These two guys are actually old friends. The chestnut one had been off for saddle training for two or three moths with a mare, and when he came back he was very protective of the mare and tried to attack other horses from his box when they were being taken out past his box in the stable.
So my wife thought let's put the boys together. It was an incredible watch. I and others were waiting for a lot of rearing and instant drama, but that did not happen. What actually happened was even more interesting, if not quite so flashy.
The way I interpreted the situation was that the bay stallion noticed his old friend was uptight and nervous, so he started off very very carefully, calming him. He approached the other one slowly from the side until he could get his neck over the chestnut's shoulders. He kept his head there for quite a long time, similarly to a mare calming its foal. No biting, no horseplay. He just kept his head there.
After a while, when the bay noticed that his friend is now calm, more like his old self, he started to invite the chestnut to play. They played for a while until both had worn off some excess energy and were back to normal. Now they again look more like two old geldings than fiery Arabian stallions out there together, with their heads hanging, totally relaxed.
And the chestnut stallion no more tries to attack other horses passing by his box.
Anyway, here's a picture of one of the more dramatic phases.
Cheers,
-Topi Kuusinen, Finland
So my wife thought let's put the boys together. It was an incredible watch. I and others were waiting for a lot of rearing and instant drama, but that did not happen. What actually happened was even more interesting, if not quite so flashy.
The way I interpreted the situation was that the bay stallion noticed his old friend was uptight and nervous, so he started off very very carefully, calming him. He approached the other one slowly from the side until he could get his neck over the chestnut's shoulders. He kept his head there for quite a long time, similarly to a mare calming its foal. No biting, no horseplay. He just kept his head there.
After a while, when the bay noticed that his friend is now calm, more like his old self, he started to invite the chestnut to play. They played for a while until both had worn off some excess energy and were back to normal. Now they again look more like two old geldings than fiery Arabian stallions out there together, with their heads hanging, totally relaxed.
And the chestnut stallion no more tries to attack other horses passing by his box.
Anyway, here's a picture of one of the more dramatic phases.
Cheers,
-Topi Kuusinen, Finland
