Q: I keep my 30-year-old pony at a boarding stable where she’s turned out in a fairly large field with four other horses. Most of the time they seem to peacefully coexist, but when push comes to shove, my pony is at the bottom of the pecking order and she gets chased around quite a bit. She’s healthy for her age, other than some joint stiffness, but I worry that the physical and mental stress of being chased will take a toll on her, especially in the winter when the grass is gone and they start getting territorial about their hay. Am I right to worry? Is there anything I can do to help her, short of moving her out of the barn?
A: You are right to be concerned about this unfortunately normal horse herd behavior. Sad to say, horses that may even have been “herd boss” at one time often get shuffled down the pecking order as they age by younger, stronger horses. Hopefully one or more of these ideas is compatible with your situation:
I hope you’re able to collaborate with the stable you board at and come up with some workable solutions. Keep in mind that as horses age, they become less efficient at pretty much everything: digestion, immunity, maintaining muscle mass, etc. So you’ll want to be sure you’re working with your veterinarian to stay on top of weight loss, wellness care, soundness, and other trends. Ask when it might be time to add a joint product to help manage discomfort, GI support to get the most out of the food she receives, or other supplement. Best of luck!
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Throughout 2014, Dr. Lydia Gray will be answering your horse-health questions at HorseChannel.com/AskTheVet. Got a question for Dr. Gray? Send it to hc-editor@i5publishing.com and use subject line “Ask the Vet.”
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