Best way to introduce socially inept horse to a herd?

[Shinx]

Hi all,

I have an imported Spanish gelding who hasn't been out in a herd since he was started under saddle. He's now rising 8. We've tried turning him out with my other horse and he became obsessed with pestering him until we had to separate them again. Since then he's been out by himself.

I'd like to move yards to one closer to my house, but there aren't any private fields available. I also believe that, where possible, it's good for horses to live in a herd. But how do I figure out whether he's a good candidate for herd life? And if he is, how do I introduce him to a herd while minimising the chances of anyone getting injured?

He's got a lot of life ahead of him (fingers crossed!) so it would be great if he could enjoy normal horse life for most of it. I suspect that a group situation would be better for him than being alone with just one other horse, because he couldn't then focus all of his social angst onto one target.

Any thoughts or experiences?

 

[HollyWoozle]

I think I would try and get him in a field next to a herd to start, so that he can get over the initial excitement in a safe space but see and hear them, touch over the fence etc. Once he was settled in there then I would likely just put him out and see how he got on!

We've always introduced new horses and ponies this way and played it by ear as to how long they stayed separate, sometimes it was just the first 30 mins or sometimes a few days. I agree that it sounds like a herd of several horses would suit him better, although I've never had experience with a horse like this who has been kept separate for so long.

 

[Shinx]

Thank you, that sounds like a really good way to start. Unfortunately the private paddocks aren't near the geldings' field but he would be able to see them at a distance while he's in an isolation paddock for the first couple weeks. Might be the best I can do!

 

[Cortez]

Has the horse been recently gelded?

 

[Orangehorse]

The idea of gradual introduction is the correct thing to do. Ideally, not a few fields away, but where they can smell and even touch. Could you separate him by electric fence, if every horse respects the electric, you don't want a tangled fence in the mix.

I know that is always said that horses should be out with a friend or in the herd - but actually some horses never do get socialised. I had a mare and she didn't read the signals and was for ever being kicked, or kicking others, so she had to be kept separate for fear of injury.

 

[Abacus]

If possible, after the initial intro over the fence, I would put him with one suitable companion that is neither too dominant nor too submissive. My 25 year old is perfect for this: he has always been the boss but does so quietly - he clearly just has an alpha presence and the others respect him without fighting. He would tell any young upstarts off if they annoyed him but never actually kicks anything. They learn the herd rules pretty quickly. It may not be easy to find in a new yard though.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Thank you, that sounds like a really good way to start. Unfortunately the private paddocks aren't near the geldings' field but he would be able to see them at a distance while he's in an isolation paddock for the first couple weeks. Might be the best I can do!

Can you fence off an area with electric fencing within the gelding paddock so he can touch the others (after isolation ) and interact but without being able to get too excited?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Can you fence off an area with electric fencing within the gelding paddock so he can touch the others (after isolation ) and interact but without being able to get too excited?

and he strikes out, gets a leg over electric and panics. Might as well call the vet first if you did that. The only way penning him in with electric with the others around him would be to have a least a double line of electric fencing with 6 plus foot gap.

 

[Annagain]

I'd introduce him to one other horse first - preferably one that will set boundaries but won't bully. We always used Archie for all introductions as he was friendly but wouldn't be walked all over. Now that he's 29 we get him out of the field while introductions are made just in case he doesn't get out of the way of a flying leg in time but every field needs a (young) Archie, ideally.

 

[honetpot]

I find a small older pony, with a large personality, are the best. They are nimble enough to get out of the way, usually have lived most of their life in a group, and are master at the warning face pull, but even if they get cross and put in a kick, unlikely to cause real damage. The colts that I buy have often not been turned out with others, but the novelty soon wears off. I pair them up with the pony, then add them to another two.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi all,

I have an imported Spanish gelding who hasn't been out in a herd since he was started under saddle. He's now rising 8. We've tried turning him out with my other horse and he became obsessed with pestering him until we had to separate them again. Since then he's been out by himself.

I'd like to move yards to one closer to my house, but there aren't any private fields available. I also believe that, where possible, it's good for horses to live in a herd. But how do I figure out whether he's a good candidate for herd life? And if he is, how do I introduce him to a herd while minimising the chances of anyone getting injured?

He's got a lot of life ahead of him (fingers crossed!) so it would be great if he could enjoy normal horse life for most of it. I suspect that a group situation would be better for him than being alone with just one other horse, because he couldn't then focus all of his social angst onto one target.

Any thoughts or experiences?

we seperate our new comers for at least a week before gradual introduction, would never ever put a new horse directly into a group which is established.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

and he strikes out, gets a leg over electric and panics. Might as well call the vet first if you did that. The only way penning him in with electric with the others around him would be to have a least a double line of electric fencing with 6 plus foot gap.

That’s what we do - two lines of electric fence until everyone is bored of drama, then down to one, then together.

 

[Shinx]

Thanks everyone. There's no way to section off part of the main field (it wouldn't be allowed). However there's a chance I could, with a bit of persuasion, borrow a field adjacent for a bit. I'll try to figure something out.

He was gelded late, probably at age 5 or 6, so I'm sure that contributes to his, erm, exuberance.

