Introducing yearling to older horses

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Rebels

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Hi, I got a tb yearling just over a week ago from a local stud as she was deemed too small for prep and was going to be pts. She is a fair bit smaller, think large foal! I have kept her on her own until now to check for obvious bugs but she was used to being kept with other yearling fillies so has never seen a big horse until now. I want to introduce her to my 6yr old tb mare who is kept with my 4yr old tb/ID but dont really know how as she cannons straight into electric tape and ties herself up. Any ideas how to introduce her without scaring her? Thanks
 
Well I put my filly out in the paddock and then went and got the older mare (very quiet and has had foals before) and put her in the same padock. I was expecting some reaction but this is as exciting as it got. :rolleyes: :cool:
Flossandmelody.jpg


A few months later I had to introduce my other mare (quite bossy) to the other two. I had her shoes pulled for this and left her headcollar on until they were all grazing nicely. They had a canter around, but that was all.
DSCN4523.jpg
 
Looks peaceful! I just wasnt sure whether to just go for it or try smaller paddocks first. Think i'm just going to do it, thanks.
 
Ususally other horses still consider yearlings to be babies so will put up with a lot. My gelding was in with a very cheeky yearling who was always head butting him in the stomach, hindquarters anywhere just for attention. Mine used to tolerate a lot the same as all the other horses until he became too much and then just give him a little nip or squeal at him. They did eventually teach him his place in the pecking order. But we were all amazed that he was never hurt.
 
i got a 15mth old last year although he had been with other, older horses so i guess had some idea of how things worked. Took several weeks (5 I think) before he was in with everyone but that's mainly cos we have a fairly established herd.

Funnily though the 'boss' was much more tolerant of him than the 2nd in command who went on a bit of a death run after the youngster even after the 5 weeks and we had to separate them again then.

We had introduced him to the lowest ranking member 1st - that being our 26 yo TB and now they are best buddies! he certainly does get told off still if he pushes it too much but they are still fairly tolerant of him. I think it is good to mix them with older ones as they keep them in check and I think it does improve their manners. I think mine has just about learned that horse are the ones he canplay with NOT humans! ha ha
 
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