Better in or out for bossy veteran?

[Jericho]

I have a 23 yr old native pony who lives out 24/7, is rugged well and has a thick coat of his own. Usually he shares a large field shelter with ad lib hay with my other mare quite happily and in this weather I would have no qualms usually about leaving them out as they have the best of both worlds and love the field shelter. He is most definitely the bossy one but my mare and him rub along ok.

However 3 weeks ago we got another smaller pony who bossy veteran hates and bullies horribly if they are all in together - he chases her until he gets her trapped and then really tries to attack her with teeth and hooves. Not pleasant at all and as the new pony is a loan pony I can not risk anything happening to her. So he is now in a sectioned off part of the field which whilst is sheltered with hedges does not have the field shelter and leaving him out in this snow makes me feel bad as he is older and it's not his fault another pony came.

I have one stable to use so thought I would stable him last night but he felt colder than normal when I checked late last night and he didn't eat much hay (he has adlib in field) so faced with same weather again tonight should I leave him out with no field shelter? Actually I think the snow probably isn't as bad as it being wet and windy as I would really be guilty.

I cannot put the small pony in stable as she is still settling and is quite stressed about being in and not seeing the others.

Longer term I am really facing a Dilemma as new pony is to take over bossy veterans role as daughters PC pony and I just assumed we would keep him and he would be a companion pony ( he is on loan too), however I just can't see them all settling downas I can't trust him not to hurt new one. longer term I can't see this arrangement of him being in a seperate field with not good shelter working and I am not really set up or have the time to keep them like this plus I feel terrible that he has to be the one left In the cold so to speak. I could send him back to owners but a sense of loyalty is stoping me at the moment.

WWYd?

 

[Gingerwitch]

Sorry but my heart would be with my oldie - its a bit unfair taking his privliges away ! lol

I would not do anything though for a few weeks, but do agree you need to manage the situation currently, but snow and ice is never a good time for new field mates.

I would stable new pony- and leave my oldie in his normal routine - then when the snow and ice has gone, try re-introduction - but i am afraid if the new one is not going to settle - then my old horse would have my priority - but i do know what you mean about a sense of loyallty to the new one.

Good luck

 

[Tilda]

What sort of set up did the new pony come from? If she is used to living out could you perhaps put her in the sectioned off bit? That way for the others nothing has changed and they can get to know her over the fence. If not I think I would do as gingerwitch suggests put new pony in sectioned bit and stable at night or another alternative could be to get another shelter?

I'm sure once they settle down and have interesting grass to eat it will all be fine.

 

[Jericho]

I know, I feel terrible about old boy being the one seperated but on the other hand he is the one causing the problems. The other two are beautifully settled. Effectively they only have a line of electric fencing between them and he is right next to the field shelter so they are never really apart. I really don't think I can stable the small new pony without her getting very stressed, i think even sectioning her off would worry her and for a pony settling into new home i dont think thats fair either, especially as he scared her so much. The old boy isn't stressing at all about the arrangement, he takes himself off, does as he pleases etc he isn't just standing there looking sad and fed up - its just me worrying about him having no access to field shelter and whether he would be warmer stood in a stable, I guess.

Why can't they all just get on? Three weeks on and he is still just as nasty to her as the first day even though they spend most of their time together albeit seperated by a thin fence. I just don't get it!

 

[canteron]

Another one for giving it time - 3 is always a funny number and I had a similar dilemma when I got a 3rd horse. It took a while for them to sort out the order, but now it is fine, everyone knows their place in the herd and it works.

In the short term I would keep them separated but ideally adjacent. Can you put an extra rug on ancient pony, or put new pony in separated off bit in the short term. I am all for keeping oldies out and moving, but if you are really worried you may want to stable on the really cold nights.

Oh and if you can, take back shoes off everything, that helps limit potential for damage. And if you put hay out, put 4 piles not 3 - that helps too!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would never put a new pony/horse straight into field with an established herd. I would always introduce them over a fence and wait until they have settled like that. So IIWY, I'd take a step back, put the established pair back together, fence a bit of the field off and put new pony in it, with access to natural shelter and a good rug if necessary and give them the opportunity to get to know each other before putting them all together again. You will need to be prepared for this process to take several weeks, IME.

 

[Jericho]

No I agree, you should never put them all in straight together. They were seperated for 1 day (my mare and old boy in usual field and new pony in small paddock) but the pony clearly wasn't happy seperated as she came from large livery and stabled at night so I turned her out with mare who I know is very kind and would look after her which she has and pony settled down very quickly. Old boy wasn't fussed by being apart and as he was the one pulling grumpy faces if she even looked in his direction that was the best decision i felt at the time. They have been out on rides together and tied up on yard together and about a week later they were dozing altogether in the sun and thought I would just open up the fence as i was poo picking and that's when all hell broke loose. Quickly got him out and back again onto the other side of the fence which is actually a bigger area with more grass. They are definitely staying apart for longer as obviously do more time getting used together( if they ever do - I have known some horses to never get on!) I was just questioning whether oldie would be warmer moving around outside in snow or standing still in a stable (and musing aloud to myself I guess as to the viability of this arrangement long term, as and when the weather changes again)

Thanks for all your advice !