Advice needed on introducing new horses to herd! (long sorry!)

[gabbypinkjessica]

Hi guys,
Just wondering if anyone has any advice on introducing my new yearling to the herd? She is currently out with my older, very quiet mare and an unshod youngster and seems ok, but I am really nervous about introducing to the rest of the herd at my livery yard.
It's not something I have ever given much thought to before, other than starting turning out with a couple of quiet horses and then turning out with the rest after a few days, but we have had some issues at the yard with the introduction of new horses, and I was just wondering what everyone else does.
When I moved my older mare to this yard a couple of years ago (she is very submissive with other horses anyway), the rest chased her around for a few minutes, but then settled fine. I bought my previous youngster 18 months ago, and again, no real problems at the time. There are currently five mares and two geldings (one is a youngster) and they are turned out 24/7.
However, when a new ISH was put in recently (which was also done gradually over about 2 days) they seemed ok initially, but the morning after her first night out with the whole group, I found my youngster with an open fracture of her hind leg, seemingly from a kick, and she had to be put down. I should stress that the ISH is actually very quiet and submissive with the others, I don't think she is a very aggressive horse at all, and since this incident the herd has settled again with no other problems.
It took a while before I felt ready to look for another horse, but I found the filly I have just bought and thought she was a worthy successor, so I went ahead and bought her.
This experience has made me really nervous about the process of integrating her with the whole herd, and the last few days while she has been turned out with the two quieter horses I have found the rest of them standing by the gate (they are in neighbouring fields at the mo) squealing and trying to bite the new filly. The new filly is really submissive, doing all the babyish chewing and lowering of her head as soon as they approach, but they won't leave her alone. This morning when I went to check, the gate between the fields had a big crack in the top bar as if it had been charged by one of the horses, and she is covered in bald patches where she has been bitten by the others.
Does anyone have any advice how to proceed from here?
I have always thought 'they just have to get on with it, and go through the initial excitement together before they will settle' but because of what happened the last time I am really worried.
The YO and other liveries are very understanding, and will let me do the introducing as I see fit, but I am really unsure now about just opening the gate and letting them all in together.
Thanks for reading, sorry it's so long!

 

[ladyt25]

This is what I dread, introducing new horses as we have had terrible experiences in the past although thankfully no fatal or serious injuries! We used to have a very dominant (now I suspect rig) welsh cob who would actually try kill any new horse and introducing anything new was terrifying. We would separate for a couple of weeks before introducing but he was still evil!

I would suggest keeping them separated as long as possible as it seems maybe your filly isn't too clued up on horse hierachy and when to move away (otherwise she wouldn't bebitten so much!)

What we do with new ones now is separate them using electric fencing so they can see the others and get used to each other being there. You should know which horse is the most dominant in the group so (well what we've done anyway) is start introducing them slowly starting with the lowest in the pecking order first and work your way through. That way the lower herd members get to do thier bit at dominating the youngster but without being too aggressive. If they do get aggressive and you get concerned then I suggest moving in with the aid of a lungeing whip to break up any fight before it gets out of hand.

Once the lower members of the herd have sortedout their differences they will then not be as interested in the newbie and therefore won't concern the herd leader too much - what usually happens if left is the herd leader will try place himself between his herd and the new horse and (1) will not allow the new horse withih a certain distance and (2) will not let his herd members go and investigate the newbie. Therefore it takes the stress off him a bit as the others have already had their chance to investigate the new horse so aren't as bothered.

I would though let the herd leader in with the new horse on his own first to gage how extreme his reaction is.

Yours may be fine - sadly I have a ridiculously dominant welsh pony who shows all the natural stallion behaviour when it comes to new horses and plus he has my 16hh conn x as his 'sidekick' who , although sweet as anything to any horse he 'chats' to out and about, does the boos pony's work for him and throws his weight around and attacks new herd members! Now we take a LONG time introducing horses - the longer the better i feel!!

 

[gabbypinkjessica]

Thanks for the advice, that makes sense to me. I keep thinking I'm being a bit wimpy about it all, but when they do have problems it is so horrendous! Plus, she was quite expensive and I really can't ever afford a replacement, so I need to look after her!
I know which horse will be the problem, so maybe if I do it in order like you said it will be safer.
I think you are right about her not understanding the hierarchy; she came from a showing yard and was only turned out with other yearlings after weaning, so I think it has all come as a bit of a shock to her!