Introducing new horse

[Halfpass]

My friend is bringing her horse to the yard that I am curently on.
I have a mare and she has a gelding so they will be in seperate fields.
The geldings are a long standing herd of 4 who haven't had a new arrival for a number of years. The horses are all set in their ways as are the owners and we want to minimise any disruption to both!
They are in a very large 10+ acre field.
How would you approach introducing them. We have had many suggestions from the other liverys including don't do it!!!
Putting him in a neighbouring field fo a few days isn't an option either.
My suggestion was one at a time over a couple of days.
What would you all do?

 

[BBH]

I'd introduce the herd leader first in the hope that once accepted by him the others would be fairly plain sailing.

 

[Rudey]

We have a small fenced off isolation paddock in the big fields. Any new horses joining the herd go in there for 5 days, they get wormed as soon as they go in, and we ensure jabs are all up to date. Over th 5 days they are able to meet and greet the others over the fence. Once we are happy they haven't got worms, we let them out with the rest of the herd.

In all fairness even with this process of letting them touch over the fence and meet each other, it takes a good 2 weeks for them to establish pecking order, make buddies, and settle down again.

Try not to worry as they will adapt quite quickly if you allow them to.

Is there any electric fencing you have/can borrow to make a little isolation paddock? If not, what about turning the new horse into your riding paddock, and gradually introduce the herd by popping them in there one at a time? Hopefully a confined controlled environment won't put too much stress on the horses and give them chance to get to know each other. Then when you turnout out the new horse into the large field, it will take abit of edge off them? xx

 

[Booboos]

Can you not get hold of some electric fencing? Ideally you want to give the new arrival a few days on his own in a smaller field where he can still see and smell the others. If all looks OK, then allow him in with everyone else, but there may be a bit of running around and kicking about until they get settled unfortunately. If you are really, really worried it might be safer to split the field in two or three sections and keep them in groups of 2 or 3.

 

[HollyP]

I would try and seperate with electric fencing ... if not then yes introduce to the herd leader....