New arrival - settling in to a new herd stress

[Jlangley]

Hi Everyone - first post on here so take it easy on me...

My new loan horse arrived at my yard 2 days ago - I know it is still early days but stress levels are through the roof. Me and him!

He was first turned out in a small paddock with a lower ranking member of the herd - as per all advice. He didn't dislike this pony as such but was so desperate to get in with the main herd he was galloping up and down the fence line, trying to go through the fence etc. We decided to let him in with the herd (minus one pony he was acting very aggressively towards over the fence). He has now settled with the herd, has taken role of protector and has bonded very closely with the other two in the field.

Now comes the issue - the one he isn't getting on with needs to go back in the main field. They were going at each other like stallions over the fence and I am worried sick that there will be a big accident when they eventually have to be put together. He is 15.3, the other horse is only 11hh. I think he has claimed the herd as his own and is very defensive.

They come in at night and he is stabled around the corner from his new buddies - this is very stressful for him. He is pacing, calling and wont settle in his stable. He could go in a stable closer to them but this stable is next door (and very open over the wall) to the horse that he has decided he absolutely hates! They have to be stabled due to the high risk of laminitis at the moment. (Another issue entirely!) The grass is very rich and I am on high alert because he is a typical good doer.

Phew, feels good to get it off my chest. Does anyone have any settling in tips? I feel like I have wrenched him away from his home and previous routine and feel so hopeless that he will never settle. He is acting like a totally different horse - I went to see him 10 times in his old home and he was a saint with the other horses, chilled and very docile. Do you think he will ever get back to this?

Thank you for any comments, just want it to be as easy for everyone as possible. Other people on the yard are already concerned and I just feel like I have disrupted the peace big time!

 

[MissTyc]

It's super early days! On my yard, I don't turn out into the herd until after the a 2-week isolation period. This can be very stressful for some horses, but biosecurity needs are what they are. In that time, I find many news horses go from extraverted stress to introverted docility back to screaming and shouting. I then try to get them bonded with a well respected but quiet herd member by taking them out together, walking or riding as appropriate. I try to get them onto the yard and "involved" so everyone can see them every day ... then out. Saying that I do like to leave the herd to do it's own thing 24/7 where possible, as have found that bringing in and putting back out just seems to put off the little arguments and sometimes they never quite get resolved.

Based on all this, my tip for the horse he hates would be to travel them together or ride them together, etc ...

 

[Jlangley]

It's super early days! On my yard, I don't turn out into the herd until after the a 2-week isolation period. This can be very stressful for some horses, but biosecurity needs are what they are. In that time, I find many news horses go from extraverted stress to introverted docility back to screaming and shouting. I then try to get them bonded with a well respected but quiet herd member by taking them out together, walking or riding as appropriate. I try to get them onto the yard and "involved" so everyone can see them every day ... then out. Saying that I do like to leave the herd to do it's own thing 24/7 where possible, as have found that bringing in and putting back out just seems to put off the little arguments and sometimes they never quite get resolved.

Based on all this, my tip for the horse he hates would be to travel them together or ride them together, etc ...

Thank you! I think I just need to be told to calm down and wait it out! I know it's super early days but everyone (horses and humans) are acting very disrupted and I feel like I am the core of all this. The other horses owners are obviously put out because their routine has had to change slightly but I am trying to be as easy going as possible.

It may be okay then stabling him next to the one he isn't getting on with? This is on the main yard so he would be able to see his new mates and watch everything that's going on. Right now he is around the corner with another pony he isnt too fussed about. The only issue is him and the horse he doesn't like can reach each other over the wall and I don't want him being an asbo especially when the other horses 12 year old rider is in the stable.

 

[Shay]

Iff a 15hh can get at an 11hh one over the wall then I would worry about the stable design! I would put them next to each other and see what happens. Theya re probably oth fairly dominant characters and just need some time to sort it out beteen themsleves. If you can take back shoes off both that might be better. But if you can't then try not to stress too much. He just needs to be involved in what is going on and learn his new routine.

