Introducing new horse to herd?

[Whitegrenache]

Got a new pony (mare) on trial for dd.
Arrived this week , so put it In starvation paddock to settle it in and also it needs to lose weight. There was no aggression over the fence and to be honest the horses were ignoring each other.

Owner of said pony told me just to put them in a field together and sort out the pecking order.

I tried to put it in with the other horses this morning (1 gelding and 2 mares) anyhow my gelding nearly killed it, was running after it ear back and trying to bite and kick it. After a few try's managed to tempt my gelding away with some food and immediately removed gelding and calmed the new pony down who thank goodness was not injured. We did use the small field ( we have access to much bigger fields if that would

The other mare in the herd is leaving to tonight, so the herd will only be my gelding and my very old Shetland mare so this may alter the dynamics

All advice on Internet is either throw them back out together and let them sort it out or go out on a hack together to get them used to each other which is tricky cos dd is too little to hack out without being on lead rein?

My concern is that they will never get on which will be a problem as I plan to ride out with my dd on the pony and with me on my gelding.

Please give me any advice on how to best introduce them, or how to try to encourage them to get along?

Thanks

[Treblesallround]

If you do decide to put them out together and try to settle them, maybe have their back shoes taken off to minimise the damage they can do each other? Might be worth waiting till the other mare goes first though, and then see how they all get along once your more permanent herd is established?Then I think you just have to see how it goes and be prepared to seperate them, some horses just don't get along.

In terms of hacking out, if you're going to want to be able to hack out with dd on lead rein I think you'd be best to ride your gelding out and get an adult to lead the pony in hand near to him to see how they get on before trying with your child on board.

[Whitegrenache]

Good advice. Was going to get bak shoes taken off and also get dp to lead pony, but I am a little nervous of my horses freaking out when I am on his back [ blush]

[Treblesallround]

Maybe get dp to lead your horse and you have the pony then (it's what I'd do because DH is braver than me) and take them both out in hand?

[Callisto]

It does usually take them a day or so to establish a pecking (kicking?) order. I would second the suggestion to get all hinds removed. Also wait until the mare has gone before putting them all together. Can you try the new pony with your shetland first so there is less of a ganging up situation?

As for riding out, I think you need to get them used to each other first, and definitly take new pony out without your DD on board a few times so that you can see how she is with your gelding. Can you ride and lead round the field first? Then if you have to let go of new pony she can be caught fairly easily.

[Whitegrenache]

Already out mare and Shetland together and they got on fine.

Will try the in hand walking out together and yes we can walk out in a field so I could let go of pony if needs be.

Thanks

[Whitegrenache]

Other mare gone tonight
Just introduced the gelding and new mare again over the fence and it seemed to go smoothly with only a few squeals.....so feeling more optimistic

[Booboostoo]

You need to leave them in adjacent fields for a few weeks to get used to each other. Then introduce the new mare to the more submissive member of the existing herd and leave these two together for a few weeks. Then introduce the new mare to the more dominant member of the existing herd and leave these two together for a few weeks. Then try all three together. It takes a while but it's the best way to avoid injuries.

You should be able to try them hacking out together in the meantime. Ideally get someone experienced to ride the new pony so you can assess the situation safely. It is very rare that two horses hate each other so much that they can't hack out together...but it does happen!

[Whitegrenache]

The problem is I only have the pony for 4 weeks trial

[Booboostoo]

I wouldn't try her with your existing herd then at all - if she is hurt it would be a nightmare complication of the trial. Try her out hacking with an experienced rider first (a safe precaution in any case) and if all seems OK, then try her with your DD. Make sure you try her in canter and keep her behind your gelding so that they don't become competitive and race each other. It should be very obvious during a hack if they hate each other, but very very few horses take such a dislike to each other.

[SilverSky]

I would def keep her separate in case of injury whilst you have her on trial.