my mare has suddenly started picking on another mare
 

I rescued an 11 year old, green mare about a year ago for my daughter. She was food aggressive when we first got her but has really settled down and it does not seem to be an issue any more. She is in a pasture with 4 mares of various ages and sizes and generally gets along with all of them. About a month ago, after eating, she decided to go after a 6 year old mare shortly after finishing her grain and started kicking her. Our pony got the worst of it. These 2 ponies seemed to get along before this day. The only change was that a young filly was added to the herd and this filly spent a lot of time chasing our pony around and off the hay bale. That filly is no longer in the same pasture but this week our pony did the same thing to the 6 year old mare and again yesterday. The 6 year old mare received the worst of it this time. Each time our pony has gone after her it has been after all the horses are done eating. All the horses are fed in the pasture at the same time and somehow I don't think this will change, since the barn manager is pressed for time. It also doesn't seem like we have the space to separate the 2 horses permanently. Does this seem like something that could possibly work itself out? Is it possible to encourage 2 horses to like each other when maybe they don't? We trailer these 2 horses together and they do fine. Why now? If anyone has any suggestions, I would be very appreciative.

If it were my horses....and I have dealt with a like issue.... I would stay till after feeding place myself near the horse that is being bullied with a short whip & when the bully horse comes to chase/ kick correct her. You have to be the lead mare & let her know it is not ok behavior. For me it took & a week & sometimes I have to reinforce the idea but the serious kicking stopped. Good luck!
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Thanks so much for the advice. I had actually thought of that but wondered if my interfering might change her behavior with in the herd which would allow others to pick on her. I don't want the meanest horse in the herd but also don't want the weakest either.