ANNIE AND REMI! Frenemies. Round 2.

I thought I was being nice…

You see, I watched Remi’s feel slip right out from under her as she was running… It was a slippery piece of mud in her pasture (from the recent rains – Yay!). She surprised herself by falling pretty hard on her right side. Her legs just whooshed out from under her!

Immediately Remi got up – looked embarrassed – and shook herself right. Everything was fine, but a few hours later, I noticed a grapefruit sized mound on the side of her face. She had thunked herself pretty good.

After checking her teeth and giving her a treat (which she chewed up easily), I told her that everyone falls like that now and then… and proceeded to treat her with a bucket of beet pulp. She seemed to feel better. Then I let her loose. I wanted Remi to feel special.

KA-PLOWEY! Their handywork. The full boards were kicked out by Remi. The broken boards were snapped by Annie.

I THOUGHT WE’D BE FINE

Now, fully aware that Remi and Annie have fought once before when Remi was loose, I made sure to give Annie a nice flake of juicy hay in the middle of her pasture – far away from any fencing.

Remi had lots of fresh grass around to keep her occupied.

I merrily went back inside to do some work. I figured if I wasn’t out there to incite jealousy, all would be fine.

Famous last words.

They both told me that it was the other one who started it… In the right corner is the Lead Mare, Remi.

Annie, in her corner.

SQUEALING, CRACKING OF FENCES AND A GENERAL RUCKUS.

Evidently… I was incorrect.

Annie left her juicy hay…

And Remi left all the new grass…

To fight!

Again!

And I wasn’t even there to give them an excuse!

You can see that Remi slid a bit before landing this fatal blow that took out the top rail. The rest of the damage is farther down the line – you can just see the broken board in the distance – which means they were running and fighting over the fenceline down the driveway.

THEY BOTH SAID THE OTHER STARTED IT…

Well, I immediately went RUNNING outside to break up the fight. Remi backed away instantly, but Annie was reaching as far as she could over the broken boards to get at Remi. Annie was serious.

As soon as I turned, Remi wheeled around and bit at Annie’s butt and Annie bashed up the boards again with a double barreled whammy.

Annie insisted she was innocent…

As did Remi…

“STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!”, I wailed. “I CAN’T FIX THE LONG BOARDS!!”

What is interesting to me is that Remi, who was the largest horse here, seemed so small. Annie is a B-I-G girl. Her Percheron half is certainly shining through…

Anyway, I distinctly heard both of them say that the other had disrespected them.

Hmmmm.

All I know is that Remi is the Lead Mare and Annie is the Upstart. Remi is respectful. Annie is pushy. Remi is the elder. Annie is a punky teenager.

So I will need to let them duke it out on dry ground, or suffer the consequences every time I let the Mustang Gang graze the property. I cannot have horses fighting over fences.

When the pastures dry, I will put them together and supervise. Generally, these things don’t go to blows. But it could since Annie is so much bigger and domestic. Remi, a sensible mustang, will not want to get hurt. She might acquiesce (which would be sad) to the bigger upstart.

In the meantime, I had to put up these ‘there I fixed it’ panels… so tacky. But, they work. Gotta love panels! (and duct tape)