Introducing new horses ?

[cobden99]

I picked my new pony up yesterday. She is a 4yr old mare and seems very sweet tempered. She will be living with my Wesh cob gelding, and his shetland x companion pony.
Last night she was out with the miniature and they were fine - the cob was in the pen that is directly outside my stables and used for winter turnout. They have had yesterday afternoon and all night to meet over the fence - the cob was very excited but she just pretended he was invisible. Today I brought her in and she is in the stable - the 2 geldings were loose with the shelter gate open (as they usually are) but I have had to shut my cob in as he was running at the gate to get at her and I was worried he would go through it. They have been grooming over the door but he is showing real Jekyll and Hyde behaviour. One minute he wants to meet her, the next he acts like he wants to kill her !
He is quite aggressive and always top dog when turned out with others.
So, to get to the point - how do I get her settled in ?
Should I take it slowly, carry on introducing them over the fence and hope he calms down, or turn them out together and let them get on with it ? Neither are shod thank goodness.
Any advice appreciated please .. I know I will be completely stressed until they are all settled together

 

[RubysGold]

i know exactly how you feel, i brought my first horse home on Friday and was so worried about introducing her to the other mares.
I just put her in and they ran around bucking and squealing, and then they calmed down, im so glad she settled in so well!
I'm not sure what you should do tbh, but i hope someone can give you the right advice

Nickie

 

[archie1]

i would leave them apart for a few more days until the mare is fully settled with the companion in with her for a few days then the cob. that way she will be more secure when the cob probably chases her eg she will know how the field lies and where the fences are. i'm sure they will settle down pretty quickly.

 

[ladyt25]

We have to take introducing horses to our 'herd' very very slowly as we have a very dominant herd leader (stallion like in behaviour)and then his 'sidekick' (my horse) who does his dirty work for him - ie goes in all guns blazing with no consideration for himself at all and more often than not ends up getting a kick in the chest!

Because of this we use electric fencing to separate and introduce one horse to the new one one at a time, normally the less dominant first. In this way when they are out together the less domionant ones are less fussed about 'meeting' the new field companion so the top dog horse doesn't have to stress himself too much keeping his herd a suitable distance away from the newbie! It's all about personal space where they're concerned,. My dominant gelding will not go for a full on attack but will give 'warnings' to the new horse and keep his herd in check - ie not let them get too close. if he feels the new one's overstepped the invisible line then he MAY have a run at him and show his heels OR he'll send the side kick in!

Funnily the dominant one will very rarely ever get himself close enough to endanger himself, his body language is normally strong enough. The only times it fails is if it's a new young horse who doesn't quite understant heard behaviours or pecking orders as yet, then unfortunately they are likely to find out the hard way!