Mini Introduction to Horse

[BirchwoodPonies]

I’ve had my little 9hh mini (who was previously in a mixed herd) for 5 days and tried to introduce her to my 14.3hh cob today, however ended up separating them after 5 mins as I got too nervous given the size difference. They’ve been next to each other nosing over the fence and seemed settled so I thought it was time. My boy is always the dominant one, but wouldn’t call him usually aggressive, but he will stand his ground. My mini came in to the field squirting (didn’t think she was in season), and backing into him constantly whilst he got more angry with her, kicking out, she even got a couple of gentle kicks from him but wasn’t bothered in the slightest and kept annoying him. I separated them again as I started worrying.
As I’ve never had mini’s before I was wondering if I’m being over protective of my little one, or if they really should be kept separate?

 

[cauda equina]

My mini went out with 2 cobs (one a gentleman, the other a bit of a thug) with no problems, but they were all geldings

Maybe give it a couple of days and then try again.
Could you rig up a bolt hole for her - eg a strand of tape, high enough for her but too low for the cob that she can run under if she feels threatened?

 

[Frano]

Maybe she is coming into season.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I've always given it a good couple of weeks with grazing a tiny and a big one with a permanent fence between.
Then I'd let the tiny explore the other paddock alone.
After this I'd work bigger one quite hard and then turn them out in separate paddocks but open gate between them AND put a pole across that gateway high enough for tiddler to get under but not bigger one, so tiny has a refuge if needed. I'd leave it like this for at least another week.
Take your time and don't force anything.

 

[BirchwoodPonies]

Thank you for your responses. I’ll give it another week before trying them again, and do have the ideal paddock set up where she’d be able to get through to another paddock if needed. My concern is she wasn’t trying to get away when he was warning her yesterday, she just kept getting under his legs and backing up into him. If only she was a little more wary of him!