I don't have a solution for the problem, just a little insight into why it may be happening. Many times I've seen a less dominant horse 'get even' with his superior when the opportunity presents itself. The trodden upon are well aware of when the alpha horse is unable to assert himself and will shamelessly attack. As you are well aware, this can be a real problem in multiple hitches. Just a couple of examples. Shortly after I moved I decided to get my dominant stallion back to work by longlining him in his field with his subordinate gelding pasturemate running loose. That gelding chased his abuser, and I use the term loosely, around the circle and tried to bite his hocks. It was kind of funny at the time, but it forced me to find another place to school. A friend with a 4 had this problem also with one member who was an outsider in the group and the bottom individual in the herd. He was a great single but caused no end of problems in the hitch no matter where he was placed. This dynamic can also play a role when one member of a pair appears lazy and won't get into the traces. While he may well be lazy, he may also not want to come up even with his teammate who might see it as a challenge and he fears retribution. That one hopefully resolves itself when he discovers the alpha horse cannot retaliate. Food for thought. Anne Driving in Birch Hollow * Stewartstown, PA * 717 880 3840