I have a 15hh 22yr Connie X Mare. She is on grass livery 247 and today a new pony was put into her paddock. I've owned my mare 11 years and she has always been content sharing paddocks with the exception of one occasion where my friend's baby went in with her and she was aggressive. Normally she has always been perfectly content.
This new pony is an 11.2hh 16yr Welsh Sec A. My mare is not pleased. The only thing I can think of is that all the times she has been content, she has been the horse getting 'added' to the paddock. Whereas with my friend's baby and with this pony, they have been 'added' to her paddock. So I'm assuming it's a normal dominance dynamic.
Anyway, whilst I've been riding 27yrs it is a long time since I've had paddock drama and I'm just seeking some guidance/reassurance over what behaviour is normal and what I should be concerned about.
First of all, there is NO option to separate. There was no option to put them side by side first. So it is simply a case of there is one paddock that can't be split for the two horses.
Secondly, the little pony seems happy and content around my mare in that she isn't directly making a fuss. My mare is chasing the little pony off whenever she comes near the front of the paddock. If she grazes right down the bottom out of sight my mare is okay but as soon as she treks towards front of paddock my mare chases her. No teeth bearing behaviour just basically 'stay away' from my space.
Is this acceptable behaviour for the normal of introductions and sorting the pecking order out?
How long does it on average take them to adjust? How long should I give it before rasing concerns?
Is there anything I can do to help them adjust?
Appreciate I possibly am asking a daft question but feeling a bit anxious and would appreciate guidance.
The yard setup is very basic. No stables, no extra paddocks, so I'm working with the basics here.
Thank you.
This new pony is an 11.2hh 16yr Welsh Sec A. My mare is not pleased. The only thing I can think of is that all the times she has been content, she has been the horse getting 'added' to the paddock. Whereas with my friend's baby and with this pony, they have been 'added' to her paddock. So I'm assuming it's a normal dominance dynamic.
Anyway, whilst I've been riding 27yrs it is a long time since I've had paddock drama and I'm just seeking some guidance/reassurance over what behaviour is normal and what I should be concerned about.
First of all, there is NO option to separate. There was no option to put them side by side first. So it is simply a case of there is one paddock that can't be split for the two horses.
Secondly, the little pony seems happy and content around my mare in that she isn't directly making a fuss. My mare is chasing the little pony off whenever she comes near the front of the paddock. If she grazes right down the bottom out of sight my mare is okay but as soon as she treks towards front of paddock my mare chases her. No teeth bearing behaviour just basically 'stay away' from my space.
Is this acceptable behaviour for the normal of introductions and sorting the pecking order out?
How long does it on average take them to adjust? How long should I give it before rasing concerns?
Is there anything I can do to help them adjust?
Appreciate I possibly am asking a daft question but feeling a bit anxious and would appreciate guidance.
The yard setup is very basic. No stables, no extra paddocks, so I'm working with the basics here.
Thank you.