Horses are herd animals and all herds have some sort of pecking order. In fact, all animals that live in groups have pecking orders from your dogs to your own family. A pecking order is the order of dominance in the group. This is often why people have problems with horses who eat together in a group, but one horse guards two or three feed buckets at one time.
The pecking order begins with the most dominant horse in the herd. This horse is the leader and is referred to as the “alpha” horse. Ideally in your herd, you should be the “alpha” over all of the horses, but there will be one horse that seems to “rule the roost.” This is not necessarily the stallion or mare in the group. If you have a broodmare or older mare in the herd, then she is very likely that she will be the alpha over the stallion. Geldings tend to have lower positions in the herd as well. By nature, horses seek leadership. In order to be the alpha over your horse, you need to be the leader in the relationship. The leader is the leadership and security to all the other horses in the herd. A stallion may “own” the herd, but he is generally a source security and he keeps a watchful eye over the herd instead of a leader.
Many people who have problems with feeding groups of horses need to think about this natural pecking order. Instead of having feed bins or buckets lined up neatly along the fence line, consider spreading them out around the pasture or paddock. The alpha horse will always grab the first bucket. Space the buckets far enough apart that the alpha horse cannot guard several buckets. You also want to include an extra bucket just in case the alpha is able to guard two. This ensures that the horse at the end of the totem pole as something to eat as the herd moves down the buckets in order. As you drop the feed buckets, about two horse lengths apart, the herd will assume their position at a bucket as they are dropped. The horse at the bottom of the pecking order will assume his position at the last bucket. You will also do yourself some good if you are able to position the buckets in a circle.
By considering the pecking order in your herd you will be able to feed everyone without you having to worry about fights or somebody not getting enough to eat.
