some of you might have noticed my “buying a horse threads”. Well I’ve found a horse and she comes home on Saturday for a 2 week trial.
I was wondering how everyone introduces a new horse to the herd? I have one other gelding a mini and 3 donkeys. They currently all go out together with zero issues. Thanks in advance! 
Prayer.
Kidding. Seriously, I first hand walk horse along fence line with other horses in stalls. I do this regardless of the type of fencing.
Turn out alone, with hay out if it’s winter or a dry lot.
One by one introduce other horses. Starting w/least dominant first. Allow time between introductions to adapt a bit.
Supervise. Expect some bites/kicks as they acclimate. Here is where prayer actually comes in. Hope it’s not serious.
Do you plan to quarentine the new horse? Have the people you’re trailing her from okayed her being turned out in your herd?
[QUOTE=RegentLion;8598959]
Prayer.
Kidding. Seriously, I first hand walk horse along fence line with other horses in stalls. I do this regardless of the type of fencing.
Turn out alone, with hay out if it’s winter or a dry lot.
One by one introduce other horses. Starting w/least dominant first. Allow time between introductions to adapt a bit.
Supervise. Expect some bites/kicks as they acclimate. Here is where prayer actually comes in. Hope it’s not serious.
Do you plan to quarentine the new horse? Have the people you’re trailing her from okayed her being turned out in your herd?[/QUOTE]
I’m not doing a quarantine. They are all UTD on shots and I have no where to quarentine. The owners have said it was okay to put her in my herd. That’s why we’re doing a trail period, to see if they all get along.
I’ve been quite surprised that my mini herd has been really, really aggressive to newcomers. When I introduced a new gelding into my herd of three (one mare and two geldings) they tried to kill him.
I put him out separately for two weeks and then put him out with my calm guy first - who initially was in on the shark attack, but who calmed down first.
It took a full three months for the new gelding to be fully accepted into the herd.
Same with a yearling I added in December. I had to separate him for several weeks, then put him out with my grumpy ‘uncle’ gelding for another three weeks. He still was chased around quite a bit until about two weeks ago. That would be three months from arrival again.
That seems to be the magic number with my gang.
It’s interesting though, that when I had my Thoroughbred here there were zero introduction complications. He quietly supervised everyone and there was never the attack that the minis did on newcomers after he was gone.
[QUOTE=Horsechick200;8598965]
I’m not doing a quarantine. They are all UTD on shots and I have no where to quarentine. The owners have said it was okay to put her in my herd. That’s why we’re doing a trail period, to see if they all get along.[/QUOTE]
Ok great!
I wouldn’t turn a horse out with my horses if I didn’t own him. Keep them separated. What if all heck breaks loose and your trial horse gets hurt? I doubt you’ll be off the hook. I wouldn’t take the chance.
If you have a horse on trial, I would NOT turn it with others, not worth the chance of something happening.
Just doing that now with a new horse we bought and is going very well.
Horses in pens, where they can smell and interact over strong pipe panels with new horse in his side of the pens.
After a day or two, new horse turned out where it can run around in a larger area, still across from the herd turned out in a now larger area.
After a few days of that, when they take naps standing across the fence from each other, lay down to sleep close to each other, we know they are bonding.
After a few or more days, depending on the new horse, after feeding hay on the ground, more flakes than horses, we open the pens all around and the new horse walks in with the others, the others walk in where he was, they all have the run of all the pens and traps.
Only had real trouble once, a horse didn’t indicate anything under that system, once I opened the gates, he walked in with the herd and then ran at the meekest, softest, low in the herd gelding, grabbed him by the neck and knocked him down and was shaking him.
I got to them and hit him with the manure cart to get him off and put him by himself again and found him another home, where some older ranch horse gave him a better education in horse manners.
He is still there and fits fine, never fought there, but wow, that was scary to watch.
Other than that, new horses find a buddy and get along fine.
Some other problems have been, had one that would not go out to pasture and was guarding the pens, a few that herded some and played keep away with others, but no fighting, which is nice.
Good luck with your introductions.
This is all geldings, with mares or mixed herds, well, that may be a bit different, some just don’t get along as well as most geldings may.
Usual plan is to turn new horse out alone in a separate paddock. They come in at night with the others, after 2-3 -4 weeks everyone is used to new one, I then turn new one out with an ambassador. Then wait a bit to either switch ambassador or just turn out with the gang. I usually goes reasonably well, but occasionally there are headaches.
I have fairly stable groups so adding a new member to herd is always done slowly and carefully.
Also, consider, some times you may have barrier aggression, horses posturing across a fence, that turned together are absolutely fine.
We have an older horse that will make mean faces at others across a fence, but is everyone’s friend when turned out together.
The ones that will have problems are the ones that ignore each other or go to the other end of the pen from the other horse by the fence.
If they don’t interact normally across the fence, it is not a given that they will fight when put together, but you never know.
When we have tried putting one of the herd with the new one to give them a buddy when finally turned out, the problem is, we are guessing at who that should be that will be the good buddy, not be one that may not like each other that much.
Horses don’t always agree with our opinion on who should be their best friend.
You just have to keep trying and watching what happens, but no, I would not even consider any of that with a horse on trial, not already bought.
I just keep new ones separate from the herd, regardless of who owns the newcomer. They can visit across the fence for as long as it takes, usually a few weeks (until the new horse becomes boring to the herd). I also give the new ones a mellow companion as his/her first pasture buddy.
Agree even with owners permission i wouldn’t be turning a horse on trial out with others. If the horse is injured who keeps it?
For me it does depend on the horses and how much room i have. I prefer to keep seperated for 24 hours or so at least but i have also just tossed out horses together onto bigger acerage paddocks. Horses that i know have been boarded together before even after several years apart i will/have tossed straight out together.
