My new mare

[SmokenMirrors]

Here is my new girl...as of this morning..VERY friendly and easy going, laid back and curious. The shippers couldn't say enough nice things about her, they were very pleased that she seemed to keep all the other horses they shipped calm and put them at ease, and when I got on the trailer to take her off, her buddy in the next stall over was not pleased. It is SO good to have her home.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/teampennin2/Trixihome003.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/teampennin2/Trixihome008.jpg

Once she settles in and gains some weight, I am very curious to see what she knows and how she drives. I love her personality already, if I call her she will turn, regard me a moment then saunter up to me as if to ask, "okay you called, how what?" I had to smile too as I had filled her water trough then turning noticed all her grain was gone but nothing was on the ground. Knowing how my horses drop grain I flipped her pan over and nothing, she was so clean about eating, she got a pat and a kiss for that one.

[fivehorses]

She is a beauty.
Is she a percheron?
She has a very kind eye. A wise mare.

[SmokenMirrors]

Yes, she is a Percheron, grade but that isn't important to me. It is her heart and her willingness and so far, she has both. I let my other Percheron mare Smoke come over and see her, I had her on a lead rope and boy was she not having any of that. Poor Trixi looked so perplexed and as I led Smoke away she let out the most soulful nicker I have ever heard! Made me feel bad.

If anyone can give me some ideas how to better fit her into the herd, as there are three, I would appreciate it. I am sure there will be squealing, grumbling, some kicking but I certainly don't want anyone hurt.

[goodhors]

Is she being quarantined first? We give them about a week alone, so any bugs will make themselves known before exposing all the home horses to the new one.

We then stall them in the same barn. in a box stall after quarantine, so they learn each other's smells and can see the various animals. We turn new horse out alone with ONE other horse in a large paddock. Enough room to run away from each other if needed. No other horses outside at that time, so the two can get to know each other with no distractions. None of ours are super aggressive, but they are dominant. The two horses work things out between them, usually settled in an hour or so, grazing then.

After a couple hours together, I will put the other horses out in another paddock for their daily turnout. Might be some calling or running about, but none can reach across any fences, so no danger to anyone.

We repeat the situation the next day with new horse and a different one of the homeboys, so they get acquainted that day. Repeated daily, until new horse has been out with each of ours, one to one. Then we add another one of the home horses, so there are three out at a time, again rotating thru the group, in various combinations because sometimes the dynamics change with the combination.

I just keep adding a horse to the group, to let them all pasture together, until finally everyone has been out as a group. I usually do not keep all our horses in one paddock, so then the group is split as normal, with new horse rotated around to see how things work between it and everyone else. I usually keep my mares apart from the geldings, but may have one gelding in with them at a time, just keep changing geldings.

Takes time, but we have been happy with the method, seems to work fairly well, in our very established herd. With them being driving animals, they are much more likely to bite each other than kick, though a new animal may be kicky sometimes. May be over-careful, but I don't like my horses getting injured if they don't need to be.

Something else we have going, is our tie stalls. Limited length on the tie ropes! Stabled beside each other like that, seems to take care of the desired touching/sniffing but they can't hurt each other either. If one horse does not want touching, they can move away from it to a "safe space" out of reach. Food is protected by solid wall divider by the heads, no worries about stealing by other horses.

[SmokenMirrors]

Goodhors...yes she is on our other side of the pasture, none of our horses can touch her, only see her and the vet is coming out tomorrow to do a full exam on her. I am not too worried about that only because I know where and whom owned Trixi. I have two panel fences separating them from the back and figure if all is okay after a week or so, taking one of the fences down, leaving the other up so they can touch noses, sniff but can't get at each other if that makes sense.

The stalling is a good idea but, currently I only have 3 stalls, we are going to have to build a fourth one before it gets cold so Trixi has a place of her own. So until that is done, and we have to catch up on some bills, it is a great idea but I can't do that.

We have them on 3 and a half acres currently, again, we just bought 32 acres that we need to fence in some of it, but I do supplement with round bales so there is always roughage and something to eat. I have one gelding and two mares, now 3 mares. The gelding is the alpha, he makes sure they ALL know it.

