Yearling sharing with older mares - please help, advice needed!

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Esme2015

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Hi there

I've just joined this forum. I've been using it for reference constantly, but can't see anything specifically about my topic, so would welcome some advice from those that have experience of my situation - thanks in advance! Sorry about the epic tale, I shall try to keep as short as possible!

I've got a 15 year old cob x and her 17 month old yearling filly. They have been separated since weaning but I am now moving them both to a private yard with my friend's 5 year old, who is a quiet mare. My mare is dominant, although a very calm sensible mare, and will be the top of the herd. I am obviously concerned about my little one being kicked. She was with a nanny mare and a colt for about a year after weaning and then more recently has been sharing a field with an older dominant mare, however they get on very well (which I wasn't expecting). My filly is extremely quiet and is not an annoying youngster, ie she keeps herself to herself and moves out of the way quickly. If anything, the older mare is more spooky than she is and more excitable!

My new yard has three stables, a small pen with hardcore and a big field area. I am not sure whether to fence my older mare off in a separate paddock (she is pretty calm and would be fine alone) and put the other two in together or put them all in together. I've been told to either move the little one and my friend's mare in together and then introduce my mare, or put my two in first and let the middle one come in last. I've also been told to put my little one in the pen at night and stable by day but I don't really want to do that if I can help it. Our plan was to stable all three at night and out on the grass by day.

I've read a lot of different opinions on youngsters sharing with older horses and have been told so many different things by experienced youngstock owners, so I'm completely in a quandry and very confused! I was initially going to put my mare in a separate paddock to the other two and then introduce them slowly.

I should also point out that my mare and filly were completely ready for weaning, my filly was already very independent but she isn't bossy at all, just quiet.

What do people think from experience? Do we also remove the back shoes off the two older ones for the first two or three days too?

Please help!!!

Thank you to everyone for reading:o
 
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Most horses are extremely tolerant of youngsters. They do not treat them the same as other horses; they know they're babies. I would worry far more about your mare getting protective over her baby and kicking the 5 year old. This would be my biggest concern. But yes, I would remove the hind shoes from the older ones in any case. Much safer.
 
They are mother and daughter? They will be fine together, it's the other one that might be the odd one out.
 
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. That's an interesting point! I don't know how my mare will be with her filly because she was very ready for her to be taken away at weaning, and that was a year ago-ish. She wasn't protective at all towards the end unless she thought she was in real danger and they were sharing a field with other mares and foals. I'll certainly bear that in mind though as you're right, her maternal instinct could kick in I guess? Will definitely get shoes removed.

Thanks again!
 
NZJenny said:
They are mother and daughter? They will be fine together, it's the other one that might be the odd one out.
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Yes. To be honest, I didn't even think that the other one would be the odd one out! Will have to make sure she doesn't get bullied as she's a very sweet mare.
 
if she was weaned about a year ago she will be 2 this year and having been away from her mother for the year its possible that they will not remember each other so although the mares should treat the filly as a baby its worth introducing them over the fence first so that they are grazing or eating happily beside each other before you put them together. totally agree with the above and get the hind shoes off first especially with a youngster being with them
 
Andalucian said:
No way, they will immediately remember each other.
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Absolutely this. They will remember each other.

The three will be fine OP. I have had a mother, daughter and a gelding thrown into the mix and they all settled and grazed together without any issues. The mother and daughter had been separated for a similar amount of time
 
My old mare got very mumsy as she aged (she was a maiden mare to the best of my knowledge) and would automatically adopt anything at all that was small, old or young or any combination of those! She would gently protect and educate her "protege" and make sure that no-one else bothered them. It usually seems to be geldings that are particularly mean to new field mates, mares seem to be more tolerant, especially with babies.
 
Thank you all for your replies, I am feeling a whole lot better about the situation, I can tell you! The two mares will have their shoes off for the first few days and we will keep an eye on all of them. I may keep Tia (my mare) in the pen bit to let the two younger ones get to know each other and then introduce her, mainly because I don't want her bullying the middle one.

Very gratefully appreciated, I cannot tell you how relieved I feel at reading all your posts.
 
fatpiggy said:
My old mare got very mumsy as she aged (she was a maiden mare to the best of my knowledge) and would automatically adopt anything at all that was small, old or young or any combination of those! She would gently protect and educate her "protege" and make sure that no-one else bothered them. It usually seems to be geldings that are particularly mean to new field mates, mares seem to be more tolerant, especially with babies.
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My little one was in with a mare who did just this, she was a lovely 'nanny'. Sadly, I am not convinced mine would be like this, but it's useful to know about the mares/geldings mix.
Thanks for your reply!
 
cronkmooar said:
Absolutely this. They will remember each other.

The three will be fine OP. I have had a mother, daughter and a gelding thrown into the mix and they all settled and grazed together without any issues. The mother and daughter had been separated for a similar amount of time
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This makes me feel so much better, thank you!
 
I put 2 yearlings geldings in with my older dominant mare & they all got along fine, although when I got the 2 foals as weanlings I did have them in a field next to her so she was aware of them.
 
My 14yo mare has adopted our yearling rescue foster filly as an honorary daughter. When her actual 4yo daughter returned from being broken in, she protected her adopted daughter from her real one :D. They all get on fine together as a threesome, but the older mare has definitely taken the youngster under her wing.
 
Andalucian said:
No way, they will immediately remember each other.
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this.
I weaned my foal, kept her apart from her mother and then put her back with her mother. She is now 3. Mother is totally devoted to her and puts up with any misdemeanours!

I had a yearling colt who had been kept in a barn with 3 of his half brothers all yearlings. He had lived like that for 6 months since being weaned. A couple of years later I bought his by then 3yo half brother.
They not only remembered each other they remembered every single move of their earlier play fighting. It was like they had never been apart.
 
Hi All

I just thought I would update on the situation. So, we moved yards on Sunday. The two youngsters (my yearling and my friend's five year old) went into the top paddock, my yearling's dam, my mare, in the bottom. All seemed fine. In fact what was interesting is that my mare had been really crabby at her daughter whilst at the other yard, *she and her daughter were stabled next to each other for two weeks pre move) but looked to her for reassurance in the field as she was by herself in a new place. My yearling cantered towards her when she sensed she was worried , it was almost as though she was saying, 'Don't worry mummy.' Anyway, my mare wasn't really settling in her individual paddock so we decided to be brave and put them together yesterday. Within minutes my mare and yearling were grooming each other. I do think they remembered each other. I am not sure why my mare was grumpy with her when in the stable, although she can be grumpy full stop with stable mates, but I was surprised and heartened at the reaction.

Thanks for all your advice.
 
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