I need ideas. For the last week, my guy has been going out in a paddock adjacent to the big turnout where the other 4 horses go out. They are able to mingle over the fence and there have been no issues - no fighting, squealing, kicking, etc. They essentially sniff each other and go about their business. He’s been with one of the mares without a problem so we decided to take a chance and put him out with the rest of the herd. Well, he got SAVAGED by the 21 year old gelding. Just beat to all heck. And the poor guy is so submissive that he didn’t even try to fight back and defend himself. He has huge cuts and swelling down both sides and he got a kick to the hock. I’m very nervous about trying to put him out with the herd again because I don’t want him getting hurt. He’s perfectly content being in solo turnout. Do I try this again or do I play it safe and keep him on his own? If I do try herd turnout again, what else can I do to integrate him safely? I’ve never had such an aggressive reaction in the herd and I’ve always done mixed herd turnout. I’m just wondering if that’s not a possibility here though I’m told that there was a second gelding in the group a few months ago. So confused! ???
Why not split them into 2 bunches? Give him as a buddy one of the others who seems most quiet; not, obviously, the 21-year old badass who reminds me of my old guy! :winkgrin:
The barn is a co-op barn and the other horses are not mine. For many reasons, namely elderly, non-horsey owners, they are very set in their way and do not want to split up the herd.
The owner of the 21-year old gelding told me to throw them out together without the mares and let them work it out. I said I wasn’t comfortable with that.
I introduced a new mini gelding to my three (mare and two geldings) in February. They attacked him. I’ve never seen anything like it. They didn’t do this with each other when introduced so I certainly wasn’t expecting an all out attack.
I separated him from them so they could see him and get used to the idea of a new fellow and he needed some time to gain some strength (he hadn’t been turned out in months if not years).
After two weeks I tried again and it was better because he was much better at reading their body language and the mare had stopped charging at him. I still stalled him at night so he could relax and have food without anyone trying to bully him off of it.
It took a full three months for everyone to figure each other’s new places. Mokey himself chose when to go out with the gang and not be stalled at night. He literally told me he was ready to go out one evening so I opened the stall and he was very happy to join the gang.
It was so bad in the beginning that I didn’t think it would ever work out.
Honestly, if the new guy has to be turned out by himself next to the others it won’t be a bad thing. My gelding cannot be out with any other horses because of his bad behavior. He’s in his own paddock next to the mares’ pasture (“WOO_HOO, MARES!” he says) and everything is just fine.
Introduction “over the fence” is not a bad idea but is no guarantee of success.
If I think I’m going to have a problem with a new-comer I’ll do the “over the fence” thing then put the newcomer in a paddock by itself for a bit, then bring ONE new horse in. I use a large paddock so there’s lots of room. There will be some “hoorah” while they decide who’s “senior” then they settle down. Then I’ll bring in one more. And one more, until the whole bunch is “introduced.”
I’ve read that giving the new horse the “home court advantage” increases the risk of a relatively “peaceful” introduction. Doing it one at a time also keeps the risk of mayhem down.
I know of one gelding (a former breeding stallion and and sire of my regular mare) who could not be turned out with another gelding as he would kill it. It happened at least once. He was just fine under saddle or being handled, but as soon as the human hand was gone he became aggressive. Fortunately, such behavior is very rare.
Use the “new guy gets the home field advantage” and to intro one by one and you’ll likely have a positive outcome over time. There WILL be scrapping but it ought not to be deadly or injurious.
G.
Three hears ago had a problem with this same thing. Got a new gelding and the others were brutes. Had to go back to square one and introduce them one at a time, luckily I have a paddock with a smaller one attached where they could sniff over the fence and then turned them out together. Did each one (three others) at a time, then two at a time, switched from small paddock to pasture doing the same thing. Finally when I turned them all out together I aced the dominant gelding who was the worst brute. All was fine, but it took a month. Guess what, I have to do this again next week with my new mare. Keeping fingers crossed.
