The Pony lives in a small herd of horses, and there are spells when the herd is disturbed by horses leaving and new ones joining. Horses are social animals and can be rattled by a member leaving and unsettled by someone new entering, as they jostle to figure out the hierarchy. It can result in bumps and scrapes, but providing any disagreements are resolved reasonably, the herd is left to their own devices.
A horse was added to the herd who has lived at the yard her whole life. It was thought that since she was already known to the other horses, adding her would be simple.
It was not.
One of the horses decided he did not want this mare in the herd and tried his best to chase her out, until she sought shelter in the stream at the bottom of the field. As I observed there was only one who decided to investigate and help the new horse, The Pony. He marched over to the stream eager to interact with the mare he had been talking to across the yard.
After neither emerged for a couple of minutes I grew concerned – had The Pony cornered her and actually had bad intentions…? Did I misread his body language…?
I rushed over to check on them, only to find The Pony looking on with interest as the mare took her stress out on the water, pawing at it angrily.
After a moment I realised the mare was feeling a bit trapped and wanted to leave the stream, but The Pony was making her nervous. I asked him to back up and make some space, and then the mare warily, emerged.
“Do you want to be my friend?” The Pony asked eagerly.
“Stay back! Personal space!”
“Do you want to eat grass together?” The Pony tried, whilst maintaining a polite distance.
“OK, just keep your distance…”
“Nom, nom, nom, I like grass.”
And with that the mare and The Pony strolled over to a part of the field that was far from the grumpy horse to enjoy some grass. By the time I had got back to the yard I saw another horse had joined in the friendly grazing.
I was very proud of The Pony that day. He is always sociable and friendly with people and animals, and that day he demonstrated the ability to care for another horse in distress and handle the situation calmly and carefully enough to put the mare at ease.