Introducing Horses - Turning out for Winter

[winchester]

I currently have one field with 2 mares in and one field with 2 geldings in. I am hoping to turn them out all together in the rested Winter field this weekend but worried incase there are any injuries.

How should i go about this? Introduce them over the fence? Turn one out with the others at a time? just put them all out and hope for the best as they will all be in new surroundings with lots of grass?

 

[Lynsey&Smartie]

I have in the past put them in fields next to each other in this situation so that they can get used to each other over the fence first but found that they just charge up and down the fence line making a mess and don't really settle so assuming they they are all pretty good natured I would put them together straight away hoping they will have a bit of a chase around and then settle.

 

[Brightbay]

I currently have one field with 2 mares in and one field with 2 geldings in. I am hoping to turn them out all together in the rested Winter field this weekend but worried incase there are any injuries.

How should i go about this? Introduce them over the fence? Turn one out with the others at a time? just put them all out and hope for the best as they will all be in new surroundings with lots of grass?

In my experience you do get the best effect by turning them all out somewhere they haven't been before (or recently). Adding two into a field where two have already been living is less successful. So you are already in a good position If either of the mares are in season (or about to be), this would be a good reason to delay the introductions Back shoes off is always a good idea if possible.

 

[claribella]

Ive had good and bad experiences with turning them out altogether. It gone well sometimes but other not. The last time I did it my mare came in hopping lame. I would introduce over the fence all the time now. This is what weve done for the last month with a new horse that is joining the herd. They totally ignored her and then got to her. Eventually when we go up to winter turn out they will be put together. Its a tricky one but I guess it just depends on the characters within the herd.