Passive leadership explained as we watch these 2 horses meet for the first time

I always find it fascinating to watch horses interact with each other. Here we can see two horses that have never met each other and we can see how they determine who is the passive leader of the group. Can you spot which one is the leader?

[@OWK000]

Bailey goes over to the mirror, "But look how handsome I am. I am SO handsome. Damn."

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Lol he is so handsome

[@cantercrazee]

@@HarmonyHorsemanship he is really cute! Is he a Morgan?

[@jeanfish7]

@@cantercrazee looks like an Arabian

[@OWK000]

@@jeanfish7 yeah, I was thinking Morgan or Saddlebred with maybe a little Arab but probably not.

[@cattymajiv]

It's so hilarious watching people who think they can tell a horse's breed by the appearance. There are hundreds of breeds, and so many are so similar. You cannot tell their breed without a genetic test. We could easily put a whole bunch of horses together that look nearly identical, but that are actually all purebreds of completely different breeds. (If we had the access to fly any horses we choose all to one spot.)

[@kari8187]

She is very chatty with that stubby tail too, great little mare

[@lazygardens]

It's important to give the horses a spacious place for this sort of peaceful establishing who is boss. You can't turn them into a small corral because they can't walk away.\, and you get more of the stomping and kicking out.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Yes these are great points

[@lizz1856]

I found it very interesting that Popi lets Bayli stay in her back quite like a human woud lead the horse on a halter and rope. Also that she is increasing the speed in order to stay in front of him. She decides the direction and speed of the two horses

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Yes! Its so fascinating

[@katyratyra]

Cool! I think we, as humans, use the aggressive choice way more than the horses do in their natural behaviors. And Poppie let him know when he was being impertinent, lol!

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Lol yes she did

[@Catydid1996]

Nice tips and cute horsies. :)

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Thanks

[@Catydid1996]

@@HarmonyHorsemanship yo welcome :)

[@emmajoseph2603]

This is fascinating I love watching horses interact with each other

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Me too

[@marysorenson5539]

Fascinating! Thank you for the video.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

You're welcome

[@dorothymerrell6091]

Poppie’s tail sure was swishing when Bailey came kinda close.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Yes it was:)

[@dsergt]

Excellent video. I've never seen info like this presented before. Where did you learn this?? It is very fascinating!

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

I've been studying passive leadership for awhile... im doing a virtual workshop on it in December for $9.99 email [e-mail] and we can let you know when the sign up is available

[@twade909]

That was interesting 🙃😃

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Thanks

[@lorenzowilliams2433]

Mare: Let me be bitch and we'll fine.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Lol

[@jeanfish7]

I was waiting for Popi to stomp her hoof ar Bailey not paying attention to her!:)

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Lol

[@robertshrewsbury2891]

Interesting a lot of trainers have been using more dominant tactics.

[@MBrusaZappellini]

Yeah, unfortunately there’s a number of “famous” trainers (with large marketing programs behind them...CA) who are proponents of (typically)unnecessary aggressive techniques ...running the horse around until they are wet and out of breath, backing them up for meters and meters... switching directions back and forth until the horse is so confused they just give up and acquiesce. In reality, Most horses thrive with a much more subtle and gentle approach like Lindsey’s . yes, there are occasional horses who might need an initial stronger approach, but IMHA even those horses would benefit greatly from their human backing off and spending a good amount of time thinking about WHY the horse is being “problematic “ before they rush into the round pen to chase them within an inch of a heart attack.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

I hope to share this passive leadership style.... definitely share the video with friends :)

[@daniel_moretti]

I'm dealing with introducing a 2 year old Warlander (Andalusian Friesian mix) stallion with a 23 year old Mustang gelding. I've been lunging the Warlander and then putting him in the round pen inside the arena before letting the Mustang into the rest of the arena. I've put piles of hay on both sides of the round pen's pipes so they can eat near each other. I have walked the Warlander near the Mustang and he kind of behaves but still tries to bite the Mustang when he gets a chance. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[@MBrusaZappellini]

Take the hay out of the equation

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Food can make the fight.... id introduce them in the arena with no food or friends

[@daniel_moretti]

Thank you both for responding! I've had pretty good luck introducing horsea to each other by having them graze with a fence between them. The key being two separate piles, I actually use two Haypillows, so there's no need to fight. But I learned earlier today about "no friends." I had the gelding Christmas in the round pen with his new bestie mini horse mare Gingerbread. I put Romeo the stallion into the arena and he went to greet them (no food was out). Well Gingerbread the mini horse squealed and reared at Romeo the 2 year old Warlander. Somewhat controlled pandemonium ensued, with Gingerbread trying to attack Romeo and Romeo running around the outside of the round pen and Gingerbread chasing him. And between the two of them was 23 year old Christmas protecting Gingerbread. While running, he would try to bite Romeo over the round pen fence. Christmas has ring bone and anemia (which we're trying to figure out why), but he was having none of it! I was there with a lead rope to keep things from going too out of hand, but they are horses and run faster than I do. Note to self, no friends in sight when I try getting two horses used to each other!

[@jeanfish7]

@@daniel_moretti I'm sorry, but I'm picturing my toy poodle chasing after a Great Dane ( true story!:)

[@hannahmarran6905]

Very interesting! Where did you learn this? I would love to learn more!

[@MBrusaZappellini]

Keep watching her channel! She does a lot of equine behavior videos

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Thanks. I have a virtual workshop on passive leadership coming up in December for $9.99 please email [e-mail] and when the sign is available we can let you know :)

[@hannahmarran6905]

@@HarmonyHorsemanship Yay!!! I love your webinars/workshops! Thanks you so much.

[@mackenzierobinson3035]

In interactions like this between a mare and a gelding, how often have you seen the gelding come out as the "leader" of the two? Have you noticed it generally trend towards more often the mare is the leader? or is it a somewhat even split in your experience?

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

A lot of times its the mare unless the gelding is very stud like

[@marygerlach4650]

I have a horse that I riding and take care of and the horse is totally petrified of the Cantor basically what she does is canters in place and it feels like she’s barking but she isn’t leaving the ground she has been traumatized at the counter and I think that’s her problem how do I help her overcome it so that she can Cantor again under saddle she’s perfectly fine on the lunge line or out in the field I do not want to scare her in it or traumatize her even more is they are hope please help ?

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

I'm sorry to hear of your horse's troubles. I'd check equipment fits and she doesn't have a physical issue first. If she's good on a lunge line then I'd probably start with trying to lunge someone on her back.

[@susanchisena3189]

Woman always take charge

[@jeanfish7]

Mares are usually dominant, other than a herd stallion, even then, there is usually a DOMINANT MARE.

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Lol

[@KalanMiller]

There are some animal species where the females are the boss; like lions, elephants, hyenas, killer whales, bonobos, and even horses

[@susanchisena3189]

I hope in my next life I become a dominant mare.😮‍💨

[@user-gf2er1wr6i]

What can we do if a gelding won’t except the filly

[@HarmonyHorsemanship]

Usually that's a tough one... neutral space, maybe the gelding alone for a week to settle, etc