138. Are some horses incapable of leading?

Today, i decided to sit and watch the horses for a while why they moved about in their herd. I like doing this because i feel it helps me learn more about the way they communicate with one another...

Anyway, when i split the herd up into two groups (for grazing reasons) which meant Spice would be the most dominant in terms of hierachy i noticed something very interesting...I noticed that although Spice was more dominant i.e able to move both the other two horses out of the way - she was completely reluctant to 'lead' them in fact i didn't see her 'lead' them anywhere i just saw her follow. And the one she chose to follow was Lucy someone she often 'hangs about with'.

So what i couldn't understand was: how could Spice be dominant over the other two horses and yet not able to lead them anywhere? Why when it came down to going anywhere would she take the position as a 'follower'?

What i realised is that Spice is a 'dominant' horse hence the reason why she sometimes challenges me but has no 'confidence' when it requires taking a lead role as 'herd leader' she exhibits herd leader type behaviour as far as being able to move another horse out of the way but revokes all responsiblity when it comes to leading them anywhere.

This makes even more sense when i think about what she is like out hacking because she always prefers to be behind rather than in front (even if the horse in front is lower down on the hierachy and if i am on my own with her she is far less confident because i am asking her to physically be in front of me rather than follow me.

I always thought that the more 'dominant' a horse the more 'confident' but actually dominance seems to have nothing to do with confidence in fact it seems to have more to do with not being confident. For I wouldn't describe Fen as particularly dominant - especially not towards people but she is extremely confident and perhaps this is what makes a horse a leader rather than a follower.

I once remarked on the fact that Spice's dominance was based on fear rather than confidence in that in her eyes if she is able to move all the other horses apart from Fen (the herd leader out of the way) she would be able to better keep her 'position' within the herd in times of danger and thus be safer.

This also explains why Fen who is only 4 is so great at hacking out because she is so used to 'leading' her herd every day that it becomes second nature for her. However, she is not so good at following in fact when her owner rides her out with another horse that over takes her she gets very tense and edgy.

So, i guess my concern is: how can i expect Spice to 'lead' me anywhere if she doesn't have the confidence to do it in her own herd in a place she feels secure and safe?

And thus am i fighting a losing battle? Will i only ever be able to hack her out with another horse?