (autumn is the boss). he pushes annabelle around, when he wants to play annabelle needs to play. he is the 'boss'. sometimes annabelle gets a little beat up. but whenever one horse leaves the other they both go nuts! so they love eachother, annabelle hates the new pony as she is a mare and autumn is 'her man'.

it is normal for a horse to get a little beat up when out with others, expecailly if he/she is the 'whimp' of the herd. if your horse is REALLY getting beat up you may want to find a differant pasture buddy if possible (if you bored with many other horses, and you can change pastures or something).

[floppy]

there is always a bit of ruff and rumble in the fields when more than one horse is here. It can either be play fighting or trying to establish the pecking order. It can take days-even weeks- or months before everything is quiet in the fields.my horse comes out with a few bald patches every so often but nothing serious as she is a very dominant mare and has worked her way up the rank very fast.

[judyl]

My mare is definitely the boss! She was second in command when she was in livery but now we have our two at home and over the past week, my husband's mare has come in with kick marks. They've been home since September with no problem but now Shade's kicked Blooi twice over several days for no reason that we can see. She is in charge and usually sends out a 'vibe' for Blooi to move (which she does) but this time either she didn't move fast enough or maybe decided not to move at all. Quite apart from Blooi being kicked (not lame though, thank goodness) now Shade is a bit iffy because of kicking! She's not lame as such but not quite right. Will see how she goes over the next few days otherwise it'll be a trip to the physio.

Fingers crossed! :D

[Gracie]

AWWW good luck Judyl
..I feel so bad for my mare shes always getting picked on! Sometimes I think its my fault for moving her around to so many different stables. But I just want whats best for her! I know its normal for her to get bossed around while they establish a pecking order.. but it just seems like its a little too controlling, and my horse doesn't bother to fight back which means its not pleasent for her. But as long as their all eating grass, they're all pretty happy! Well thanks for your replies!
~Kristan~