I'm having a problem with my only horse gelding in a herd with 4 mares, 2 jennets and 3 donkey geldings. These are all riding horses. The gelding has been here for 7 years and is now 13. The mare was lead mare and has been with me for an eternity. She must be about 22. Three days ago I went to feed them in the new barn and found everyone there except the gelding and the mare. The gelding was chasing the mare all over the pasture. She kicked him several times but he kept at it and took a bite out of her rump for good measure. He finally came into the open side of the barn where I feed but kept an eye on the mare and every time she tried to come in to eat, he glared at her and she went back out. I finally gave her hay out in the pasture and put a bucket of water there, thinking they would iron things out on their own. The next day she wouldn't come into the barn again. The gelding kept checking on her to make sure she was outside the gate. This morning I saw her outside the barn fence looking in. I fed her in the pasture and gave her a bucket of water. The pony mare went out and ate with her as did 4 of the 5 donkeys. I shut the gate keeping the gelding (plus 2 mares and a donkey) inside and the mare and her "friends" outside. The gelding kept going to the gate and glaring. I have no idea what caused this nor how to fix it. Any suggestions short of separating them? I could take the gelding across the road to the old barn but then I would have to take another hose with him and haul hay there. Would rather not. My guess would be that the mare has come into heat but it's below zero here so that's highly unlikely.

Day length is getting longer and mares are beginning to cycle. That would be my guess. Seems like this would have happened in the past.

It sounds like there has been a change to the hierarchy/pecking order. Periodically, animals will "test" things, in an effort to "move up" in rank. It sounds like this older mare has been kncked down a peg or two by this gelding who is trying to establish himself as the new leader.

Just my 2 cents.

Nora, my oldest horse Charlie who for many years was the uncontested leader of my four Belgians, and even the herd of seven boarding horses I had years ago now is at the bottom of the herd of two Percherons, a Haflinger and himself. Even the Haflinger pushes him around. Like Kate writes, there can be changes in the hierarchy and I do not believe one can do too much about it. When it comes to the point that a horse is prevented from eating and drinking, I see no other way than to separate them short of getting rid of the ones that cause trouble.
Nature in all its glory has very cruel ways of dealing with its creatures.

Yup, I think she was in heat. This is about the 4th or 5th day and this morning things were a bit better. The difference is that this winter they are in a different field and being fed and watered in the new barn accessed through a gate at the head of a lane. Before, the water and the feeding locations were apart. Nor was there a gate they HAD to go through to get to the food and water. I may have to rethink the layout.

Tie him off when feeding?

Get another old horse you're not so fond of and let him pick on that one instead?

Put some pigs in the pasture and see what happens?

I think Kate is onto something perhaps. The change in the barn, the lengthening of daylight hours, animals getting older and more grouchy, hard Winter, political differences, bad liquor ...

That's it, I'm out of ideas.

Is this gelding finally maturing, maybe 5-7years old. If so, he is probably trying to assert his dominance. You will either have to separate them let nature take it's course and let him be the dominate herd boss.

Yes, things have settled down. I usually let the critters sort things out for themselves but keeping the mare from food and, especially, water was upsetting to me. I certainly don't need a case of colic. Everybody ate and drank today. I will have to keep an eye on the gelding (who is 13 years old and has been with the herd since he was 6) and I will tie him off while they are eating if he behaves this way as the other mares come into heat It's not a dominance issue as the gelding has been dominant for a number of years.

All's well that ends well!

I'm with you, Nora, I wake up in the middle of the night these hard winter nights, going over things in my head about whether I have anyone who might be short of water. Colic comes once and again over time anyway, but there's no future in courting disaster by not providing ample hydration. And with an older horse who's been with you a long time, even moreso.

Only 18 more days until Spring!! :-)