Newbie introducing new horses...

[Tommy's Girl]

Please no flames, but would really appreciate some advice. It's my first time introducing horses.

I received two new horses today, well, actually a pony mare and a Belgian gelding. I have them cordoned off in their own small (40'X40') pasture, within my only pasture, which contains my other two horses - both senior OTTB's, a mare and a gelding, whom I've had for about four years.

While the mares are fine, the geldings are still acting aggressively towards each other over the fence - it doesn't help that I realized after the guy was gone that the pony is in heat. The two newbies, while not rescues, were on their way to auction - they were $400 a piece (even the 1800lb boy) - so I can't exactly call the guy back.

So, these are the questions I need answered, if anyone would be so kind. How long does it generally take two horses to sort out the pecking order, and will they do that over a fence? Could the fact that the pony mare is in heat on introduction prolong or ultimately destroy the chances of these four being a herd? How long do you suggest I keep the two pairs separated? Both pairs of horses have been with other herds - the newbies were in a herd of about 60 or so (apparently) as recently as July, and my two aged OTTB's were with others, but have been alone for two years, now. One last piece of the puzzle: my 23 yr old TB gelding is acting like a stallion, throwing up his leg, etc. - but the two have not made bitten or kicked each other. Will the show of force stop once the pony is out of heat?

Many thanks!

[Buffyblue]

I personally like to keep mares and geldings separate. I hope everything works out well for you!

[baysngreys]

Can you give them a week or 2 to get to know each other over the fence?

If the mares are getting along can you put them out together and put the 2 geldings beside each other in the pens? Then turn the NEW gelding out with the mare and pony for a day and finally let the TB gelding in with them?

Sometimes horses will get along with a fence between them and as soon as the fence is removed all hell will break loose! Keep halters on in case you need to seperate.

The longer you can give them to acclimate to new surroundings, new pasture mates, the better.

With a larger group, if you put a member of the "herd" with the new horse for a while, then the new horse has a "buddy" when he goes into the herd.

If I've got a new horse and he's getting along over the fence and has been together with his new buddy for short periods and everything seems to be going well, I'll make the finally move together after they've had their buckets so they're not hungry. I'll spread several piles of hay throughout the pasture to keep them busy.

I've got an old mare and an old gelding together, they love each other. I've got a cranky old broodie who can only go with my WB - he's the only one she respects!
So mares and gelding can be fine.
You may find your TB gelding will try to "protect" his mare.
Be prepared for some squealing and striking. Most of the time it's just posturing.
If they turn tail and start backing into each other, kicking with both barrels - seperate them quick! Probably not going to work!

[Diamondindykin]

Please no flames, but would really appreciate some advice. It's my first time introducing horses.

I received two new horses today, well, actually a pony mare and a Belgian gelding. I have them cordoned off in their own small (40'X40') pasture, within my only pasture, which contains my other two horses - both senior OTTB's, a mare and a gelding, whom I've had for about four years.

While the mares are fine, the geldings are still acting aggressively towards each other over the fence - it doesn't help that I realized after the guy was gone that the pony is in heat. The two newbies, while not rescues, were on their way to auction - they were $400 a piece (even the 1800lb boy) - so I can't exactly call the guy back.

So, these are the questions I need answered, if anyone would be so kind. How long does it generally take two horses to sort out the pecking order, and will they do that over a fence? Could the fact that the pony mare is in heat on introduction prolong or ultimately destroy the chances of these four being a herd? How long do you suggest I keep the two pairs separated? Both pairs of horses have been with other herds - the newbies were in a herd of about 60 or so (apparently) as recently as July, and my two aged OTTB's were with others, but have been alone for two years, now. One last piece of the puzzle: my 23 yr old TB gelding is acting like a stallion, throwing up his leg, etc. - but the two have not made bitten or kicked each other. Will the show of force stop once the pony is out of heat?

Many thanks!

I would quarantine them from each other for at least two weeks in case either of the new horses have any diseases. Then I would work on introducing them.

[Tommy's Girl]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will keep an eye on them and make sure they do not back into each other, kicking. I was just out there a second ago, and things seem to have calmed down. Again, it looks like posturing, but I guess I wont know until they're out of the fence.

I will leave them separated for a while - not sure how long, but a week sounds good. By then I think I will know if it will work, and if not, then I will have to make other arrangements.

They came from a farm where they had been vaccinated, etc., so I am reasonably confident they are not harboring any horrible diseases. For the last six months they have been at a small barn, with no exposure to outside horses, so I believe I should be OK.

Many thanks!

[ThatScaryChick]

I would probably keep them separated longer then a week.

[Diamondindykin]

Not all diseases are vaccinated against, strangles for example. What about the trailer they were hauled in? Was it a trailer that had many different horses in it?

Call me an anal annie but in my opinion I can never be to careful when it comes to protecting my horses from disease or injury. If you are able to keep them seperated for a couple weeks it is better to be safe than sorry just in case!!!

[Woodland]

I would suggest that you allow the 2 geldings to get to know each other without the the pony mare or the other OTTB present. That way they can sort things out without getting territorial over their "loved ones". At my barn i would leave those two inside or place them in a paddock where the two gelding could not see them and allow them to sort it out. They will knock the rough edges off each other - that is normal. After 3 - 7 days of that I would add in the pony for a few days and then the other OTTB. It may never work out - but that will give you the best chance for success.

Bless you for reaching out to your new ones!

[SOTB]

Do any of these horses have back shoes on? It sounds like they likely don't, which is good because I've seen real problems occur when they kick with shoes on. I always hate new introductions, but love the horses being together and being buddies. Good luck!

[CB/TB]

After the initial separations and a "buddy" period, lots of piles of hay placed a distance apart - one more than the # of horses will allow everyone to get a snack and at least the food issue will keep them occupied. Good for you for taking the two. They will eventually work it out. If the main pasture is large enough there'll be plenty of room to avoid trouble.

[Thomas_1]

I've recently posted the following on a similar thread:

I keep all mine in mixed sex herds between 4 and 11 horses with the exception currently of one herd of 5 all young males. I've never had a problem yet managing introducing a new horse but it is something that needs to be managed and you need to be aware of how the herd is generally and each horse's part in the herd. Particularly you need to know which is alpha and be aware that a stroppy aggressive one isn't necessarily the alpha. Indeed often that isn't the case at all.

After a 3 week quarantine period, they should be turned out adjacent so they can see each other. So start by stabling her next to one you intend to put her in with. Once they're all relaxed stabled near each other and turned out with good fencing between them, then gradually start to bring herd members into the field she's in. Start with a nice quiet confident laid back horse that is very confident and established in the herd. Once she's got her new friend and again all o.k. over the fence you are ready to move on. You should know your horses and I don't know how many or what they're like to chose from. It helps if you've quite a few so you can do the "mix and match" and select the appropriate herd.

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. If you change the herd dynamics before you put the new one in it does indeed help.

I never put say 2 or 3 very stroppy ones together. That's asking for trouble. However I'm thinking that the one you're describing isn't stroppy. It just doesn't know what it should do and its unsure and unconfident and is seeking to protect itself.

I would always hard feed in the stable and they also get hay there too before going out. So even though I have round bales for free feed hay out in fields at this time of year they're not having to rush out and jostle for it immediately they get turned out. They can wait their turn and go in with a horse they get on with in the social hierarchy. However that's all for the future.