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My horse Desmund is having difficulties fitting in with a horse called Thomas.Thomas is a stallion but has respect for geldings especially taller ones.Desmund is 16hh and Tom is 13.2hh and Tom seems to think that he is in charge when he knows to not bother Desmund and even though Desmund is a gelding Tom rounds him up away from me and then when I get in the field Tom charges at me.While the owner of the stallion and the yard owner was away I asked to separate them so she agreed.Desmund was fine but always spooked when I walked him past TomÂ’s field so I used two lead ropes and every time he went fast I gently pulled on the lead ropes and gave him a treat to occupy him but that didnÂ’t work so I always excercised him and groomed him in his field and only used his original lead rope.Now they are back together and Desmund started to be aggressive towards Tom (kicking and biting).Desmund never used to do that.They were only put as companions as my other pony ,also DesmundÂ’s companion,Jack passed away exactly a month ago.
I need help because Desmund is changing his attitude and he is such a lovely horse.
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I know it sounds horrible but it's nature.There has to be a Pecking order among horses,and sounds to me like Desmond is establishing that he is in charge after being reunited. It could be perhaps he is bored,maybe not enough excersize so he's thrashing out.Or he could also be in pain because of his companion passing,and doesn't want to accept another horse that isn't him just yet. Hope this helps and good luck with him :)
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It's just them establishing pecking order... separating them only resets that and they start all over again. It's like putting a new horse in with a herd they gotta establish dominance once they do that things will settle down but separating them only makes the process start over again. You got to let them work it out themselves and not interfere or try to separate them.... you should try watching ThinkLikeAHorse on YouTube he has great videos on things like that. As well as a site you can look at as well.
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Thanks just we separated them as I was feeding them by myself and didnÂ’t want there to be a fight when I was alone.Also there is another horse at the yard Tom fought with and he always gallops at him too. Desmund is so much calmer by himself I was just wondering if there was a solution to help him calm down or just let him be.Just now he is more tense and gets scared more easily.
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Hmm,he probably just feels slightly more insecure as he's 'on his own' after his companions death.Id leave them too it as I'm sure Desmond will sort Tom out if he asked for it.My 9hh Fallabella sorted out a 19hh Clyde once by giving him a quick hit to the nose ,So I'm sure Desmond can handle himself lol.xD
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Yeah.Because when they were separate Desmund was much more relaxed and happier but over the last few days heÂ’s been biting and kicking tom but he didnÂ’t do that before when they were first introduced.
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Oh,He's probably just feeling stressed and lonely.Hell settle in soon,if he doesn't in a week,I'd think about other plans. :)
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Yeah I might by the end of this weeek on Saturday as he is running away whenever I try to catch because heÂ’s obviously thinks IÂ’m rounding him up like Tom does. Sometimes I donÂ’t get to take his head collar off because he pulls on his lead rope when Tom approaches so I unclip his lead rope And I let him runoff down the fence a little where I will take his head collar off.
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Oh,Sounds like Tom is a right little devil lol.Id just see how they go and like you say perhaps attempt to change things if it doesn't work out.But I wouldn't try and get into the May of them much.On and one more question,How much attention and how is Tom around his owners because we had a horse that didn't get much attention from their owners in our field and he was quite pushy And some times aggressive.
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HeÂ’s fine with people around him as he is handled daily.Being fed and brought into the stable.I used to ride him myself and he was a bombproof pony but IÂ’m too tall for him now so he doesnÂ’t have a rider.
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