Help!!! :How to add new horse to estbalished herd?

[michellev123]

Hi
I moved yards with my 2yo last week. After a week isolation period he has now been put in an electric pen within the establish herd (4 horses, 3 mares and a gelding) paddock so he can interact over the fence.

Over the fence they seem to "get along" He has had a day in the pen with the lowest ranking mare and they tolerated (she booted him and he kept out of the way!!) each other. (he is always bottom of the herd)

The other nite he went in the the 2 lowest ranking mares and after an initial friendly introduction they both started kicking him. They managed to corner him and i had to move them to allow him to escape.

I am after some advice on the easiest way to introduce them with minimum upset and kicking.

I know they need to establish themselves but its hard to watch him being cornered and kicked when he has already submitted. (and i am concerned they will injure him.)

I know this is normal horse behaviuor but any tips welcomed.

Thanks

 

[Cedars]

Hmm, very different situation but when I introduced my little one to our v dominant mare we just threw them in together and stayed close so if she really did kick the shite out of her then we could separate them. I think to an extent you just have to let them get on with it - where they actually making contact with their feet?

 

[flying solo]

Sometimes its best to throw them in and leave them to it, at least he has a open space to run away from them as long as they don't gang up on him. I always give it a week for things to settle down pending there are no serious injuries.

 

[Honey08]

How big is this pen? It sounds a bit small. They need room to be able to chase the newcomer to an acceptable distance. The new horse in a herd is usually made to say outside an invisible line for a few weeks when in the herd. Could your horse go out with the lower mare again in a bigger field at some point in the day? The system you are using sounds right, just that they've not got enough room to sort themselves out.

I also like to hack a new horse out with its future stable mates, so they get used to being alongside each other whilst under the control of the rider.

 

[Tinypony]

The behaviourist I used to work with used to recommend some time over a fence, then introduce the new horse to the horse that seems to be in charge. Let them pair bond for a while, then put them in with the group. The introductions need to happen where there is enough space for them to run around a bit, and for your horse to not get stuck in corners.

 

[JJtheJetPlane]

Im having the same problem i have a 2 yr old and after having her next to my two mares for three days decided to turn her out with them...They hate her wont let her near the water, near me or anywhere near the gate ..Ended up getting her out of there last night with a kick to her hock ..vet visit today !! Anyway she has now been put it with one of my gelding who adores her and has taken her under his wing ...When he is sold she will have to try again with the girls. Its a nighmare !! I would perhaps leave him next to them for a while longer and then turn him out and hope for the best!! It normally works for me this is the only time i have an accident.

Good luck x

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I don't like the pen either. Much too small for introducing horses.

When I first got my yearling, she was put in a large paddock with a quiet low-ranked mare with no shoes (now mine ). This was as exciting as it got! Photo taken about 2 mins after she was first turned out.

I then (a few months later) needed to introduce her to my other mare. I had her shoes pulled as this mare is the top mare. They had a canter and there was a bit of rearing etc... but nothing bad and they soon settled. I had the headcoller on (and a whip to hand) so that I could split them if need be. However after 5 mins they were like this.

Then a few months later they needed to move into the winter field with other horses (who didn't belong to me so I couldn't take the shoes off for the introduction). It was smooth and they didn't even canter around, they just started to graze and I'd been so worried! The mare on the right isn't mine and she was second in command.

However I do think that it helped that my filly had made riends with the top mare before going into a large group. They are often together even though my filly is the bottom of the pecking order. It's really only at the hay feeder that you could really tell who was boss, although all the others would part like the sea before Moses if the top mare walked over with her ears back!

 

[steph91]

Have you tried putting him in with a gelding, just sometimes mares can be more difficult. He just needs a buddy then will be set in the heard, 4 four of ours live together 2 live on their own (one gelding, one mare) as they kick everything else, even eachother

 

[ladyt25]

I absolutely dread introducing new horses as we have a very established herd with a dominant 14.2hh pony (rather riggy) who has his side kick (my 16hh conn x) who he gets to carry out his beatings basically!

I just got a youngster (15 mths) and it has taken 5 weeks ti introduce him as i wasn't chancing it with my thug of a horse. We left him in an electric fenced part of the field for a good couple of weeks abd the others could only charge at him over the fence. we then let the lowest ranked oldie TB with him and they became good pals btu we split them at night and put the oldie back with the herd. we then mixed in the next ranked one on his own at first and then with the oldie who then wasn't allowed near the new youngster.

We basically did it this way and all was fine and at week 5 we finally let them all together. All went well until early in the evening (they'd been together all day) my horse decided he was basically going to set on a mission to get the youngster and so started a chase round and round and up and down the hills. it got rather nasty and my horse's face just changed - he just went on a relentless gallop to essentially wear the baby out. It was not pleasant. We managed to split them but had to separate them that night.

two days later we braved it again and left them over night and all was fine, The baby still will keep well away from my horse but in essence all is calm now.

I would never just chuck them in to 'sort it out' as i know what mine are like and we've had a close call before after a new one got a nasty kick. Therefore i take as long as possible. It depends on the make up of the herd I guess though but I always air on the side of caution now!

 

[michellev123]

Thanks for all the tips!

I haven't introduced him to anyone new in the pen that is just so he cant meet them over the fence.
When he went in with the lower mare it was in an ajoining feild.

Thanks agin good luck to those of you who are in a similar situation.