Conference noted::equitation

    It can take a few weeks for a 'herd' to sort themselves out.  Keep in
    mind that even after the pecking order is established the rough housing
    may continue if 2 or more are 'game' for it.  Size is not an issue.  A
    few years back I had a small black Shetland with my Appy.  This little
    monster nearly blinded him with kicks to the head when Jazz tried to
    graze.  I currently have 2 QH geldings in one pasture and 2 ponies in
    the other.  I chose to keep them separated for maximum damage control
    (mostly for me when I'm trying to bring them in and they all want to go
    *FIRST*.)  The two geldings did bite each other at first but neither
    have tried to do any serious damage.  When the smaller pony was
    introduced - they started up again to establish who was to own the
    pony.  The pony never fought for superiority - he just stayed out of
    the way.  The latest addition is a Welsh pony mare.  She is happy in a
    paddock with the Shetland.  The Shetland is thrilled with having
    someone close to his own size to scratch backs with.  My horse fretted
    about losing the pony for about two days.  He can still see him in the
    barn at night.  
    
    Your horse won't be happy turned out by himself (esp. within earshot and 
    sight of the others.  Consider putting the small pony with him or whoever is
    quiet and less likely to start some fighting.  You'll need to get him
    separated if they continue to fight badly.  Even lots of charging
    around in the pasture can increase the chances of a serious injury.  
          
    You might want to consider adding electric wire to the board fencing in
    the turnout if you decide to separate him again - either by himself or 
    with a companion.  I have had good luck with this approach - they don't
    challenge the fence and the fence stays in good repair (no chewing and
    leaning).
    
    Good luck,
    
    	Janice Bennett
                                                                    
    
    
    

�                     <<< Note 1785.1 by TOLKIN::BENNETT >>>
�                               -< herd dynamics >-

What I find curious is that a gelding is getting into arguments with a 
mare.  Typically, the mares have the discussions about herd dominance.  The 
males usually aren't part of the herd proper and, other than batchelor 
groups of young stallions, don't hang around with other males.  The males 
will get into fights when they're negotiating herd ownership.  The mares 
hang around together, a few stallions and colts hang around the periphery 
with the head stallion chasing off the upstarts when they get out of 
control.

Have you been able to determine who starts the fight?  Maybe he's getting 
too friendly and she's not interested (and he doesn't get the message :)

    �<<< Note 1785.2 by BOUVS::OAKEY "Assume is *my* favorite acronym" >>>
    �-< Mare and gelding is strange combination for fights >-
    
    Doesn't sound strange to me! When my now aged mare was a mere yearling, 
    we turned her out with a trusted old gelding who was easy to get along 
    with. She wasn't in the pasture 5 minutes when she made a beeline for 
    him and tried to beat him up! A few months later, she tried the same 
    tactic on another gelding alternating with peaceful interludes of grazing.
    
    Some years later, when she, her 2 daughters and another mare were a well
    established "herd," we bought a new gelding. She proceeded to beat him
    up. Within a few weeks she accepted him and stopped picking on him. The
    other mare quickly followed suit. But, those younger fillies bit, kicked, 
    chased and threatened that poor gelding for nearly a *year* before they
    stopped picking on him.

    Since I have leased him out, I haven't actually seen the fights, but I
    have been told that he won't let them eat out of their hay piles until
    he feels like it.  The little pony mare let's him have it and a fight
    ensues.
    
    Kathy
    

    If the fights are over hay piles, then the way we avoided
    that problem was to put out more piles than animals and
    placed them well apart.
    (All down the side of a two acre field).  
    
    Judy