Charging and kicking

Question
Hey Ms. Lisa,  A week ago we received a pair of horses from a friend, Welsh Pony 13.5 H 18 yrs and a QH 17 H and 15 yrs old. They were together for quite some time. They are now separated. The QH is in the feild with another QH 20 yrs and a paint 3 yrs old. After some brief fighting with no injuries, all seemed fine. Now when we put the Welsh into the pasture she wants to charge and kick at people in the field. Thus we have her for safety reason in a stall were see can still she her QH which arrived with her. The QH also keeps pacing back and forth near the stalls watching her. I am sure that they are both scared by new surroundings. We plan on moving the welsh, which is for my 11 year old son, this weekend to a new stall and pasture. They will not see each other? We are also bringing another QH Gelding in the field with her. What do you think. I do not want to get rid of the welsh as this is what my son likes? What is your advise? Worried !  

Answer
Hi Frank,
          You have two situations here. The first is that the pony and the QH are herd bound.They are only secure with each other.  What you need to do is put them in the same pasture but take one out each day for a period of time. After about a 2 weeks period put one in a pen where it can see the other like you have with the stall and then after another week or so change one of them so that they do not see each other. You also want to make yourself more important to the horse then his buddy is to him.

The pony is also very insecure which is why he is attacking you. he considers you to be the lower ranked horse in his mind. When you or anyone else goes into the field bring a lunge whip and if he starts to go after you hit that whip as hard as you can on the ground until he backs off. Drive him away from you. I also bring my lunge whip into the field when I go out and have never had to strike a horse with it but they know it is an extension of my arm and they respect it.  Also bring a long lead rope out with you and you can use that to swing at him. Do not worry about hitting him with the lead rope as you want to be the alpha "horse" and that is what the other horses would do if he attacked them. If you have a round pen work with him in there and use the lunge whip to keep him away from you. You want him to give you the respect you are owed. If his behaviors do not improve especially since you do have a child I would look into finding him a good home. You and your families safety is the most important thing.

Lisa