Helping my pony gain herd-sense

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Ponygirl4

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I'd like some advice and thoughts from other people. I need to retire my mare due to injury. She could live out 24/7 with a herd of mares but she's been on individual turnout for the past 5 years as she kept being injured in a herd (fractured splint bone,severe kicks, etc...). I've hand grazing her with this new herd and she seems to be learning/remembering how to behave in a herd.

She's started to graze off the lead rope but with me still in the field. Is there anything else I could or should do before letting her get on with it? I know I can't stop accidents happening and horses will be horses but she was a superstar as I found my pony-owning legs and tried to improve my riding so I feel she's entitled to the best possible care in dealing with this change.
 
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Why don't you turn her out with just one other horse to start with, let her buddy-up and add another if/when that goes OK?
 
Thanks for the good suggestions unfortunately the field and other horses aren't mine and the other owners aren't able to be flexible about splitting herd up or dividing the field to make it feasible to do as you suggest.
 
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