09/20/2025
Thoughts on... Laws of the Herd (A few things I have learned while living in a house in the middle of a horse pasture for the last 4 years.)
Living in Mexico on a horse ranch has taught me many things... some things are definitely on the list of how NOT to do things. (More on that later. I will focus on the positive here.) Of all things, herd dynamics have been some of the most valuable teachings.
The herd here in Mexico has been together for over 10 years. A few new herd members get thrown in the mix every now and then, but generally speaking the dynamic here is established. And to note- most of the herd is tame but not often touched by humans or "trained". About 5 of them are used as trail horses but otherwise left alone.
I first really became aware of herd dynamics during my study with Chris Irwin Mind Your Horse many years ago. He helped me deeply understand how hierarchy works and the use of energy and pressure within herd communication. I have come to see in real time that much of what I learned from him was spot on. I have also seen that much of the new-wave woo woo horsemanship simply doesn't apply to the natural Law of the Herd that I see played out on a daily basis. Here are a few of my observations:
1) Hierarchy is real. There are horses who have a higher pecking order and that rarely changes. Weak or old horses are usually lower on the totem pole.
2) Yes, there is a horse who tends to rule the roost and that doesn't change. In the herd here at the ranch, that horse is a gelding who spent most of his life a a stallion. The 2 mares in the herd are his second in-command. The top ranked horse will have an innerherd- the "minions" who play out the lead horse's "demands" to keep the pecking line in order.
3) The herd leaders use pretty aggressive behavior to get their points across. They are assertive, clear and confident. They bite, pin their ears, kick, squeal, and swish tails all day long. Then they are done with it and on to hanging out quietly.
4) The herd leaders' version of positive reinforcement is leaving eachother alone. They don't feed eachother treats, pet eachother, or use R+ to communicate their desires or needs.
5) Horses are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. They can survive on little care and do just fine. They will figure out what to eat, how to get rid of flies, how to get out of the bad weather and how to stay warm without human help.
6) Hoofcare: Horses don't need as much trimming and fussing with farriery as we think they do, and the modern version of a good, "pretty" foot is not what nature intended. If given a place to move their bodies + consistent basic hay + worming + clean water, they will self trim to their body's natural angles and resulting soundness. Some horses need lower heels, some don't. It is all conformationally dependent.
7) Horses will self-correct biomechanically if given time and space. I have seen horses with the worst underslung heels gain back heel and soundness when left to their own devices in a pasture. I have seen old horses survive way past what they should when able to move about and figure out their bodies in open space. I have seen lame horses go sound when left to figure it out on their own.
8 Horse have friends and depend on them for guidance, co-regulation, and clarity.
9) A large herd will divide into these smaller "friend" groups based on rank and age.
10) Horses are creatures of habit. They depend on consistency to make sense of their reality.
Have you been around a herd for long periods of time? What are your thoughts? What have you learned?