 

[TPO]

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Ways-Imp...mcbane+100+ways&qid=1562067497&s=books&sr=1-2

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/100-Ways...cbane+100+ways&qid=1562067514&s=books&sr=1-11

I can't remember what one of these it was but there was some good info about settling a new horse into a new home/routine etc and dealing with aggression and pair bonding. I really liked the author's whole "100 ways" series of books and they are cheap as chips second hand.

Personally I wouldn't stable the new horse next to his "enemy" especially not when there is a low wall and 12yr old child involved.

 

[QueenT]

Hi Everyone - first post on here so take it easy on me...

My new loan horse arrived at my yard 2 days ago - I know it is still early days but stress levels are through the roof. Me and him!

He was first turned out in a small paddock with a lower ranking member of the herd - as per all advice. He didn't dislike this pony as such but was so desperate to get in with the main herd he was galloping up and down the fence line, trying to go through the fence etc. We decided to let him in with the herd (minus one pony he was acting very aggressively towards over the fence). He has now settled with the herd, has taken role of protector and has bonded very closely with the other two in the field.

Now comes the issue - the one he isn't getting on with needs to go back in the main field. They were going at each other like stallions over the fence and I am worried sick that there will be a big accident when they eventually have to be put together. He is 15.3, the other horse is only 11hh. I think he has claimed the herd as his own and is very defensive.

They come in at night and he is stabled around the corner from his new buddies - this is very stressful for him. He is pacing, calling and wont settle in his stable. He could go in a stable closer to them but this stable is next door (and very open over the wall) to the horse that he has decided he absolutely hates! They have to be stabled due to the high risk of laminitis at the moment. (Another issue entirely!) The grass is very rich and I am on high alert because he is a typical good doer.

Phew, feels good to get it off my chest. Does anyone have any settling in tips? I feel like I have wrenched him away from his home and previous routine and feel so hopeless that he will never settle. He is acting like a totally different horse - I went to see him 10 times in his old home and he was a saint with the other horses, chilled and very docile. Do you think he will ever get back to this?

Thank you for any comments, just want it to be as easy for everyone as possible. Other people on the yard are already concerned and I just feel like I have disrupted the peace big time!

Hi Everyone - first post on here so take it easy on me...

My new loan horse arrived at my yard 2 days ago - I know it is still early days but stress levels are through the roof. Me and him!

He was first turned out in a small paddock with a lower ranking member of the herd - as per all advice. He didn't dislike this pony as such but was so desperate to get in with the main herd he was galloping up and down the fence line, trying to go through the fence etc. We decided to let him in with the herd (minus one pony he was acting very aggressively towards over the fence). He has now settled with the herd, has taken role of protector and has bonded very closely with the other two in the field.

Now comes the issue - the one he isn't getting on with needs to go back in the main field. They were going at each other like stallions over the fence and I am worried sick that there will be a big accident when they eventually have to be put together. He is 15.3, the other horse is only 11hh. I think he has claimed the herd as his own and is very defensive.

They come in at night and he is stabled around the corner from his new buddies - this is very stressful for him. He is pacing, calling and wont settle in his stable. He could go in a stable closer to them but this stable is next door (and very open over the wall) to the horse that he has decided he absolutely hates! They have to be stabled due to the high risk of laminitis at the moment. (Another issue entirely!) The grass is very rich and I am on high alert because he is a typical good doer.

Phew, feels good to get it off my chest. Does anyone have any settling in tips? I feel like I have wrenched him away from his home and previous routine and feel so hopeless that he will never settle. He is acting like a totally different horse - I went to see him 10 times in his old home and he was a saint with the other horses, chilled and very docile. Do you think he will ever get back to this?

Thank you for any comments, just want it to be as easy for everyone as possible. Other people on the yard are already concerned and I just feel like I have disrupted the peace big time!

I could have written your post when I bought my horse a few years back. Had the same advice, and introduced my new horse to the herd to soon. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had let my horse have her own enclosure for longer - let her settle into her own skin before dealing with the others, let them settle too. I also had the advice not to demand too much of her riding, probably still true in many ways, stressed as she ways. But riding her would also have given her something to focus on, something she knew how to do. I would definitely have taken more leadership, showing her the way. I am sure it will be fine, it is early days, the difficult part is to adjust along the way without changing things too often and to soon. Best wishes!