Introducing a new horse? - Western Training & Behavior - Western Training & Behavior - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 3/9/2011 2:08:58 AM

Sunday we lost my husband's horse, Rosie, to a broken leg. My horse, Masi, can function solo, but now that's she has realized she's alone she has been a little depressed. She has a very dull look in her eyes and spends a lot of time staring across the pasture. Due to her state and the fact that riding season is coming up we are looking at some horses this Saturday. When we get a new horse and bring it home, how long should we keep them apart? When we added Rosie to our family we kept them in separate pastures that shared a common fence. We did this for about a day and then turned them out together. I didn't know if missing Rosie would warrant a longer "warm up" time for the Masi and the new horse or not. Anyone have experience with this? Masi and Rosie are our first horses and Rosie is the first we've lost. This is untraveled terrain for us. Thanks.

trainer101

Posted : 3/9/2011 2:38:55 AM

Sorry for your loss. I usually keep one in my 36 x36 pen for about a week. They can sniff noses but thats if they stretch. Since you only have one horse, it helps to take that horse out, walk the new horse around the fence and let it have some free time by its self. This lets the new horse explore the pasture, know the bounderies before putting them in the pecking order pressure. This will also help you have a working relationship with the new horse by catching and leading the new horse back and forth from the seperate pen to the pasture for a few days. A warm up period so to speak. This is a great time to do groundwork so that the new horse knows right away what the rules are. Then introduce them together, but stay with them just to be sure there isn't any serious issues. Hope this helps some.

face

Posted : 3/9/2011 9:57:03 AM

If you have a barn let them spend time together in stalls next to each other. We have had very good success with doing that prior to releasing them into a pasture.

Connie

Posted : 3/9/2011 10:30:36 AM

My barn has a kind of screening above the boards between the stalls. The new horse can smell and be smelled by the neighboring horse, but they can't bite each other. Like Face said, they get acquainted safely. Then, I usually put the new horse in the paddock in front of the barn. This paddock has one side against the barnyard and one side against the road. The adjoining fence from barnyard to barnyard is very stout and they can meet, but not hurt each other. The location also serves to introduce them to the traffic. Seeing the other horses ignore it, usually calms any horse that isn't used to things from big trucks down to motorcycles. Then they get to see their fenced limits with no equine company. I usually then move to putting them out with one of the horses, usually the most mellow, and then with everyone.

All of this is subject to change. Shadrach came and I had Colonel and Harley in. After I got him settled, I turned them out. They were back in the next day due to a really wet snow. Later that day, I let him out alone and he explored the pasture. Back in with him. Then, later, the other two went out and he had a hissy so (hubby was there to help) I put him out. He got along with Colonel (he is in the next stall) like they were old friends. Harley doesn't like him much, but Harley respects Colonel. Yesterday afternoon I noticed that when Harley went to chase Shadrach, Shadrach would hide behind Colonel...end of chase.

I agree, walking the fence is a super idea. Can't do it right now, the snow is too deep, but it will come later. The best thing is he should take his cues from the other horses and see the limits.

Good luck finding a good new horse. I hope they get along well.