The Rear – Level V
“You’re a tough guy, but I’m a nightmare wrapped in the apocalypse.” ~James S.A. Corey
Said one stallion to the other! Here we are, rearing—the fifth level of agonistic behavior and more often than not usually displayed between stallions! The reason: to make your opponent believe you are bigger than him!
Rearing is technically only a threat, but the body position indicates a more intense agonist interaction, and will allow the stallion to move into a stance for striking, boxing and dancing behaviors.
![](https://www.debleecarson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DLC_6128-Edit-4-1030x686.jpg)
In the case of these two stallions, from the McCullough Peaks Herd Management area near Cody, Wyoming, the dark stallion on the right had a blast the evening of this image taking on no less than thirteen stallions. He would finish harassing one group and then move on to another group. Jamie and I had a blast watching him and she started calling him a ‘little Pistol’, which then became Pistolero.