Aggresive behaviour, please help!

[LisaD1]

Hi,

I moved my mare into our own yard 3 weeks ago and took in someone to help with costs etc. She has a gelding, we put them in together and they immediately bonded, he appeared to adore her, things have been going very well, we all get along and have been having a lovely time... until the last couple of days.

There is a mare next door who appears to be in season (not my horse or field), my mare has been chatting to her over the fence but the gelding has now started going ballistic, he is taking the head very low, dragging on the floor, stance and literally does not let my mare move, as soon as she moves he herds her off, he has been chasing her around the field at speed and stopping her from grazing or interacting with anything else, his behaviour is very aggressive, sometimes my mare retaliates and I'm really worried for their safety.

They have been put in stables tonight and the plan tomorrow is to turn out in separate fields but apparantly the gelding does not like being alone and paces the fence/has been known to jump it.

Any ideas on how to handle this so everyone is safe and happy? His behaviour is new to his owner too.

Any advice really appreciated.

Thanks

[Booboostoo]

Is there another gelding that can go out with him? Or could the other mare be moved further away?

There is a supplement for riggy behaviour that might help him, although I can't remember what it's called, sorry!

[Callisto]

Sounds like very riggish behaviour to me. Geldings are not usually so possessive. Is your mare coming into season too?

I certainly wouldn't turn them out together again, especially if they are both shod behind. I also think it is up to the owner of the gelding to make her horse safe when turned out. If it can't be turned out alone, she needs to get a companion, not risk everyone elses horses.

Also, it doesn'r really ring true that this is new behaviour to the owner - horses don't suddenly change their character completely. Difficult one though, good luck.

[Mirage]

No suggestions I'm afraid,but our loan gelding is like that too.On his own with dpony,she is the boss and dominates him,but if we ride with our friends,he will try to kick their ponies if he thinks that they are too close to dpony.His owner had warned us that he has stallion like tendencies,but even she was surprised as he has never tried to kick anyone/anything before.

I hope that you can find a solution.

[horseylady]

Oestraban by gold label (check the spelling!!) is supposed to work on riggy geldings and hormonal mares.

To be honest though it's more a mare like behaviour chasing and pacing. Any stallions I've dealt with have chased mares but always backed down after a swift kick!! Obv when in season it's totally different though. I'd separate and keep separate. If he's been known to jump fencing then she knows he's got a problem!!

[LisaD1]

Thanks for the replies. My mare has come into season this morning and is squirting all over the place! I rode her out this morning so he was left alone and aside from a little calling and fence pacing (in walk), he was fine. They are now turned out in separate fields and I have been there all morning, there is a little nibbling/squealing over the fence but nothing horrible, they are both grazing now so hopefully we will have a peaceful day!

Thanks again.

[Booboostoo]

Hopefully it's all sorted!

Rigcalm was the product I was thinking of, and for what it's worth horses can and do change in this way. I had a gelding who had been fine with a variety of combinations of field mates for quite a few years in different yards until one day another gelding joined a group of mares he was with and he went potty. He beat the gelding up and mounted the mares. Of course we separated them and he continued to be fine to the end of his days.