Introducing "kinda new" horse to other?

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TheRedMare

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(A little update first, if you saw my earlier posts.

The unpleasant lady, I have been informed, is looking for livery elsewhere. If she does not leave of her own accord, LO will give notice. Yard manager was talking about putting her horse to sleep (when her friend is "forced" to leave) still but hasn't said anything since the snow hit us. I am moving into the cottage by the yard.

I threw another spanner in the works, because...if everyone else leaves, I can't have my mare on her own. So, I've agreed to buy a companion for her. She is also a mare. That will not go down very well, but she's the best long-term buddy that I will still be able to work with too. Yard manager hasn't said much to me since I notified her, but said they'd clear out the spare stable by the time I bring her (date organised), which is perfectly okay, no rush until she's coming.

So, there's my update.)


Now... With this new little mare that I'll be bringing to the yard, how do I go about introducing her to my larger mare? They've both come from the same home, so they've seen each other about before on the yard only. They've never been turned out together, though I think they have been hacked out together.

They'll be put in adjacent stables where they can interact over the half-wall between their stables.

My grazing is still quite soggy so I don't want to split it up if at all possible (but I can) as I'm expecting some friction when I ask for a little bit more of the field. I have a little under 1/3 of the grazing and they have a little over 2/3. It can be split, but I'm concerned about my big mare going up and down the fence line and churning up a new patch or making the current one worse. (She's churned up the line of fence between her and the other two horses by trotting and pacing it, but it looks to be very slowly recovering.)

Could they go out together, if I introduce them in hand first, bearing in mind their history? The little one has no shoes but the big one does need them for the moment. I imagine the big mare will be very excited to have company.

Just tossing it up in my head, because I'm a bit back and forth on this one! Ideally, we get some nice, dry ground and I split the field temporarily before letting them in together, but I'm watching the weather forecast dubiously!

Maybe there's something I haven't thought of? Thank you in advance! :)
 
Yep I would turn out together. I'd stable them overnight side by side so they can touch noses and say hi, then I would chuck them both out.

There are only 2 of them so should be ok to split up if needed.
 
Are you going to put her in the stable currently used as a walk through? That will cause untold problems bearing in mind you were so against the other livery moving in there. Personally, I'd wait until the other livery leaves then get the new mare. That way, you're entitled to 2/3 of the grazing and can split it for a week and the land will hopefully be a lot dryer than it is now.
 
9tails said:
Are you going to put her in the stable currently used as a walk through? That will cause untold problems bearing in mind you were so against the other livery moving in there. Personally, I'd wait until the other livery leaves then get the new mare. That way, you're entitled to 2/3 of the grazing and can split it for a week and the land will hopefully be a lot dryer than it is now.
Click to expand...

This is the only empty stable, yes. I have delayed bringing the second horse up, but I cannot risk my mare being left alone as I don't expect to have notice of when the other livery client is leaving or when the yard manager is having her horse put to sleep (if she does it). My big mare unfortunately cannot be left on her own.

I'm just trying to see how best to introduce these two again.
 
I am leaning towards turning them out together with supervision (perhaps head collars while they're being watched) and seeing if I can put up some more fencing at the very end of the field to allow extra grass where we haven't been grazing (it's not normally grazed). I'm thinking that the stomach will win out if any jolly behaviour ensues.
 
9tails said:
Are you going to put her in the stable currently used as a walk through? That will cause untold problems bearing in mind you were so against the other livery moving in there.
Click to expand...

To be fair, it was the other livery that was throwing a wobbly over her mare touching her gelding, who then wanted to move said gelding directly next door and within constant touching distance :p
 
Nasicus said:
To be fair, it was the other livery that was throwing a wobbly over her mare touching her gelding, who then wanted to move said gelding directly next door and within constant touching distance :p
Click to expand...

True, the other livery is a nutter. She'll probably want Fort Knox for the new mare too.
 
I would take back shoes off and put them in together if they already now each other and there haven't been any issues before. I wouldn't risk big mare kicking new mare with back shoes on. They don't have to stay off for long if all goes well.
 
I would introduce them in hand first and then turn them out in separate fields next to each other just so they can get used to each other. Then before you put them out together make sure neither of them are fresh so that they don’t get too excited! It’s taking it quite slow, but with horses you can never be too sure!
 
TheRedMare said:
(A little update first, if you saw my earlier posts.

The unpleasant lady, I have been informed, is looking for livery elsewhere. If she does not leave of her own accord, LO will give notice. Yard manager was talking about putting her horse to sleep (when her friend is "forced" to leave) still but hasn't said anything since the snow hit us. I am moving into the cottage by the yard.

I threw another spanner in the works, because...if everyone else leaves, I can't have my mare on her own. So, I've agreed to buy a companion for her. She is also a mare. That will not go down very well, but she's the best long-term buddy that I will still be able to work with too. Yard manager hasn't said much to me since I notified her, but said they'd clear out the spare stable by the time I bring her (date organised), which is perfectly okay, no rush until she's coming.

So, there's my update.)


Now... With this new little mare that I'll be bringing to the yard, how do I go about introducing her to my larger mare? They've both come from the same home, so they've seen each other about before on the yard only. They've never been turned out together, though I think they have been hacked out together.

They'll be put in adjacent stables where they can interact over the half-wall between their stables.

My grazing is still quite soggy so I don't want to split it up if at all possible (but I can) as I'm expecting some friction when I ask for a little bit more of the field. I have a little under 1/3 of the grazing and they have a little over 2/3. It can be split, but I'm concerned about my big mare going up and down the fence line and churning up a new patch or making the current one worse. (She's churned up the line of fence between her and the other two horses by trotting and pacing it, but it looks to be very slowly recovering.)

Could they go out together, if I introduce them in hand first, bearing in mind their history? The little one has no shoes but the big one does need them for the moment. I imagine the big mare will be very excited to have company.

Just tossing it up in my head, because I'm a bit back and forth on this one! Ideally, we get some nice, dry ground and I split the field temporarily before letting them in together, but I'm watching the weather forecast dubiously!

Maybe there's something I haven't thought of? Thank you in advance! :)
Click to expand...

I would never turnout one new horse with another existing horse(s), I would put in an adjacent field for at least a week, take back shoes off both or put pony into a cordoned off area within the field.

I would not take the risk with my horse or a new livery if a serious kicking match starts, not worth it for the sake of a week IMO
 
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I would take them both on a walk about first after the stabling to see how they react being closer to eachother without a wall or fence. Just cause they have seen eachother is not going to mean they will get on. A horse at my yard that ive ridden with and hacked with many times who was also in a pen right beside was turned out with Jed just over a week ago and he cornered him and kicked ten bells out of him and they had to be split and Jed had to get vet attention. Im now stuck with a horse who is back to sqaure one with his hind end after 1.5years of work to loosen it. That being said, he was put back in with another pony who he used to be with, and there was nothing at all.

I often think Jed brings it on himself, he is very socially awkward. But i won't want that horse near him again..
 
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