|
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | I've been slowly introducing my new gelding to my mare and my friend's gelding. My mare and my gelding are getting along pretty good...occasionally some possessiveness over food, but nothing bad and they are fed separate piles.
My friend's gelding gets along good over the fence, but put him and my new gelding together, and if my boy gets too close, the old guy kicks (and the old gelding is about 35 years old and he gets reprimanded) especially when they are near the food dishes, even without food in them. I'm worried about my boy getting hurt, as he is fine with being low man in the herd.
Do you just keep introducing for a little bit and hope they get better? I know horses have to go through the pecking order thing, I just want it to be safe for all involved. I'm trying to get everybody acquainted before throwing them all in together, and I need to do some quick work as the cold weather is coming and there is only one heated water tank. Thanks!
ETA: My new guy has been around about 3 weeks, my mare and him have been together for about 2 weeks, and they have been able to see each other or smell each other across the fence.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2014-11-07 4:44 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | We just brought one of my mares back after the summer away, and since have a new mare at home. The pack that was at home has been together (a gelding, the new mare, and mini), and the mare that recently came back stayed in a stall for a few days with 'over a half door' interaction with the other 3. Then when I had time to watch, I threw hay into numerous piles and let the new mare out. They got into one or 2 little spats, but quickly settled. Now, I can't believe how well they all get along (knock on wood!).
Hope it goes well...! |
|
| |
|
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks! My new boy has been around for nearly 3 weeks. Tomorrow, maybe before I turn them out I'll put 5 or 6 piles of hay around. So far with him and my mare, as long as they each have their own pile they are okay. The old bugger doesn't have any teeth left (hardly any) so he has to have senior feed and he is pretty possessive of that. |
|
| |
|
I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | We introduced a yearling filly into our herd of 4 mares and it was tough going. We ended up dividing the herd for three weeks (moved the filly and 2 mares a mile away) kept the 2 mean mares here for 3wks and then brought back the 3 head and it still took 3 weeks before the 1 mean mare not to hunt down the filly and not try to kill her. I have never seen a horse that would hunt down a horse and just go after it. It was very scary and we did have to have the vet out one time to put some stitches in the filly. Things are better now, but when I go out in the pasture with the horses I must be very aware of which horses are close to me. |
|
| |
|
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | dawnb - 2014-11-08 9:33 AM We introduced a yearling filly into our herd of 4 mares and it was tough going. We ended up dividing the herd for three weeks (moved the filly and 2 mares a mile away) kept the 2 mean mares here for 3wks and then brought back the 3 head and it still took 3 weeks before the 1 mean mare not to hunt down the filly and not try to kill her. I have never seen a horse that would hunt down a horse and just go after it. It was very scary and we did have to have the vet out one time to put some stitches in the filly. Things are better now, but when I go out in the pasture with the horses I must be very aware of which horses are close to me.
I'm always aware which horses are close to me...don't like being kicked at, even if it isn't at me.
I think we hopefully have it arranged at least for this first cold snap where everybody can have heated water and noone is going to get hurt. Thanks! |
|
| |
Folks on-line