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Barnyard Buddies:  Horse question...  |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 3:46:29 PM
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Okay, all of you horsey farmgirls - I have two horses that are pasturing in our field - a boy and a girl - the boy has been gelded. Anyway, last night, in the middle of the *COLD* night, I heard the most eerie, screechy sound - so I got up and went outside to see what it was, and I really think it was the horses - they were right where the sound came from, and they were fine. I've never heard a sound like this come from a horse - have you? If you have, what does it "mean?"
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 6:04:34 PM
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We're they spooked? Snorting? What were they doing?
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 6:27:01 PM
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Were they running like they were being chased? Was it a high pitched squeal? We had a white owl, probably out hunting in the middle of the night, and it spooked the horses so bad they totally freaked out and ran snorting and squealing. It was a good thing they didn't hit the fence. All the noise woke us up and that was what it was. (We guess)
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 6:31:29 PM
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They weren't spooked, it didn't seem - they weren't running or anything - just standing there when I went out. It WAS a high-pitched squeal - but nobody was snorting. It was really weird... I suppose they could have been spooked by something, but I can't think of what it was - unless, like MaryBeth, it was an owl or something. Just SO strange!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 8:09:53 PM
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| Mares will sometimes make high pitched squealing noises when they are in heat. Most mares won't come into heat during the winter months as their progesterone levels are so low that they would not be able to carry a foal. However, some mares will come and go in heat all year long or will act like they are in heat even if they aren't. They will even respond to a gelded horse if they are feeling "sexy". If they aren't hurt or acting spooked I would just pass it off as horse talk and if it keeps happening mention it to your vet. |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 04:39:02 AM
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Yeah, what Alyssa said. Sometimes mares do that to be marish; they're asserting dominance. Remember that in the wild, the leader of the herd is an alpha mare. She decides where to go, what to eat, and when to drink. The stallion drives the stragglers from behind.
My guess is that mare felt that the gelding was getting into her personal space, or getting pushy about a resource like the water. She told him to back off. Sometimes this is accompanies by a stomp of the foot and a toss of the head.
And Alyssa's right; horses generally go into anestrus in winter, a silent sort of period, because their gestation period is eleven months long. What sort of chance would a baby conceived now when it's born in eleven months? Nature is wise, and horses cycle the strongest in April, May, and June. Then the baby gets the best of the rich spring grasses.  |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 9:07:38 PM
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I just KNEW some of you would have some ideas! Well, no more squealing last night, and so I'm guessing that you all were right - just some chit-chat between her and her "man." I didn't know that an alpha mare was the leader of a herd - my guess, then, is that since she's the only gal, then, by default, she's the alpha gal. And, come to think of it, they were by the water trough - it's always full, but it could have had the top frozen over that time of night. I wonder if that was it?
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 06:30:35 AM
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It doesn't matter if it's always full or not (although ice isn't good). She is the Guardian of the Resources, and *she* says when, not him. It's part of being alpha and keeping order in the herd.
Or she was getting a drink, and he came in too close.
Order in the herd is a good thing for all. If they didn't have order, they'd have a chaotic and dangerous free-for-all at resources like water. This would either get someone hurt, or churn up the water so it wasn't drinkable for anyone. Learning to have a predictable order for things such as drinking or eating is part of herd life, and a good strategy for survival. Now it's our human thing to feel sorry for the underdog and want to elevate that guy who's low in the pecking order to a better position. But this is interference and is actually bad for everyone because it causes stress and upset in the predictable and secure known patterns. As long as nobody's starving, thirsty, or beaten up, then it's best to let them sort things out according to their nature.
And yes, the mare leads, and is referred to as the lead mare, alpha mare, or boss mare. The stallion keeps the herd together from behind and drives off intruders and predators, although flight is their main defense. |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 06:33:57 AM
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Oh, and about the ice.
I don't know if you have a tank heater, but it'd be a good idea to have one. Horses that don't have access to fresh water all the time can colic from the lack of moisture in the feed. Don't count on horses to eat snow; they can't get enough liquid water that way. And don't count on them to break the ice; it's often way too thick to break in the winter. Horses drink better when the water's not icy cold, too. There are immersable stock tank heaters, and floating ones, too. They start at about $20.
Oh, and I bet when you went out to check on them, they both looked at you like "What?" [)] |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 10:35:30 AM
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Thanks, Mary Ann! And yes, I'm looking into a solar trough heater - I'm not "wired" out where the water is, but I DO have a water spigot (boy, am I happy for that!!!). I usually go out and break the ice twice a day when it's cold, so they can always have access to some, but a heater sure would make that job easier!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Niamh
True Blue Farmgirl
140 Posts
Idaho
140 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 11:38:14 AM
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| We need to get a heater for our water also. I have to take them fresh water three times a day right now. Ugh! |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2006 : 4:39:57 PM
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News on the trough heater - I can't find solar ones ANYWHERE. So, now we have the absolutely loverly addition of a thick yellow industrial-sized extension cord going across the yard area to the trough right by the pasture fence. I can't stand stuff like that, but, alas, it's looking much better than going out on midnight ice-breaking adventures!
Anyone have solar water heaters???
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Barnyard Buddies: Horse question... |
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Horse question...
