Re: herd mentality

[Leigh331@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/15/99 3:56:13 AM EST, avpinc@bellsouth.net writes:

<<    I also try to rotate the habitats every month or so, so that
 the horses don't get so attached to their territory.  They seem
 to be better behaved together when they are switched around,
 and the smells and feel of their environment does not keep such
 a personal meaning to them.  I don't know if this is a valid assumption,
 but it seems to work.
   >>
I think this is very valid.  When I have to introduce a new horse into my
larger herd, I always take the boss-hoss out, put him into another pasture
along with the new horse, just the two of them.  I feel that this puts them
both on neutral ground.  My boss-hoss is very teritorial, so when I have tried
to just put the new horse out into the large pasture with the rest, it never
worked!  By putting the boss and the new one together on neutral ground, they
get things worked out pretty quickly, sometimes in an hour or so.  Then I'll
turn both back out with the rest of the herd together and all is fine.  Horses
are territorial.
Leigh