Being Distant After Being Away for Two Weeks
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I have a nine-year-old Morgan gelding, Primo, whom I love with all my heart. Due to work and illness, I was away for two weeks. When I went back to see him, he let me approach, but then turned away and chased and kicked at the other geldings in the pasture. He then would not even let me near him. I was upset and wanted to ride, so I got my husband's horse from another pasture. Primo watched the entire time and waited by the gate for me. I continued to ignore him, and he was fine the next day. Was this behavior his way of getting back at me for being gone for so long, or do you think he was simply displaying unrelated "top dog of the pasture" behavior?
- Laura
Laura, I suspect Primo's behavior was just herd relations. It is possible that he was aroused by your presence, as it had been a while since he had last interacted with you, and that this arousal caused the behavior.