Horses, as we all know, are herd animals. In the wild, they naturally band together for safety and comfort, and no matter how many horses make up a herd, whether 3 or 300, there is always a pecking order—a social structure. Herd size varies, and every herd has its own mix of personalities and dynamics. It’s fascinating to watch these dynamics unfold and shift.
At 4Hearts we are home to several different “herds” in a variety of turnout spaces. Our smaller herds are based on commonalities of age, physical conditions, and other criteria, and then we have our large herd that goes out each day into our 55-acre turnout pasture, with all the natural herd dynamics constantly at play. As we watch over these herds, large and small, it’s easy to recognize the hierarchy these horses have worked out for themselves.
But unlike in the wild, these herds are under watchful eyes—an entire team at the ready to step in and manage any natural dynamics and behavior that could get out of hand and become dangerous. While no one can predict every problem in a herd, experienced herd management means consistent observation that tells us when to make adjustments.
This careful attention to herd management not only keeps all the horses safer, but it also helps protect people out in the pasture to retrieve horses.
For example, we have a number of geldings who, because they were gelded late, don’t always realize they’re geldings, if you get my drift. Once these stud wannabes are identified in spring when the mares come into season, they are either moved into their own turnout or the alfa male pasture that doesn’t share a fence line with mares. This cuts down on a majority of the “love bites,” but as with all turn out, even if you only have two horses together this could happen. It’s impossible to prevent entirely.
Aside from this rather predictable seasonal cycle, we stay on the constant lookout for horses who are aggressive, getting picked on, or maybe have physical limitations that make them vulnerable. While in the wild Mother Nature has a less desirable way of taking care of these issues, at 4Hearts we are blessed with the space and facilities to not only simulate that natural herd environment
horses love, but also to intervene and relocate compromised horses as needed to other turnout areas—temporarily or permanently—to help keep them safe.
This continuous commitment to herd management is one of the things that sets 4Hearts apart from other boarding facilities. With our entire crew living onsite and the daily presence of myself or barn manager, all of our herds, large and small, enjoy the benefit of watchful eyes and careful herd management.
Come on out for a tour of our herds—and see for yourself the difference 4Hearts offers its horses and their people!
