Sisters pony is coming to stay but I have a question

[sandi_84]

She's coming back from loan and we've decided to take her for a while - possibly forever - and she's going to be put in the field with our two.

My boy is a bit of a bully with smaller horses when he's the dominant in the field (which he is in this field) but we have the field seperated into 3 paddocks with electric tape.

Should I pop her in the paddock next to our two for a bit first, if so how long would you reccomend?

Or should I just chuck her in the deep end and let them get on with it?

Advice grately appreciated!

 

[ladyt25]

I would never just chuck a new arrival in an established herd as it's just asking for trouble in my opinion. I know people do do it but than maybe they don't have the same type of dominant/aggressive herd leaders that I am used to.

It takes us about 5 weeks to fully integrate a newbie and that's started with it being separated by electric fence first and then slowly introducing herd individuals. However, I would say that with 'normal' groups of horses (we have two swines who like to put their oar in!) a week to 2 weeks should be long enough.

 

[sandi_84]

The reason I'm asking is (sorry probably should have said this before) they were all together as a herd last year and got along fine, Pippa and the pony were field best friends.

 

[YorksG]

I would keep them apart until you have seen how they do, we also always take the back shoes off everyone' until we are sure they are settled, I think the longest we have had to leave the shoes off is three weeks.

 

[naid pollyanna]

when we introduce ours we do it in small steps. although some ponies can defend themselves and jump straight in i wouldnt take the risk. first put her next the rest of the horses even just for a few hours but preferably a day or two so they can all niff and say hello over a fence. Then in rank order if you can work it out put the least dominent in with the pony so they can be together for a day. once they seem to be ok either move another one in( depending how many you already have dont leave a well established herd with one horse alone) or when you see know hostile behaviour over the fence mix them all together and just stand nearby and watch for the first 20/30 minutes incase anything kicks off. it should only take a few days

 

[melbiswas]

We separate for a day or two until the initial over- excitement has settled and allow them to size each other up across the fencing.

They have to go through the usual working out of herd politics once they are together however long they are separated beforehand. Hopefully that should be pretty quick in this case.
Our very dominant gelding was fine if the newcomer didn't challenge him at all but he would keep them at a distance for a while and gradually allow them in.

 

[pippixox]

if they have been tpgether before, i would just keep them separate for a few days while she settles back in and then put them in together. they will probably remember each other quite quickly. my friends mare was away for 6 months and she came back and went straight out with the herd (there are 10 at mine) no problems, just a bit of excited reunion behaviour!

 

[sandi_84]

I would keep them apart until you have seen how they do, we also always take the back shoes off everyone' until we are sure they are settled, I think the longest we have had to leave the shoes off is three weeks.

They are all unshod at the moment so one less thing to organise there

when we introduce ours we do it in small steps. although some ponies can defend themselves and jump straight in i wouldnt take the risk. first put her next the rest of the horses even just for a few hours but preferably a day or two so they can all niff and say hello over a fence. Then in rank order if you can work it out put the least dominent in with the pony so they can be together for a day. once they seem to be ok either move another one in( depending how many you already have dont leave a well established herd with one horse alone) or when you see know hostile behaviour over the fence mix them all together and just stand nearby and watch for the first 20/30 minutes incase anything kicks off. it should only take a few days

We've only got Loki & Pippa at the moment, Fuzzy will join sometime in the next few weeks. So I think I'll put Fuzzy in the next paddock and let them get used to each other again for a while and then they'll all have to go together. I think if I put Loki in with her first he'd bully her and if I put Pippa in with her Loki would jump/ limbo under the electric tape - monkey that he is!

 

[em_123]

I usually give them a week in the field next to each other, when they have settled and will eat calmly next to each other on either side of the fence then I open up the bottom end of the fence and let them filter themselves in, I don't ever put them in together, that makes a big deal out of it, but if they happily graze either side of the fence then I open it up and let them do the rest. Obviously with me watching.

 

[sandi_84]

I usually give them a week in the field next to each other, when they have settled and will eat calmly next to each other on either side of the fence then I open up the bottom end of the fence and let them filter themselves in, I don't ever put them in together, that makes a big deal out of it, but if they happily graze either side of the fence then I open it up and let them do the rest. Obviously with me watching.

I like it, good plan!

 

[Gloi]

My pony was away for seven years and they immediately recognised each other and went back to his place in the pecking order.