Problems leading in away from herd - update

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KP nut

I'd rather be riding.
Dec 22, 2008
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There are 6 mares on about 20 acres including Cally and Lisa. Today when I went to get Cally, another mare was stood between me and the rest of the herd and tried to drive me off. I ignored her and continued to slowly move towards Cally and she swung her hindquarters at me. I ignored her again and quietly haltered Cally and moved away.

The rest of the herd then circled me and Cally as I walked towards the gate. Then they ran off to the right,bucking and galloping and swerving. Cally reared to try and get away from me and follow. I held onto her and had to circle her a few times til she calmed down. We then carried on walking towards the gate. The mare then ran towards me and Cally swerving at the last minute. Each time Cally got agitated again. Finally we made it to the gate and the herd went back to grazing. On speaking to the mare's owner, apparently this has been happening to her too: though in her case it is Cally trying to stop her catching the mare.

This has only been a problem since the summer field opened up and the in at night horses joined the 3 who are out 24/7 (Cally, Lisa and 1 other - not the one who was a problem today).

Will this settle down? Is there anything I can do? Cally has good ground manners and is easy to catch for me so I am not sure what I can do from a training POV. The mare is always a problem to bring in and needs to be led in a dually. She is strong and often unruly, but Cally appears to be behaving in the same way and she is not nornally difficult on the ground. Should we separate Cally and this mare?

Any advice. It felt very unsafe in there.
 
I'm afraid I wouldn't have ignored the initial challenge/attempt to drive me off, I'd have moved her feet for her :) then hopefully the herd and the mare wouldn't have tried the come with me tactics as you led Cally away, you can't really blame her for playing up a bit when all her mates were fussing about telling her that going with you was a bad thing/something they were concerned about. Perhaps Cally and this mare just bonded hard and fast or they are #1 & #2 in the herd and therefore feel the need to look out for everyone?
 
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I stood my ground when she came towards me and she swerved away so I saw that as not allowing her to push me around. Again when she presented her quarters I continued moving forward ignoring her threat. And she backed down then too. Do I need to be much more forceful and drive her back?
 
If she turned her quarters and you kept moving away she could be thinking she won that challenge by moving you away, I would just shoo her off :)
 
She turned her quarters to stop me getting to Cally who was behind her. So I moved nearer not further away. I was ready to defend myself if she had tried to follow through with a kick but she didn't. I think i can defend myself against the mare. I don't think she will hurt me. The danger came from Cally rearing when the herd galloped away and when the mare circled us. I am not sure how to stop the herd reacting like that in the first place. And Cally behaves the same way to the mares owner. Maybe they would be better separated? Or would another 1-2 just go the same? We had none of this last summer with 8 in there. You just fetched your horse and the herd ignored you! Much easier!!
 
Ah ok, Cally is another year older now though, that could well play into her herd position, I suspect it will all settle down soon enough :)
 
Years ago on our first yard we had a similar problem with Storm and another mare. Have to say, I was way to novice to deal with it and I just used to have to take OH with me and he would wave the other mare off. In the end the mare was removed (for other reasons) and we moved yards. If it happened now I'd most likely follow domane's advice.
 
Ginger can some times turn his number and threaten to double barrow to me if I am doing something with chanter in the field. he has received a feed bucket not a rubber one thrown at his bum followed by me growling at him. this stops him in his tracks.

I rarely if ever raise my voice let alone raise a hand to the boys but every once in a while and normally on a change of routone ( summer to winter turn out ) ginger will test the boundaries. I am quick to remind who is boss.

I think they will settle down but you need to be strong with both Cally and nipping the rear in th bud and chasing off the other
 
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Interesting today: mare was stood in front of Cally again. I made eye contact and marched towards the shoulder nearest to Cally to try and push her left away from Cally. She held her ground till I was about 10 feet away then she dropped her head and moved off left. I caught Cally and walked away. Mare followed in walk about 20 feet behind with the rest of the herd behind her. Then she sped up a little and when she was about 10 feet away I spun round and moved towards her again making eye contact and sending 'bugger off' vibes towards her! She halted and the rest of the herd halted and she didn't move towards us the rest of the time I was walking to the gate but just stood watching. So that was easier!! Hopefully it will be as easy as that from now on.
 
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