Some of you know that we recently brought in a new horse. He is 18 and just a real sweet heart! When we got my son's horse (14 year old pinto Arabian gelding) we put him in a pasture next to our pony (20+ year old shetland/mini mare) so that they could be close, but not with each other. They fought through the fence the entire time. We finally, after 2 weeks, just put them together so that they could just fight it out. Everything was perfectly fine...no fighting or anything. They have been best friends ever sinc, although the arabian is alpha horse.
Now, we did the same with the new horse, him on one side of the fence, the other two on the other side. There has never been any arguing or fighting, they have just been doing something strange (at least to me). They will stand there, one with his head over the fence and they will stand with their faces side by side. And, ever once in a while they will rub faces together. Then, the new horse will move to the pony and he always moves to her left side (she is blind on her right side from a birth defect). He will put his head over the fence and hold it way down so that he can do the same to the pony. And, they will stand with the sides of their faces together. They will go back and forth.
I was just wondering if this is a form of affection or is it a sign of dominance. This new horse was low man on the totem pole at his previous owners place.
Now, we did the same with the new horse, him on one side of the fence, the other two on the other side. There has never been any arguing or fighting, they have just been doing something strange (at least to me). They will stand there, one with his head over the fence and they will stand with their faces side by side. And, ever once in a while they will rub faces together. Then, the new horse will move to the pony and he always moves to her left side (she is blind on her right side from a birth defect). He will put his head over the fence and hold it way down so that he can do the same to the pony. And, they will stand with the sides of their faces together. They will go back and forth.
I was just wondering if this is a form of affection or is it a sign of dominance. This new horse was low man on the totem pole at his previous owners place.