Introducing a horse you know will cause problems!

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poiuytrewq

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How's best to go about this!
I've slightly stupidly (in hindsight) said that my daughter can have her loaned horse with ours, this is if the owners agree as its currently kept at their own yard but this was our decision at first so im sure it will be fine.
Its a mare and quite a marish mare at that! Mine are boys and get a bit feisty around mares. We don't have any and never have had so they haven't actually been turned out with mares in the past few years at least but a mare lives on and off over the fence and causes havoc.
Im hoping it will be better as this one will actually be in the same routine etc as the boys are so there shouldn't be hysteria on either side when one is taken away or whatever but I am concerned about fighting. The two bigger geldings are quite playful any way and im a bit worried that they will fight over her.
I did think of splitting them into 2 groups 2x geldings and a the mare and remaining gelding but am concerned they might start trashing fencing!
I don't have enough land available to separate her completely and we are moving so there will be no neighbouring horses.
WWYD? (apart from saying I made a mistake and you cant have her!!!)
 
I would not want to put one marish mare in with three feisty geldings especially if they are all shod and big, the geldings may well fight for her attentions, splitting would be the safest option at least until you have some idea how they will all get along, a double line of fencing so the two pairs cannot touch should prevent fence trashing, if you are moving soon it may be best to wait until then so you can set it up suitably rather than splitting a field they are used to having all of.
 
be positive said:
I would not want to put one marish mare in with three feisty geldings, the geldings may well fight for her attentions, splitting would be the safest option at least until you have some idea how they will all get along, a double line of fencing so the two pairs cannot touch should prevent fence trashing, if you are moving soon it may be best to wait until then so you can set it up suitably rather than splitting a field they are used to having all of.
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this
 
I keep my horses at home. I feel your pain. My new 16.2 gelding is a pain in the arse over my pony mare. I have days when I seriously consider separating them. She squeals and he spends too much time hovering over her rear end.
Personally I think you should definitely separate them as you don't own this mare. If you cannot separate them, don't take her.
 
I would put the mare in with the calmest gelding with at least one field between the two pairs. I would also keep the 2 boys in when you turn the mare and gelding out for the first time so not all 4 horses are going nuts at once. when they are settled put the boys out.
 
LadyRascasse said:
I would put the mare in with the calmest gelding with at least one field between the two pairs. I would also keep the 2 boys in when you turn the mare and gelding out for the first time so not all 4 horses are going nuts at once. when they are settled put the boys out.
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I agree with this or to be really safe put her in a field alone, my gelding would not tolerate any horse in the field when he lived with my mare he was plain evil to everything.
 
I would try putting the stronger/bossier gelding with the mare and keep them together for a bit before letting them all together. Thinking behind that is that the stronger gelding will probably want to have the mare for him anyway and lower rank geldings are probably going to let him get away with that.
 
IME the mare introduced to a herd of boys usually has them whipped into shape and behaving like big babies within a couple of days, Although not nice to look at ( esp if your hubby is like mine and precious about muddy divots in the grass) as long as there are no back shoes, the mares I have ever encountered have been far more domineering than any geldings, I wouldn't bother one at a time, as in past efforts with herds this has made it worse, ie four horses individually added over a four days = four days of scraps, whereas everyone in together has resulted in one morning of careering about, one dominant mare being the boss and then everyone else toeing the line, harmony restored.
 
I'd put the mare next door on her own for a while (at least a fortnight) then introduce quiet gelding and see how they go for a good 2/3 months. If they're all ok with that, I'd then consider putting them in together. In the mean time, ride out lots together, put them on trailer / lorry if you have one and bring them onto the yard at the same time etc. Hopefully by the time she goes in with them they'll be so used to her being there that it won't be an issue.
 
poiuytrewq said:
How's best to go about this!
I've slightly stupidly (in hindsight) said that my daughter can have her loaned horse with ours, this is if the owners agree as its currently kept at their own yard but this was our decision at first so im sure it will be fine.
Its a mare and quite a marish mare at that! Mine are boys and get a bit feisty around mares. We don't have any and never have had so they haven't actually been turned out with mares in the past few years at least but a mare lives on and off over the fence and causes havoc.
Im hoping it will be better as this one will actually be in the same routine etc as the boys are so there shouldn't be hysteria on either side when one is taken away or whatever but I am concerned about fighting. The two bigger geldings are quite playful any way and im a bit worried that they will fight over her.
I did think of splitting them into 2 groups 2x geldings and a the mare and remaining gelding but am concerned they might start trashing fencing!
I don't have enough land available to separate her completely and we are moving so there will be no neighbouring horses.
WWYD? (apart from saying I made a mistake and you cant have her!!!)
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Just as well I saw this as this is our situation

A livery who has been here 2 years has a 4 year old mare who is VERY VERY marish and tarty. 2 New geldings all over her (after a week separation). Lots of bulling between new owners two horses, as one gelding is riggy like, the other horse possessive. My boy is actually the mares b/f so when he is around they don't get a look in We found a lot of advise which goes as follows:


Gelding went on to rigcalm by global herbs

mare is on oestress and FriskyMare by global herbs - the change was remarkable, they still hang about her but the stress has dropped 85% to what it was and there is now peace in the fields. All this change happened in 2 days, Regumate was not an option as they need to stay on this full time during the summer.

It has been 4 days now since mare started on on oestress they have run out of magic so the mare still needs that again it worked for our situation.

I have to end with neither of these two geldings have ever been in a field with mares before.
 
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