So, could I put one of them with Trixi on her side of the pasture at a time? I know the other two will run and buck and dance around if they aren't all together but as you said, I am not willing to just let her into their small herd and her get hurt. I have time to figure it out and thank you for taking the time to explain what you do, it helps!!

[goodhors]

I have two panel fences separating them from the back and figure if all is okay after a week or so, taking one of the fences down, leaving the other up so they can touch noses, sniff but can't get at each other if that makes sense.

I would NOT let any horses be sniffing over a one fenceline seperation. Any snorting and then they are striking out, so fence gets hit or hoof gets snagged, horses get hurt. I would not take ANY fences down, to be letting them reach and sniff over it.

The teaser stallion has a SOLID, high fence between him and mares, because they are always striking as they sniff and touch over the fence. Solid prevents problems when ANY horses can touch over a fence. Even friends will be stupid and strike when touching over a fence, get hurt.

I would let new horse out with ONE of yours, while the other two are stalled. The new and old horse can figure it out, while the others are contained. The running and calling of friends, won't agitate those learning to be new friends. Again, after an hour or two, then turn out the horses who know each other in a separate field where they can't reach over.

I would start with the most dominant horse, turned in with the new horse, get it over with. Then rotate the others in over the next few days, so they all learn each other. Stall the odd horse as you put two in with the new horse. Then work up to turning them all in together. I want all mine comfortable with the others, but you may want to do it differently.

New horse probably will come in heat with moving, new gelding around her, may be a bit touchy then as you try to work her in. If she is really silly, put total blending off a little till she is out.

[SmokenMirrors]

Ahh now I see what your saying, sorry. Lack of sleep from checking on Trixi all night last night. My gelding Terry is the most dominate and in the past have had trouble with him mounting and acting as a stallion would, down to flagging and all that goes with that. We have had him checked, blood drawn, everything and he is most certainly a gelding, so I worry about his actions the most.

[fivehorses]

regardless of whether she is a grade or not, she is a good looking perch, at least her head is. Grade meaning she doesn't have papers or you don't know her lineage or both.

I like to let horses see each other but not touch. I would intro the lowest on the pecking order first, and see how they do.
Then add a new horse each day or week, whatever you choose. By that, I mean take out one, and add a new one. Let them all meet her individually.

I have a very decent herd, except my perch mare, who is alpha, and disdains most other horses unless they are drafts too.

I lilke to keep them next to each other to see.
I have 3 herds, and don't mingle them...too much commotion, too many young ones, old ones and disabled ones. Keeping them in separate herds ensures everyones safety.

When I have mingled them, its first allowing them to 'observe' each other in neighboring paddocks. Sometimes even walking them up to each other in their stall.
Always make sure there is plenty of room, plenty of hay or pasture to eat quietly 'near' each other, but not too close as too feel pressure.
Of course when you intro the entire group or even just one, keep a lunge whip nearby, and a helper to open a gate if a horse needs to 'escape'.

Usually, it goes well, but always best to be cautious.

[Ashemont]

Congratulations! She's lovely.... and with that kind eye I'm sure she'll be just wonderful once she finds her place in the herd. I wouldn't worry so much about the other mares as mares tend to display and posture while geldings (and stallions) are more physical. However three mares and one gelding should be fine. I just wouldn't want to introduce another gelding!

Our Phoenix (a former stallion) is out with three mares and two pony mares; he loves his herd. His wise sister Rhapsody, like all good women, lets him 'think' he's in charge :winkgrin: - but she's the ultimate leader. As long as there's plenty of room and no place for one to get trapped, we've never had a problem introducing a new mare.

Good luck! Can't wait to see photos of you driving your new pair :D

[SmokenMirrors]

Thank you to the few who responded, it is appreciated. It doesn't matter she is not papered, as I said, you can't ride or drive papers, and yes, we do go to shows that some do require papers, but most of them do not and they are to have fun, see your friends, and learn and enjoy.

When I hitch her to the fore cart, I will take photo's, then post. I am sure she will do fine, she is a gentle girl and a pleasure to be with. I knew Trixi's dam, Alice and was at the farm when they brought her and her mom home from an auction out of Oklahoma. Unfortunately Alice had a problem with abscesses in her hooves all the time and then she colicked and twisted a gut. I think all of us at the farm were sad and cried for a while over that one when we lost her.

