Introducing a new horse

B

bgray1981

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 September 2012
Messages
119
Visit site
I am getting a new companion for my horse tomorrow as he lost his companion suddenly on Tuesday of colic.
We're not getting the new one until tomorrow afternoon so by the time we're back they'll be going straight in the stable for the night. Should I turn them both out together on the Sunday or do half the day each? Not sure how soon I should turn them out together
 
Lovely to hear you have decided to get him a companion, hope all goes well. Let them have a few days getting to know each other over the fence.
 
Herd animals would be better,

I always worry about injury if they are just chucked out together, however i am going to have to do something similar tomorrow so still wondering what step to take.
 
If you're worried then I'd separate for a few days.
We always just chuck them in together and keep an eye on it. Within 2 or 3 days theyve sorted themselves out :)
 
It depends really on the particular horses in question.

In Leeds, a twenty-year old mare needed to be put to sleep after been seriously kicked by a newly introduced horse.

Last time, when I added our gelding to possibly unbroken horses I went with him on the field and stood near to him for about an hour.

This makes only sense if you are wiling to stand your ground against the other horses. And this depends very much, as I said in the beginning, on the particular horses and humans.
Our daughter got years ago some bruises on her back when a horse tried to bite her from behind during some little brawl on the field between three people and one horse on one side and four horses on the other.
 
Hunter93 said:
we've always chucked ours out together? Horses are pack animals so will eventually get along! But otherwise introduce over stable and then separate field x
Click to expand...

You've been lucky :(

My late mare was chucked out into the field with others , a large field 50 acres.

Big coloured thing attacked her over night on her first night.


Morning came trickling blood from a 5 piece hole. I bathed it and cleaned it , the monday came still weeping. Vet said I do not like this I feel bone. = splint bone shattered 19 pieces ( which I still have). She had a good recovery but leg remained filled.

New livery horse wanted to move to us after a pony was put into the field with hers and it kicked hers while she was away = box rest finding out yo knew pony kicked still turned it out .
said livery said I will move him to yours i have to leave here we will dose him with painkillers to move him, the sunday morning bed everywhere mats all over the place horse standing there leg hanging. said pony had given him a hairline fracture.

RIP Alfie

I will NEVER EVER put new horse straight out into an established group they will ALL have a minimum of 1 week seperation, why take the risk when for the sake of a week you can have fence rails broken instead of a leg:(:(:(:(
 
Last edited:
I think it depends on the individual situation. In an ideal world I would always introduce over a fence for a few days but I would be happy to turn one quiet horse out with another - as long as you can monitor them closely. I would never stick a new horse straight out into an established herd though or with a single horse that I know is very dominant and/or aggressive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top