I have one comping end of the year that i expect to have problems with. Shes been turned out with my mare before and my mare was boss but she postures a lot and generally carries on like an idiot. She will get put by herself for a few days then i’ll put her in the big paddock by herself before putting the most of the others out with her. My old boy i won’t risk going out with her as while he’s dominant hes just not quick any more and she just doesn’t get subtle.
On Day 1, new horse moves into end stall, with private paddock attached. Other horses are in their stalls, they can sniff and snort, but not touch.
Day 2, new horse allowed out in his paddock for a few hours. Other horses locked in their stalls.
Day 3, 4 and 5 usually go like Day 2.
Day 6, let one friendly horse out of his stall while new horse is turned out. Watch for fireworks or explosions.
By 2 weeks all horses should be grazing in close proximity to each other with no fireworks. Then take new horse on walk around the property. After that, turn new horse and one other friendly horse out together with supervision. Add another horse to the herd every day until all our out together.
I used to run a boarding barn so horses would come and go. This is a timely topic for me because my TB retired and moved out to my farm today, after being at a very nice Hunter/jumper barn for a few years.
Like others have said, I usually turn out in an adjacent pen for a day (or two or three, depending on the reaction).
I just went through this last week when I got a 2yo filly to turn out with my current herd (2 mares, 2 gelding ponies). She lived in the adjacent pen for 3 days with no issues, and I turned her out in my arena a few times with my “grandpa” pony (my 20-something year old gelding who’s gotten along with every horse I’ve ever had). Then I gave her 3 days with just the alpha mare (it worked out that way since I had the other mare at a clinic) and the grandpa pony. And then all 3 mares went out together. Then the last missing fieldmate (young gelding pony) finally got reintroduced.
But the moment of truth (when they get turned loose for the first time) is still always a cross-my-fingers-and-pray moment!
Very similar to everyone else. I’ll also echo my concern about turning out a horse you don’t own in the herd. Make sure you get that all in writing!
What others have hinted at but not said, I like the new horse to be in the area first, and then add the veteran horse. It seems to be a little easier on everyone than the newbie marching into the veteran’s area.
ETA: If you think it may be bad, boots and blankets may not be a bad idea. We don’t allow hind shoes in group turnout. I don’t like over blanketing, but if it’s cool enough to throw blankets on for the initial introduction, I would if I had reason to be concerned. I had one mare introduction go particularly bad (for probably 30 seconds but felt like forever) and I was very happy for the extra protection on both parties.
I have everything in writing and signed by the owner.
I currently only have one 4 acre paddock since I haven’t lived here long enough to divide it up yet! I think I’m going to bring everyone in before I get the newbie home. Put the newbie out alone for a few minutes first and then put my gelding out since he’s pretty passive. Then I’ll do the donkeys and finally my mini since she’s boss.
Take your time with intros if you can if you can’t think in terms of days think in terms of hours.
New horse goes in stall overnight here then out acres sis from driveway from herd. Then one at a time most are introduced then finally new horse goes over into bigger field with all.
I put them in stalls next to each other from anywhere from one hour to one day. I have small “herds” of 2 or 3 horses. If you have a large herd, do this with the herd boss and the lowest one on the totem pole so the new horse will get to know them first. Then I leave a halter on the new horse for the first hour while I observe them. Then I take the halter off so they don’t start playing halter tag.
I did this yesterday with a new training horse and two of my boys and all was well and after a while the new one and the boss were splashing water in the water trough together. All were fine!
[QUOTE=vicarious;8599066]
Usual plan is to turn new horse out alone in a separate paddock. They come in at night with the others, after 2-3 -4 weeks everyone is used to new one, I then turn new one out with an ambassador. Then wait a bit to either switch ambassador or just turn out with the gang. I usually goes reasonably well, but occasionally there are headaches.
I have fairly stable groups so adding a new member to herd is always done slowly and carefully.[/QUOTE]
This.
Nice and slow.
But if horses do not actually belong to me, I’d would not put in in with my herd. At all.
We’re getting two new ponies in the next couple of weeks.
They were here on outdoor board from January to March 2015…owner did not have any way to keep water thawed. They stayed in one paddock and my 4 in an adjacent paddock.
Now their owner is looking to rehome them permanently, so we’re taking them back
But… I will still follow my ‘slow and easy’ routine even though 2 of my current three have already ‘met’ them. It’s been over a year and I don’t need any vet bills.
OP… can you put up some temporary electric to keep the newbie apart?
I have always used a dry lot off the barn . It is fenced with round pen panels and allows the horses to have contact whenever they wish, but the safety of a strong , safe fence between them. After several days of an attitude of " meh" I let them out and everyone happily wanders out to eat.
If on trial, I might not want to let them out together. You should be able to gauge how they get along by what happens through the fence shared.
[QUOTE=Horsechick200;8599490]
I currently only have one 4 acre paddock since I haven’t lived here long enough to divide it up yet! I think I’m going to bring everyone in before I get the newbie home. Put the newbie out alone for a few minutes first and then put my gelding out since he’s pretty passive. Then I’ll do the donkeys and finally my mini since she’s boss.[/QUOTE]
Sounds good to me. I don’t easily have the option of turning out a horse separately so I try to start the introductions at the beginning of the weekend, turn out the new horse with the most passive ones and wait an hour or so, if that. Then slowly start adding a horse until by the end of the day, all of the horses are out together.
I watch for a while all during this time, with a lunge whip at the ready. Overnight, I put the new horse in a stall so I can sleep…:D, then start the process again the next day. By the end of the weekend, the “herd” has now grown by one.
It does take a while for everyone to settle so don’t expect total harmony right away. I usually rest easy several weeks in. Oh…and I pray a lot! Agree with RegentLion!
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