Stall Sharing Bad Behavior

Question
Rick, I just moved two horses from one barn to a better facility. My two horses were in separate stalls/runs, but now share the same. Both are 4 years old and did play and eat fine together when we put them in the arena. However, the larger Mare is really being mean and nasty to the smaller Gelding (kicking, biting, name calling (ha!) etc.. Will they eventually work this out or should we consider separating these two again with individual stalls? Most I talk with say this is normal and just watch the weight on the smaller horse. The Mare will most likely end up the dominant one and just run the roost while they are together.  My daughter and I were really frustrated this morning and hope this will work it's way out.  Horses generally do.  Any thoughts, advice or words of wisdom would be very much appreciated.

Answer
Hi Dennis, this sounds normal and I agree it will work out. The mare is just establishing the rules and making sure the Gelding knows who is in charge.  I would think this stall is a little bigger so you can feed at two different ends.  When feeding more than one horse I always make sure to put out several piles so they can graze and check out each pile.  I put about three piles from each flake.  This way when a high horse pushes a low horse, the low one has a place to go.  If they know each other and have been together, you could tie them next to each other and put some grain in bucket in the middle.  I do this to my guys and I stand in the middle to stop disagreements.  You have to make sure they know that you are top dog and not to challenge you.  Then at the first sign of ear pinning from the high I let him know that is unacceptable.  Now my guys share on feed bowl and don't fight.  It took a few times and I still have to do once in a while, but I don't like when my guys argue.  I also stand in between them with one flake of hay in the middle and make them share and after a few times, neither push the other off and they share.  My Mustang is 14 and my quarter is 3.  My quarter was with a herd of mares and was always eating by himself and getting pushed off and would never stand up to the Mustang.  Now they are in pasture with mostly geldings and they all act much better.  

Anytime you move horses there is an adjustment period and it will not normally last more than a couple or three days.  When you are with them, do not allow the mare to push the gelding around.  Back her up, scold her, make her move her feet and then go on about your business.  Don't try and keep them apart to protect them when you are there or it will take longer.  Just don't let the mare push him when you are there.  When you around them you are herd leader and let them know you do not condone aggressive pushing, kicking or any fights.  This will help in other areas because you will be reinforcing your position as leader.  If the mare pushes, she gets pushed by you.  Be consistent.

Another way to get them to share is to tie the mare and put some grain just at the end of her rope so she can eat but can't bite or reach the male.  Then you bring the male over on a lead rope, stand in between them and let the male eat out of the bucket.  The mare will scare him away and you will stop her and make her move away.  Then when the male eats, she is only allowed to come back and eat if she lets him eat.  If he pushes him, you push her and let him eat.  After a few of these sessions, she will get the message to share and not be pushy.

After they learn they get fed enough for two, they will settle down and the male will just wait for his food to be fed away from mare and they will find their place in the stall.  What you have done has moved them from their own stall with their own food and put them in a herd of two.  So it will take a bit to work out.  All you can do is wait and hope no accidently gets hurt too bad.  Scratches and bites are normal, I only worry if I have a bad kicker and then I really discipline the kicker anytime I see it.  I don't like a horse kicking even another horse.  I can deal with a ear pin, yell, bite or butt swing around, but kicking is a little too aggressive and I get involved if I am around.

Hope this helps, hang in there and if you move them to a nicer place, it will all work out.  After they adjust they will like this better and will be more comfortable.  They can sleep better with another horse looking over them, so they will like this better.  

The only issue I see is with two horses in one stall means twice the poop and twice the urine, so extra stall cleaning and feet cleaning will need to be watched so all the urine and poop does not end up in the feet and start causing other issues.

Happy Thanksgiving and good luck at your new place.

Rick