 

[rabatsa]

We had a NF mare that was an only pony from being sold at the pony sales as a foal until she was aged 12. It took her nearly 5 years to learn how to read the other horses in her field.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have to introduce any new horse to mine a bit like Lady G or Arabi will bite and chase for days on end, if his seen the horse in the paddock next door for at least a few weeks his not half as bad.

The last one I did lived next door for about 4 weeks when I put them together we had a bit of rearing and striking out and that was it.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks everyone. There's no way to section off part of the main field (it wouldn't be allowed). However there's a chance I could, with a bit of persuasion, borrow a field adjacent for a bit. I'll try to figure something out.

He was gelded late, probably at age 5 or 6, so I'm sure that contributes to his, erm, exuberance.

It is could be that he was cut late they often hang on to those stallion tendencies.

My horse has his always been a horror to new horses he was cut at 4 his 19 now and he still does it.

 

[AdorableAlice]

It is could be that he was cut late they often hang on to those stallion tendencies.

My horse has his always been a horror to new horses he was cut at 4 his 19 now and he still does it.

Mine was a stallion, gelded at 9, he is the sweetest horse but cannot live with other horses.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine was a stallion, gelded at 9, he is the sweetest horse but cannot live with other horses.

Mine also absolutely loves people but is evil to any new horse and he will often always dislike certain horses, when the yard next door to me puts there geldings in the field next to mine, he patrols the fence line on his hind legs roaring for days on end.

 

[Hackback]

My older horse was the same. In my experience the best time to put him in with other horses is when the grass is coming through and all they want to do is eat!

 

[Nari]

Mine was gelded at 5, is now 9. I haven't kept him out with a large herd but with two or three others he's no trouble at all. Yes he's field God and takes first pick at the hay etc, but go back ten minutes later and the chances are the ponies are so traumatised by his threats that they've left their piles and are all munching on his.

 

[Shinx]

I'm also worried about the grass! They don't have much in the way of grass like we do here and he's never been on rich grass. I plan on taking him off for the first few weeks of being on the summer field and then acclimating him 15 minutes at a time.

 

[Shinx]

That was meant to quote Hackback.

 

[Shinx]

There's also the option of a small group of geldings I could put him in. They're all, for whatever reason, not able to be part of the larger herd. Might be a good compromise but the problem of introductions is the same.

 

[Shinx]

I'm also worried about the grass! They don't have much in the way of grass like we do here and he's never been on rich grass. I plan on taking him off for the first few weeks of being on the summer field and then acclimating him 15 minutes at a time.

*they don't have much in the way of grass in Spain.

Not winning at forum posts at the moment!

 

[Nari]

There's also the option of a small group of geldings I could put him in. They're all, for whatever reason, not able to be part of the larger herd. Might be a good compromise but the problem of introductions is the same.

Find out why they can't be with the larger herd, putting him with a group of horses that don't mix well may be a worse option. It may be that you would be better looking at a different yard.

 

[Clodagh]

Please take at least his hind shows off as well. After I lost a horse to a field kick everything has binds off before a new one goes in. I’ve no idea how you manage that on a livery yard though.

 

[Caol Ila]

My old mare was never safe in a herd . it wasn’t ideal and I wanted her to be able to have a horsey social life but it was just too dangerous. Hopefully you can find a way to introduce your guy to friends.

 

[Cortez]

Some horses either prefer to be alone or are not able to be in a herd. Horses like this that I have had have all been former stallions. I have also had stallions that were happy chaps out with geldings, and serving stallions that ran with their mares, but all of these were rare cases.

 

[Ceifer]

Some horses either prefer to be alone or are not able to be in a herd. Horses like this that I have had have all been former stallions. I have also had stallions that were happy chaps out with geldings, and serving stallions that ran with their mares, but all of these were rare cases.

Agree with this and @AdorableAlice. Unfortunately sometimes it’s just not safe to turn them out in company. I’ve had a Luso that just harassed his field mate constant and my current gelding who was also cut late gets randy and it’s just not worth the risk to him or any field mate.

As others have pointed out, if you do proceed it must be done with care and gradually.
Also if I was an owner of one of the potential field mates I would want to be informed of the history, how you intend to inter-grate and mutually agree

 

[Shinx]

After some thought (and lots of looking at the satellite view of Google maps) I think the best plan is this:

1. Ask yard manager to let me borrow small paddock adjacent to field for a couple of weeks (I don't know if this will be possible, but it never hurts to ask)

2. After he's settled in the new paddock, add my other horse in with him

3. Once they're settled together, put them both out in the herd (other horse is already a happy member of this herd, which works in my favour)

Neither of mine have hind shoes, although many of the herd members do, and I have no control over that. Equally only the yard manager decides who joins the herd (it's a very large yard), and it's not up anyone else to agree, although all of us have the well-being of the horses in the forefront of our minds and we all try to make it as safe comfortable for everyone involved as possible.

It could turn out that he won't be able to live in a group environment, but I don't think we have enough evidence yet to make that call. He never harmed my other gelding, only annoyed the daylights out of him, and I wish we had stuck with it at the time. (My horses are now at two separate yards if that helps it all make sense -- one moved before the other due to a space becoming available).