Fighting or playing?

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

Hi All,

One of my minis went away for training- kiwi who is 2.5 years old and gelded about 5 months ago. He’s always been dominant of my two. He just returned about 2 weeks ago.

My other gelding, Cooper, who is about 1.5 years old, has been rearing up at him, biting his neck, rearing and landing on kiwi’s butt, kicking out at him, and running around together since they’ve been back. They do change who is chasing who- it’s pretty equal. It is winter now and Cooper is getting older so those things could be affecting it. Cooper is a gelding too.

I think that they are happy to see each other and are playing, but I’m wondering if you guys think they’re actually fighting? They do stand around and eat together too so it’s not constant, but the rearing is definitely more frequent. They’ll rear then run off or separate though and calm down so it doesn’t feel super aggressive.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Kelly]

My vote would be just playing. Boys will be boys

Check out this link to some fun playful videos…

https://www.miniaturehorsetalk.com/threads/friskies.139855/page-2#post-1655982

 

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

Thank you!!

 

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

My vote would be just playing. Boys will be boys

Check out this link to some fun playful videos…

https://www.miniaturehorsetalk.com/threads/friskies.139855/page-2#post-1655982

Totally is like this!

 

[1roadtoad]

I would also vote for just playing. FYI, I rescued 2 recently gelded minis 14 months ago, Rocky 7 and Cooper 5. They had never been together before I purchased them and I had never had young geldings before. They immediately started chasing each other, biting at each other, jumping on each others backs and they frequently stand on their hind legs, like a couple of stallions!! Rocky, the smaller and older of the two is the dominant horse and Cooper is okay with that. They play hard like this several times a day, and then when they get tired or bored, they stop to get a bite of hay, right next to each other. They even scratch each other's backs. When I first got them, I was truly petrified that they would kill each other or push through a fence, because of this, I didn't sleep for weeks. After I realized that they weren't going to harm one another I began to relax and enjoy watching them run around like the couple of crazy boys that they are!

 

[HersheyMint]

I think they were happy to see each again

 

[Dragon Hill]

If they stand around close to each other, and eat close to each other, they are playing. Boys do love to play rough.

 

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

I think they were happy to see each again

Aww friendsss

 

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

I would also vote for just playing. FYI, I rescued 2 recently gelded minis 14 months ago, Rocky 7 and Cooper 5. They had never been together before I purchased them and I had never had young geldings before. They immediately started chasing each other, biting at each other, jumping on each others backs and they frequently stand on their hind legs, like a couple of stallions!! Rocky, the smaller and older of the two is the dominant horse and Cooper is okay with that. They play hard like this several times a day, and then when they get tired or bored, they stop to get a bite of hay, right next to each other. They even scratch each other's backs. When I first got them, I was truly petrified that they would kill each other or push through a fence, because of this, I didn't sleep for weeks. After I realized that they weren't going to harm one another I began to relax and enjoy watching them run around like the couple of crazy boys that they are!

Cooper!! Great name choice and thank you for this. I feel way more relaxed now

 

[Girlwholovesherhorses]

One lost a baby tooth and I was so scared at first that the other had reared up and chipped the tooth instead haha but after realizing it was just a baby tooth lost, I feel much better

 

[1roadtoad]

Example of my boys “playing.”
My girls, the donkeys, never know what to do.
This was in September. Now that there is snow on the ground, they do it even more. Like I said, I no longer worry that they dislike each other, they just play hard!

 

[HersheyMint]

That is a great picture

 

[Standards Equine]

Play fight is also used to assert dominance. With "teenagers", whether gelded or not, they will use play fighting to assert and challenge dominance in their own herd structure. Is it of any concern? Not in my opinion.

FYI, my fillies do the same thing, they'll play ruckus and look impressive and imposing too!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I had people stop at our house when they drove by and saw two of my boys playing--they were concerned that the horses were killing each other. I just went into the house and didn't watch. If yours are genuinely fighting, you'll be able to tell the difference, believe me.

 

[secuono]

Video would help, but probably playing.
Boys play & fight.
Girls only fight or simply coexist. They're too stuck up for games once mature.

 

[edwardnorton01]

It looks like your two miniature horses are happy to be reunited and are expressing their excitement through play. Growling, biting, and kicking may be expected horse behavior during play, which is not always a sign of aggression. Cooper is also trying to establish dominance over Kiwi. Still, their interaction seems balanced, with both horses taking turns chasing each other. I wish I had my own horses, but I need the right place for them. So I live alone and am only entertained by the games at Red Dog Casino at Red Dog Casino Australia [225% BONUS up to $12,250] Login, and I'm pleased about it. I like that after a hard day's work, I can relax and forget about problems.