New horse in field just before your biggest ever competition?

milliepops

milliepops

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One of those 'what would you do' posts - need to know whether I'm being daft/prima donna...
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A new horse has just joined the yard today and I knew a few days ago that it was destined to be in the field my mare is in. Currently it's just mine and another livery and has been this way for about 9 months or so.

YO said this morning that the horse was coming today, and that she would put it in the stable until this evening. I thought that would be fine, as mine would then come in and we could suss out how to play introducing it to the field. When I arrived this afternoon, all 3 were out together in the field with lots of squealing, bucking and general hoo ha going on
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So I go to get mine in and the new horse (32 years old, not shod but a good 16.2 and plenty of energy) chased me up the field.
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YO saying 'I think they'll be fine'
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I'm sure they WILL be, eventually, but I have my first CCI* event in 10 days time. I've been working up to this for 3 years and I'm already terrified that something disastrous is going to happen before I get there! So I'm now in a bit of a panic.

So do I

(a) request individual turnout until the competition - even though my mare prefers company, she is quite independent and wouldn't be upset by that (but I'm not normally one to choose single turnout esp for that long)

(b) stick some boots on for turnout and keep my fingers crossed

(c) chuck them all out together and just let them get on with it

What would others do?
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I would go for C, accidents can and do happen at any time, any day regardless of how we wrap them up. She could have been injured by playing with her origional companion. Every time we turn our horses out with others is a risk IMO.

Good luck at your event, I'm sure you'll do fine!
 
Oh dear, mixed responses!
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And I'm so easily swayed!
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I know accidents can and do happen, including with established field pals... and I'm sure they will settle down, but it's just that nagging doubt.
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(Forgot to add, she is stabled overnight so this is trying to work out what to do in the morning)
 
For the sake of ten days individual turnout i would not risk 3 years of effort! I would put her on her own.

Even a minor bruise and you are out! ts nt worth i, seperate her asap.

And i would be very cross at YO for doing that!
 
Even thought you say she doesn't mind been turned out on her own, its sods law she may panick and cause herself injury on the one occasion you need her not to, I would boot her up and put her back out, the new mare will be lower ranked in the pecking order and I doubt she could do much damage with no shoes on.
 
What would happen if you kept her in for the next 10 days, would it worry her very much. If I was in your situation with my mare she would stay in but she is happy to do that. I graze her in hand twice a day and do a bit more work with her.
 
Magicgirl - she is stabled at night (alone on the yard at the mo) and out in the day - I'd prefer not to have her in 24/7 as there are spare fields available.

Thanks all, I didn't think there would be a single answer!
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Think I'll ask to have her in a field next door to the new one at least for a few days and see how it settles in...

(although I don't really understand why the new horse isn't on its tod, while it joins the worming programme etc... Oh well!)
 
I'll give you a straight answer.
As a livery you have very little say in the turnout arrangements your YO may impose on you.
On the other hand said YO has a duty of care to you & your horse, & if someone turned a strange horse out with mine when I wasn't present, or without my prior knowledge or consent I'd have gone ballistic.
Yes, do ask for individual turnout if you feel thats best for the next few days. At the end of the day you're the one that's prepared & paid for the competition. I wouldn't expect either the new livery or your YO would be prepared to compensate you for vets fees or entry money, to say nothing of extra training & the disappointment.
Horses are horses, & will collect injuries at the most inconvenient times anyway. However the risks can be minimised but turning a new horse out in the field isn;t the best way to go about doing that.
 
I may be getting on abit, but we use too and I still do put the new horse in a paddock next to where the others are so they can have a good squealing match kicking out with no damage to either and then after a week let the one one in with the rest and keep a beady eye out for at least a couple of hours. I have my own place but have helped friends out before or when I bought my youngster this spring.
 
my concern about older, poss arthritic horses is that they kick lower, so rather than getting say chest they tend to get knees etc, I have known this happen twice.

If me I would ind turnout.
 
Oh, hadn't thought of that ester. Thanks all, that's my mind made up - I'm sure all will be well but I'd rather find out later, instead of risk losing the megabucks entries etc. (not that I want a broken horse then either, mind!!
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Just andother thought if individual TO in a seperate field isn't an option when you speak to YO.
Would it be possible for you to divide your field up so that she is still turned out with both horses and can meet the new one but hopefully with less chance of being kicked? Then after a few days (or hours depending on them) if all is well turn them out together properly and hope for the best.
Do you know if the new horse is going to be out 24/7?
I hope that you work it out and get to your first CCI* with a sound horse, good luck!
 
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