What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it (Horses)

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Hi All,

I getting rather stressed about this, I know it happens but it does not make it easy. I have a small Farm, sheep, mini horses, chickens, ducks & the farm cat,,, I bought a little Icelandic mare 5 months ago. She is nice to people and other big horses, but she has become very aggressive to any animal smaller than herself. I am making payments on her,and do not want to hurt the owners feelings... but the Icelandic mare yesterday which is the worse she has done to date, reared up and stomped on my pregant mini mares back knocking my mini mare down. I was sitting at the kitchen window when I saw my Icelandic mare do this. I ran out and the Icelandic mare knew she did wrong. Icelandic mare is now by herself in the little front pasture but I will need that pasture very soon for lambing, but if she is in there, I can`t use it. I don`t dare put her back in with my mini animal, I don`t want to find a dead animal in the pasture. I kind`a guess I have answered my own questions,, but this is soo very hard!

I wish I could find some willing to take over her payments, that had a good home for her with bigger horses. Or should I send her back to her owner? :(

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), January 29, 2002

Answers

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

I would contact the owner and be very honest and explain the circumstances. I can't imagine there would be a problem there. I sell sheep and always offer to take the animal back if there is a problem, not a health related problem acquired at the new place. I have taken back sheep from people who suddenly had a catastrophic illness, or had to relocate and couldn't take their sheep. I care about the welfare of my animals even after they leave here, so I am sure the owner would feel the same way.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

stew,, or a nice roast??

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Stan !!!! :>) But you do have a point, being an edible variety of stock could be a destinct disadvantage in a situation as this.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

This is where a contract comes in handy. If you give the mare back will they refund your deposit and your payments? Were they honest with you about the mare's disposition, or perhaps she has never been around smaller animals? I would ask for my payments back, letting them hold the deposit until she is sold again. This could get very sticky if they use bio-security preventions and simply don't have the room to isolate her on their property now that she has been on yours, no matter how clean of a place you have. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Hi all,

Yes, I did get brave and emailed the owner and was very honest to what has been happening with her, what I have tried to do and so on. I hope to hear back from her soon.

I do not know if she would give me the money back that I sent in payments, at this point I don`t care. And where the mare came from they always just throw all their animals in togther at any time. I don`t know them that well, but I do not know if the horses are even wormed.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! It such a tough call that tugs at my heart strings.

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), January 29, 2002.



Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Hi,

Saw your post and thought about it for awhile - many horses will try to be the "dominate" horse in the pasture, even if it means whomping on something much smaller than they are. Most of the time, you will have to isolate the mare from the smaller horse. Occasionally you will have a smaller mare do the same thing to a larger mare (my son's mare who is 13.2 hds and 750 lbs. rules the 18 hd. belgian mare, and she bites and kicks, etc. to prove who is boss). Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder and if you keep them separated, they will "miss" each other and therefore get along when put back together. You will have to supervise the reuniting of the two horses though and it may not work in your case, but it has worked in some cases. If that doesn't work - then by all means contact the owner and request that they take the mare back. I have sold animals for years and have a return policy of 30 days (no questions asked and the animal is in the same shape as when I sold it) and up to a year on a case by case basis. This is one situation where I would refund your money and take the horse back. All the owner can do is say no...if you don't try you won't know.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 29, 2002.


Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Hi Cindy,

Yes, tried all those things. Sadly, Gletta is aggressive in the extreme (towards smaller livestock, chicken & ducks even my sons old cat),, this is not the usual horse scwables. :( And she is only getting worse. I am sure its a power thing with her.... I have had horses for going on 25 years, and the only other time I had this problem, this extreme and I had to move that mare off the Farm. :P Oh bother,,,,,,

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), January 29, 2002.


Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Stan! Jay! Horses are not "edible stock"! You guys quit!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Shannon,, all I can say is "MEN ! !" and roll my eyes.

-- Bergere (Autumnhaus@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

I too have mini mares. I have to keep them separated one mare (in foal) is with her soon to be 2yr. daughter They get along fine together and the other mare is in a separate pen waiting to foal. I don't have enough room right now to turn them out together. I would not put them in with anything bigger. I do have full size horses, I have seen what they do when they squabble! Even they have their own groups. Poor little mini is she alright?? I have a friend that raises minis and other horses. She has a large place and she keeps several pastures. She keeps her minis in different herds and separated from the others. I have seen mini stallions that would fight a larger horses, all to defend their mares. Reminds me of Banty roosters. I would suggest sending her back unless you are willing to separate them, maybe for good. How much does she mean to you?? You can rotate pens, everyone gets a time in the pasture at different times. But don't put her with your smaller animals. I wish mine would all get along too! The vet bills can be terrible if they don't get along!! Good Luck!!

