How long would you leave it??

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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Horses at our yard are turned out in pairs, my lad is in with another gelding, we have introduced a 3rd gelding into the field. There is plenty of room and grass for all three, less so in the other fields which is why the new one has gone in our field.

However, my lad is really chasing the new gelding off, seems to be keeping him away from his buddy, no problem with this as new gelding needs to learn to keep away until my lad lets him in. But, the new gelding is coming in every night with big scraping teeth marks, tonight being the worst, having drawn blood.

The new gelding is out in a Rambo sweet itch hoodie (they are quite thick) so i dread to think what damage would have been caused without it.

The turnout situation changed on Saturday, so only 5 days in, thankfully it is just bite marks and no kicking, but just wondered how long people would leave things for???
 
I would never just put a new horse in with established field buddies. I think you're just asking for trouble. Maybe that's just me though as we have a pretty established herd of 5 and a very dominant gelding. It took 5 weeks to integrate the last horse we bought (over 2 years ago) and that had to be done in stages. Even then, when he was integrated we had to separate them again for another day as the 2nd dominant gelding (the herd leader's 'sidekick') went for him and was quite relentless about it. I would rather take time than risk preventable injuries. Of course, there's always going to be little bit of argy bargy as they sort out the pecking order but you can reduce this if you take time, especially if you know you have a dominant horse.
 
This should never happen with properly introduced horses. I would not turn this horse out again with yours. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen.
 
How do you define properly introduced. The new gelding has visited the yard & ridden out with my lad for a couple of weeks before moving him, then upon arrival has also been ridden out / in the school / tied next too my lad and my lads buddy for a week before being turned out, first couple of days just my lad & the new gelding were turned out for a couple of hours no problems. It has been since we introduced my lads buddy.

I did not think my lad was dominant to be honest, he was previously in a large herd with new geldings coming and going with no problems at all, thinking it is two's company, threes a crowd.

Hmm, will have to have a word with the new geldings owner about him going elsewhere.
 
Can you not pen a section of the field for him with electric fencing. It would give him a better chance to be accepted.

We had a similar very weird happening a few years ago. Our big lad had been great friends with a Dartie pony mare.. they adored each other. Anyway pony was sold and moved away for two years. She came up for sale and we bought her and turned her out with Big Lad and a young mare. He tried to kill her!! If it hadn't been for the other mare he would have succeeded. Obviously we separated them. Eighteen months later we had no choice but to try again and the have been fine ever since.

The only reason we could come up with was that previous owner had shampooed her within an inch of her life and he didn't like the smell. Might be worth asking if the gelding has been bathed.
 
Mahoganybay said:
How do you define properly introduced. The new gelding has visited the yard & ridden out with my lad for a couple of weeks before moving him, then upon arrival has also been ridden out / in the school / tied next too my lad and my lads buddy for a week before being turned out, first couple of days just my lad & the new gelding were turned out for a couple of hours no problems. It has been since we introduced my lads buddy
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Well sounds like you've done everything right. It's possibly the number that's the problem - 3 can be.

Im amazed that the owner hasn't spoken to the YO about alternative turnout arrangements.
 
when I first got my gelding I had a bit fenced off for him for the first few days/week and after a couple of days he limbo'd through and got out with the mares, it was fine until my mare realised he was also mine, she'd just walk over a bit him, she swiped him across the face with her teeth, but like your boy, she never kicked him! this went on for a while but now they are the best of mates, she follows him around, using his tail to protect her face from the flys! she will shoe him off when food is involved but otherwise they are great together!

sure they will settle down in a couple of weeks
 
amymay said:
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Well sounds like you've done everything right. It's possibly the number that's the problem - 3 can be.

Im amazed that the owner hasn't spoken to the YO about alternative turnout arrangements.
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Owner has said that we will see how things settle, when the new gelding was turned out today he whinnied to the other two, he does not seem frightened, is not stressed or wanting to come in. On the first two days there was some argy bargy at the gate but the new lad has soon learned to stay back & let my lad & his buddy come in first.

Am hoping it will settle down, but i do feel quite responsible as its my lad doing the biting.
 
I would always put the new one out at the other side of a fence from the established herd until I was pretty sure that they had settled. Then I would take back shoes off before putting them all in together. IMO riding out together isn't enough, as they aren't able to behave naturally, they have to do as their riders ask.
 
We separate any new one with electric fence then do introductions slowly (one horse at a time, starting with the lowest in the pecking order). My horse is polite as anything to any strange horse he meets out and about - he loves having a 'chat' and is never, ever aggressive at all! However, in HIS field with his field buddies he is 2nd in command and he has decided he will put any newcomers in their place!

he didn't used to be like this but it's how the herd has developed and he has moved up the rankings to below my pony. My pony though is very fair in his discipline of new horses and does all the right things - keeps new horse away with various techniques (screaming, charging and turning showing his heels). He will not however get close enough to bite or to get himself injured, unless the new horse really doesn't take the hint!
My horse however is rather more gung ho in his approach and just bowls on in with teeth and heels!
They are all different when in their 'herd' no matter how small or large and as owners we need to know the dynamics. Some horses are very passive and there is not an issue introducing new horses but, certainly when there has been two together and you introduce a 3rd, one of those two will act as the top dog and will not want the new one near their pal.

If the new horse does not understand the way things work then this is when they get injured. Hence why it is always best to separate them physically (with fencing) first so they get used to the others' behaviour and learn to keep out of the way if needs be.

Biting isn't a big worry - your horse turning and kicking or indeed being kicked in response to his biting is more of a concern!
 
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