Stabling 2 horses, had one for 4 yrs, new one bought last week

Question
I have read your advice on behavior issues and realize our 13 yr old Arabian gelding who we have had for 4 years is just establishing himself as the dominant horse in the paddock.  He was boarded until July when we purchased horse property in Hockley TX.  It's 3 acres with a large paddock, arena, round pen and 3 stall barnmaster.  Our Arabian has been alone for almost 6 months and I thought he would be happy to have a friend since horses are herding animals.  We bought a 9 yr old Tennessee Walker gelding last week who is calm with a gentle disposition which is what I need as a beginner rider.  The Arabian is my daughters horse and he's great with her and other kids.  I have learned to take care of him on our property and its been great.  We were excited to get our new horse, but now our Arabian is being so aggressive it scares me.  I didn't grow up around horses, this is my dream and I learn something new every day.  I enjoy learning their personalties, but didn't realize our Arabian was such a bully.  He is pinning his ears, moving his butt and charging at the TWH for no reason. There is also kicking at times and they both fell down while running in the paddock the second day they were together.    It gets worse if we try to pet our new horse.  Feeding time has become a challenge.  The stalls have runs which we are closing during the day, but leaving them in at night.  Our Arabian gets more aggressive near feeding time, eventhough we stopped putting food in the bucket before putting them in their stalls.  He is starting to scare me and I'm not feeling comfortable in the paddock with them or letting them in at feeding time. Will this really sort out on its own, or is there something I should do.  My husband has earned their respect and can control them but the Arabian who I was close to now seems like a different horse.  Riding has been fine, it's just the constant battle in the paddock and around feeding time.  Should we ignore the Arabian when he wants attention so we are not condoning his behavior, or should we be sure to give him as much attention as our new horse? It's hard now to even pet our new horse unless he is outside the paddock away from our Arabian. They were fine when we rode in the arena together.

Answer
Rick Gore:  Horses have to test each other to make sure the strongest and smartest is in charge.  In the horse world the one that moves away is lower and the one that moved him is higher.

Hi Alecia, this sounds like a normal behavior and new horse owner jitters...  Watching herd behavior is tough sometime.  Every once and a while I will step in and help, but I really should not.  Your horse is just making sure the new guy knows who is in charge.  You have to always try and think like a horse.  You see, your horse has accepted you and him has his herd.  He knew his place and was comfortable with it.  He is not a bully, he is a horse.  Horses are the kindest most honest creatures on earth.  He is just trying to impress the new guy and let him know he was high in his herd (you and him) before the new showed up.  Now there is a new herd member.  At first the new guy will sit back, let things go and watch.  You see the new guy is still insecure with his new surroundings, is scared of things he has not seen and wants to stay safe.  He knows that even if he is getting pushed around and beat up a bit, he is still safer than alone and on his own.  Once he observes you, as part of his herd and your horse, he will decide that he is in his right spot or he will move up.  

The only real issue I see is if they have shoes on, I would remove their rear shoes before letting them together, metal shoes do too much damage when kicked.  A horse can take a kick from a horse no problem, but if the horse has shoes, then you have an unfair advantage and risk of greater injury.  I never like or allow horses with rear shoes in a herd environment.  Horses put 60 to 70 percent of weight on front legs, if you feel you must shoe, only shoe the front feet.  Better to not shoe at all.

The other problem is in a stall or small confined area, horses get trapped in corners. Not good, this will make fights more violent and wont allow a weaker horse to flee.  I would let them work this out in pasture so they have room to run away.  A few days or week in pasture will really make this work out much faster and with less chance of injury.

As for you seeing a side of your horse that scares you, that is good.  New horse owners get a false sense of security and do things that can get them hurt.  However, you cant let this intimidate you or make you fearful, just be careful, stay in charge and your horse will never treat you that way.  If you show fear the horse will see it and you are done.  He will walk on you like a mat. Let those two work out who is higher but you must maintain your position as higher than both of them.  You do this by moving their feet, backing them off, not letting them push you or fight around you.  

The great equalizer is a plastic bag.  get you a stick around two or three feet long and tie a plastic bag from supermarket on the stick.  Hold it low and quite and if they fight, try and push you or run over you, wave the bag between you and them.  Be sure that they have a place to move away or the will feel trapped and might kick.  As you move them they will be spooked and will not want to mess with you.

This is a cheat but for now it wont do any real damage.  You don't want to use it all the time or they will get used to it and will ignore it, which is what you will want later, it is called sacking out.

When your horse is trying to push off the new guy, you need to push him off so he knows, only you push when you are around, once you leave he can do what he wants, but not with you.  Otherwise he start a fight with you in the middle and you will get hurt.

Take the new guy out for a walk and bring him back to fence with old guy.  Pet the old guy and if he pins his ears or shows aggression at the horse you are holding, correct him, back him off, whip a plastic bag out of your pocket.  Be careful if you do the bag, because your other horse will run too.  If you have a fence between you, it will be easier to not let them fight or show aggression.

Feeding time, I would not feed them together yet, you may make them hate each other and start a habit of them fighting.  If you must, feed them far apart, so they can not kick each other while eating.  Again with paddock you have corners and that is not good.  

Read my site about horseman tips and horsemanship.  There is stuff about sacking out, herd behavior, and feeding.

Good luck and shoot me a follow up or new question whenever you want.

Rick