But in the meantime, this is only her 2nd day here, I will continue to go out and love on her, shower her with affection, treats, and slowly build her weight back up to a more acceptable range and see what my vet says today when she comes to do a check on her as well. She is a very neat girl too, when she got her grain last night she ate every crumb, nothing hit the ground and she let me touch and brush her too.

[IronwoodFarm]

Congratulations Belposh. Will you have her at VDHMA's Old Dominion Show in September?

[Thomas_1]

She's a very kind eye and expression.

Initial Quarantine

Whenever any new horse is brought on to a yard, it's essential to quarantine for a period of 3 weeks. If she's been on yard with other horses and then transported then you need to quarantine.

The incubation period for the likes of strangles (and which is endemic) is approximately a fortnight. But new outbreaks can occur up to three weeks or more after the initial outbreak because infected horses can shed the bacterium for longer.

Quarantine means NO contact. and most definitely not at the other side of the fence. If you've other horses, then its prudent to remember to keep this horse in quarantine for 3 weeks and not to handle her before you move to other horses. (Do others first then him and always wash your hands and clothing before you go back to other horses)

My quarantine stabling is at the end of the run and behind a gate where basically no one has any need to go unless they're going to that horse.

Introducing to an established herd

All mine are in herds ranging from 5 to 11 in number. Currently I have one all male herd and the rest are mixed mare and geldings. I probably alter the herd about 3 times a year anyways or when a newbie is coming in.

I'm going to post as if its a horse new to the premises:-

After a 3 week quarantine period, they should be turned out adjacent so they can see each other. So start to stable her next to one you intend to put her in with. Once they're all relaxed stabled near each other and turned out with the fence between them, then gradually start to bring herd members into the field she's in. Start with a nice quiet laid back horse that is very confident and established in the herd. Once she's got his new friend and again all o.k. over the fence you are ready to move on. You've only got 3 so it shouldn't be too difficult.

Then after say a week when all are settled and into a routine of being brought in and turned out in adjacent fields each day, I bring them all in for a whole day - no feed at all that day and then turn them out in the evening. Ideally if you have the land to do so, onto a new field for all of them. If not into a large field that has plenty of grass or if not, with hay spread about all over it - NOT in big piles - small piles all over and a lot more small piles than there are horses.

The horses will then go out and be more interested in new field and feeding than the new horse and their bellies will take over quickly.

If a horse is known to be very bossy - after you've introduced over the fence then you would introduce it into a herd where there are no vulnerable members - so no elderly, frail or very submissive. and in exactly the way described above.

And to complete the picture ... If a horse is known to be very submissive then introduce it first in the paddock where its first placed to do the over the fence meet to the horse that is being most friendly with it over the fence and then turn them both back in with the herd once he's got his "friend" with him.

Another thing I often do if its one of the larger herds I'm putting a new one in, is to make slight changes to the herd. So I might divide them up into two groups but in adjacent fields and put the newbie into one of groups first before putting them back together again.

[grayarabpony]

Beautiful horse. She has such a wonderful expression.

[cloudyandcallie]

I think she is lovely and I know you will have fun driving.

I agree with Thomas, let them visit after quarantine with a fence between them. And introduce the omega to the omega, rather than to the alpha first in turnout.

I've been at barns where Cloudy and Callie were turned right out with a big herd of horses, some of which were vicious. Fortunately, Callie who was very omega, always hooked up with a bad boy who protected her while Cloudy always ended up with the dominate alpha mare who beat up all others except him. :lol: I'm thinking both were pretty savvy about herd dynamics.

Hopefully your new mare with partner up with someone who will take care of her.

[SmokenMirrors]

All very good ideas on herd dynamics and how to introduce them. Thank you all for the tips...And I am doing as Thomas recommended, doing the work with my already 3 before I go over and work on Trixi or feed, then come in and clean myself up and wash my hands thoroughly afterward.

As for, will Trixi be at the O.D. Show in Sept. It really all depends on her weight and if I can work with her and with Smoke some prior to it. If not then no, I may bring her for the experience and see how she is with the hustle and bustle of what were doing but not to drive if I haven't already driven her. I am too mindful of mishaps and accidents.