Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

There are few things that can disturb domestic bliss like having a bad neighbor.  An inconsiderate neighbor can aggravate one to the point of distraction.  I know this from first hand experience and now so does Wassachusetts.

Recently, Wassachusetts was forced to pick up sticks and move to a new stall in a different aisle of the barn.  He had been living in a stall nestled between his best buddy and field mate, an older, gray pony named Calvin:  The Good Neighbor.  The Good Neighbor might occasionally poke his nose over the dividing wall to say hello but otherwise kept to himself and his own business.

On the other side was a big, bay imported youngster named Chico:  The Bad Neighbor.  Over the past year, Wassachusetts and Chico bonded like schoolboys.  They were both young and green with a lot of energy but always seemed to have a calming effect on one another.   

I started to see indications of their dissolving friendship one afternoon while riding with Chico's owner.  We were standing in the middle of the ring exchanging a few words when I felt Wassachusetts’s body become tense and defensive, then his ears shot back and his nose jutted out as he pushed an intimidating look towards Chico.  In retort, Chico snaked his head at Wassachusetts and made a sudden move towards us.  Nothing happened, but the other rider and I quickly steered our horses back to the track. 

As the weather got colder, the two horses constantly teased and bickered with each other over the dividing wall separating their stalls.  The wooden slats were set apart in such a way that the horses could easily peek at each other between the boards.  I would sometime laugh at Chico as he would eyeball me adjusting blankets or giving Wassachusetts treats.  But that same eyeballing would throw Wassachusetts into an angry tantrum.

Within weeks, the behavior had escalated from charging at each other to the two horses rising on their hind legs up the side of the wall with mouths open, teeth bared and finally to rearing and lunging with such force that the wall would rattle and shake when their 1200 pound bodies launched against it.

One evening as I was setting up a grooming area, Wassachusetts flattened his ears against his head (a rare look for a horse with a reputation for being laid-back in the barn) and landed a powerful kick to his automatic watering trough, cracking the PVC piping.  I heard the soft hiss of water spraying and quickly rushed to turn the valve off.  I knew it was time to say something to my trainer.  

Yet, there stood Wassachusetts.  The moment had come and gone and he was once again calm and relaxed, quietly munching on hay.  He’d said his peace and  gone on with his life.  Unlike people, horses don’t waste time worrying about why a relationship doesn’t work out and they don’t hold grudges.   Wassachusetts simply acted like “it is what it is and life goes on.” 

Later that night, my trainer and I talked about the situation and explored the possibility of moving one of the horses to a different stall.  My biggest concern was that one of the horses could injure themselves if a board were to break, which would be particularly unfortunate if it were to happen in the middle of the night when no one was around (my thoughts were streaming a video of blood and gore – yes, this is the type of hysteria developed in the adult mind – well, at least mine and the other adult riders I know). 

The following day, Wassachusetts was moved to a new stall in the next aisle.  Even though it was located very close to our old stall, it still felt like we were moving to a new neighborhood. 

Our new stall is located in the back corner of the barn with only one shared wall.  Wassachusetts’s new neighbor is a sassy palomino pony with a thick neck and spiky mane.  So far, the two have shown little interest in one another, choosing to keep to themselves rather than interfere in their neighbor’s business.

I like that I can go into Wassachusetts’s stall and adjust a blanket strap without fear of being smushed against the dividing wall and that my horse doesn’t wear such a sour look on his face anymore. 

And the dividing wall?  Well it’s just perfect.  The boards are sturdy and fitted tightly together with no room for peek holes.  So, live and let live.  And if you can’t do that, get a good fence.  They really do make good neighbors.