Post by Trailpal on Jan 21, 2009 14:39:54 GMT -5
A few days ago, I put LB and Foxy out in the front pasture with some hay. Despite being the dead of winter and showing no signs before, Foxy acted like a big hussy.
I put them back (her in the herd, him in his pen) for the night.
Next day, I had Foxy and Bird in the front pasture, and added LB. Back when they all lived together (in our "breeding days"), Bird did not much care for him. Well, she started acting like a hussy too, but she made him keep his distance, both from her and from Foxy. As the day went by, I would see the two mares at quite a distance from LB.
Again, everyone went to their places for the night.
Today, it was Foxy, Bird, and Fifi waiting for him in the front pasture (we put a round bale out there, too hard to haul enough hay for everyone). This time when I brought LB into the pasture, I had a 12" lead and had him walk circles around me, halting, reversing, generally minding. The mares saw him and came squealing up - of course he figured he could say "hello". I just kept at him to walk on and continue listening to me. (I had to flick the end of the line to get the girls to back off.) He returned his focus to me and the girls drifted off. So I took him to the hay to turn him loose. Fifi came over to flirt - LOL I think Bird has appointed herself "den mother" - she drove Fifi and LB apart, and every time I look out, LB is all by himself while the girls hang out looking for greens or munching off the round bale.
He has lived with these three mares the first few years I had them, so what I saw has not be a big surprise, though it is funny to see Bird keeping a tight ship. I am curious about what will happen when I introduce the 2.5 year old fillies. They are young enough that I would really not like to have them bred even if only by a gelding. And of course, I have a 1.5 yo filly and gelding. I will have to introduce the youngsters when I can really keep an eye on things I guess.
I put them back (her in the herd, him in his pen) for the night.
Next day, I had Foxy and Bird in the front pasture, and added LB. Back when they all lived together (in our "breeding days"), Bird did not much care for him. Well, she started acting like a hussy too, but she made him keep his distance, both from her and from Foxy. As the day went by, I would see the two mares at quite a distance from LB.
Again, everyone went to their places for the night.
Today, it was Foxy, Bird, and Fifi waiting for him in the front pasture (we put a round bale out there, too hard to haul enough hay for everyone). This time when I brought LB into the pasture, I had a 12" lead and had him walk circles around me, halting, reversing, generally minding. The mares saw him and came squealing up - of course he figured he could say "hello". I just kept at him to walk on and continue listening to me. (I had to flick the end of the line to get the girls to back off.) He returned his focus to me and the girls drifted off. So I took him to the hay to turn him loose. Fifi came over to flirt - LOL I think Bird has appointed herself "den mother" - she drove Fifi and LB apart, and every time I look out, LB is all by himself while the girls hang out looking for greens or munching off the round bale.
He has lived with these three mares the first few years I had them, so what I saw has not be a big surprise, though it is funny to see Bird keeping a tight ship. I am curious about what will happen when I introduce the 2.5 year old fillies. They are young enough that I would really not like to have them bred even if only by a gelding. And of course, I have a 1.5 yo filly and gelding. I will have to introduce the youngsters when I can really keep an eye on things I guess.