-- PJC (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.


Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

I have had other Icelandic mares in with my miniatures after a get to know the new horse from the other side of the fence for two weeks, and have had no troubles.

But this mare,,, I just do not have a pasture that she could have by herself. Nor the room for a needed big horse buddy. My Farm is just too small. And she stomps /tramples anything else smaller than herself. I have free range chickens and ducks too,,, and don`t want to force them to stay in the houses just because of one animal.

So this Icelandic mare needs to go back to her owner. I do like her alot, but she is canceling that all out, with all the problems she is causing. Sigh ~ ~ ~ Not only do I have foaling season to deal with but my miniature lambs too! I just can`t take a chance with all the other animals I have, is not fair to them.

Bergere :(

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), January 29, 2002.


Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

I have a donkey who is just evil to anything smaller than himself. He has killed a raccoon, domestic geese, an opposum, a wild bunny, and almost killed our dog. He seems not to care about cats. But no way could I put my minis or goats or anything in with him. He is in with a big gelding now, and he harrasses that horse to no end! (Playfully, really...I wouldn't let anyone be truly harrassed.) But I sympathize with you, it can be a pain when animals won't live in harmony.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

"Stan! Jay! Horses are not "edible stock"! You guys quit!"

tell that to the guy who served me horse sashimi in Japan. yum.

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.


Response to What to do when animals won`t get along and place it too small to put up with it

Most animals (including you know who), are edible, it is simply a matter of cultural conventions that dictate what is permissible to eat within a given society....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 29, 2002.

Right, GT! And this is America. We don't eat horses (or dogs, or cats) in America. Heck, people in other parts of the world eat giant tapeworms, for goodness sake. But not here!!!!!!!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 30, 2002.


I agree with Stan - eat her.

Most likely though Bergere probably paid too much for the beast to get any sort of decent return from her as a meat animal.

If anyone ever wanted to prove that humans are not rational just look at the diconnect between their feelings towards their pets and their livestock. Folks will tolerate behavior from animals with little to no practical value that they'd never tolerate from animals *with* practical value.

Bergere,

Have you heard back from the seller yet? Will they take the animal back?

........Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), January 30, 2002.


Hi All,

Well, not good news, the owner will not take her back. She was rather rude about it too, now that makes me wonder why. She has small animals on her place and I bet`a she knew what she was selling me. Now I have no Place to put her, I paid $4,000 and I doubt I would get that back at auction.

She is nice to people and if you only had cattle and big horses she would be fine.

Sooooo big Question,,,, would anyone be interested in a Purebred 8 year old Blue Dun Icelandic mare? She has a fast walk, is equal in tolt and trot, and she canters. Her trot is smooth. She is a little funny with her ears, but you just ignore her. She can play catch me if you can sometimes in pasture, but I just stand there and wait until she comes to me, then I give her a treat. An intermedite rider would be best for her.

Would be willing to take payments. I will ask $3,325.00 I need to do something quick!! Should would be nice for breeding with other Icelandics, or Quarter Ponies,,Fell ponies, or what ever.

So eveyone,,, someone PLEASE Help!!!

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), January 30, 2002.


Shannon, though I agree with you, eating would still be getting some use out of an animal rather than just having it put down (which is another option). The price of the animal alone is somewhat daunting as well.

Could a zoo use it (not as food, as a resident)? Or maybe she could be donated as a prize at the County Fair?

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 30, 2002.


The donation idea sounds like it might be a option for you, if you find the right place you could claim her full value, and take it off your taxes.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Shannon, I bet that sometime in your past, you have eaten ground meat or sausage, so there is a very good possibility that you HAVE eaten tapeworm....:) Just food for thought!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 30, 2002.

Ok here are 2 suggestions for you. You may trying leasing her out while you get her sold. Go around to the big boarding stables and talk to the owners and resident trainers. Alot of time people are looking for leases on horses as they can't afford to purchase a horse. This will cover her care and get her off your place while you get her sold. Make sure and cover in your lease who pays for vet care etc.

The second thing is use the internet to sell her. Get some good pictures of her then place her in classifieds. The 2 biggest sites are horsecity.com and agdirect.com. We've had success in selling horses over the net.

-- Stacia in OK (OneClassyCowgirl@aol.com), January 31, 2002.


OH Sheryl! I've always had a hard time eating sausage if I didn't make it myself. Now I don't think I'll ever be able to!! LOL!!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