Would it be possible to integrate mare and foal with another mare?

[a kind of magic]

Our beautiful mare gave birth to a gorgeous little colt foal on easter sunday, so he will be 2 weeks this sunday. He is a well grown and stocky QH foal. He and mum are one side of an electric fence and mum's sister is the other side. We have only recently bought the sister and I am unsure if they were actually kept in the same fields before. However the newbie has been in a field with other mares and foals before now.

What I would ideally like to do soon is to remove the electric fence and allow the two mares in together as the newbie is unhappy being on her own. They say hello over the fence and mum lets baby say hello to auntie, if mum gets cross all it takes is a little ears back and the newbie will move away. When, if at all, will I be able to do this? And if so, how is the best way to go about it?

 

[Enfys]

My mares and foals go back in with the mare herd when the foals are a couple of weeks old, depending on the weather, if it ever stops raining and the ground dries up I may get mine out in about three weeks time.

Right now they are in a paddock where they can touch over gates and fences. With mine, because they run together all the time I just open the gate and let them in, there is rarely any bother other than a maiden 5 year old who loves babies and sometimes gets a bit too close but the dams sort her out.

In your case if they are already friendly over the fence I'd put halters on the mares and let them in together in the morning so that they have all day to settle down. Also, have someone with you standing by just in case you need to separate the mares quickly - hence the halters. They can come off when all is quiet. They may be fine, or the younger mare may chase the foal, in which case I'd keep them separate for a bit longer.

Good Luck.