Introducing new field mates

[Caroline]

After 12 years on the farm where they were born, we moved TigerLily and Zee to the field next to my house last Friday. All went very well, which was surprising in the case of Zee who has a few issues and is very worried about some things. Photos here if you are interested (http://www.sarahwestonrecommendedassociate.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/8th-may-2015-getting-from-to-b-with-t.html)

My question is about introducing horses to each other. I have split my paddock in half with an electric fence, with Beauty one side of it and TigerLily and Zee the other. I thought it best to let them get to know each other a little before putting them in together. So far it has been 5 days. Throughout that time, Beauty has almost completely ignored them as far as I can see. There was one occasion yesterday when I saw her strike out with both front feet at them from the other side of the dividing fence, with squeals. But other than that, she has just kept herself to herself and grazed quietly. However, she has manged to sustain 2 wire injuries in the last 2 days - both of which happened when I was there, which seems bizarre. The first time, she had laid down too close to the fence that separates her from her long-term neighbour who she likes. She rolled over and got both back legs caught in the lowest strand of wire. She gave herself a nasty cut but fortunately it wasn't serious. The second accident happened today. I was approaching her to put her rug on and saw her strike out at some forest ponies that had managed to get into the field on the other side. this time she got one front foot stuck over the wire. I dropped the rug, climbed through the fence and eased her foot towards me to release the tension on the wire and enable her to free it. I don't know whether she is having these accidents because she feels lonely and defensive. If so, I think it is time to put her in with TigerLily and Zee. But if she is feeling like that, is there likely to be fights between them? And, if so, is it wise to put her in with them with 2 legs still healing from wounds?

When TigerLily and Zee first arrived, they were pretty freaked out at the change of home. Neither have seen much of the outside world, so I imagine it was a bit of a shock to the system. Zee surprisingly seemed to settle a lot faster than TigerLily. If anything, he is the most relaxed and happy I have ever seen him. TigerLily was very aggressive to the neighbouring horse for the first few days. She kept charging at the fence with her ears back, threatening to bite. She has stopped this now and is instead approaching the other horse, standing next to her and weeing and negotiating mutual grooming. So I think hostilities have ceased there. But other than the incident yesterday when Beauty struck out at the pair of them, I haven't seen much of an interaction between TigerLil/Zee and Beauty.

So I am struggling with the decision whether to put them in together tomorrow or not. I am very worried that Beauty is going to keep hurting herself on the fence if I don't. I think she would forget about interactions with neighbouring horses if she has T&Z as companions. But is she likely to want to fight? Are they?

How long does it normally take for horses to get used to each enough to safely put them in together? I would be grateful for other people's experiences.

[VeronicaF]

I would let them be together, I know where your coming from, I am like you a worry box, I am sure there be fine, its causing more problems than not, they will sort it out amounst them selfs

I think 5 days is a good time,and you given that time.


I have not long lost my ollie but last year my mare Zulu died, and ollie and her was together for 14 years

I will explain better

I had ollie as an orphan, he was a wild foal before IH, not planned, I had already got my mare Zulu who was a alpha mare, so too scared to put ollie in with her, in case she hurt him

it took me a year, well nearly a year to change my mind, wish now I had done it sooner, as they were fine and not doing so caused loads more problems.

then Zulu died last year after them being together for 14 yrs, ollie got depressed and lami, and luckly my son's girlfriends horse needed a compainion too after the same fate with her horse so we put them together.
I was like you going to give sepration for a while but on the first day there where no problems through the fence.
so we went for it.
the first few days ollie was in charge of charm a real bossy boots to charm but it wasn't a role he was use to back with zulu and he couldn't hack it.
so after a few days charm took the role and ollie seemed more happier.

so do it let them all be together and let them sort it out, its what I have learnt.
I couldn't get the photo can you put it up on here please love to see her.

hope this helps

please excuse grammer and spelling and missing letters as my keyboad sticks
I will put a video up of when ollie met charm

this was ollie and charm meeting each other the first day, now charm is back on her own since ollie died,only difference is now charm lives with me
she has my mini's but not the same.

they do sort things out themselfs

the only thing I would do is keep an eye with food, try sep at meal times, food can cause problems with fighting and so on

just played about with the link and read the lovely blog,I see and read they had the best move with sarah weston helping you moe them, what beautiful horses beautiful, beautiful photos.

I would ignore everything and go on sarah weston advice, I would trust her adivce above anyone else.
what does she say to do??


RIP ollie

[mags]

My advice would be to take your time. When I got Rosie and tried to introduce her to our herd, they all ganged up on her and tried to kill her (or so it felt, running her around and around the field, biting her withers...). Keep in mind, she was a somewhat frail elderly lady. This was after having had her in an electric fence paddock within the field for two weeks. It took four weeks until she was finally in with everybody else, and it was plain sailing from there.
Part of the problem was that everybody ganged up on her together. I started by making her pen bigger, and putting just one of the other horses (low ranking, non-confrontational) in with her under supervision for an hour or so, then taking them back out. I rotated horses, so that everybody eventually got a chance to interact with her individually away from the others. My gelding was last (top horse, was the most aggressive towards her initially). He got a chance to tell her off and send her around the paddock by himself, but it never escalated into a full-on attack again. Eventually I took the fence down and it was a non-event.
I really do believe that it helps if every horse gets a chance to make contact, without other members of the herd becoming jealous and trying to interfere. Also, I avoided feeding hay so they wouldn't fight over it (grass instead). IMO it's not worth the potential vet bills to just throw them in and hope for the best.

In the meantime, could you make your fencing arrangement safer by putting another strand of electric tape on the inside of the wire fence? Some of our fields have sheep netting fencing, which is absolutely awful for sticking legs through. We build a second fence to the inside with a gap, so they can't get tangled up in it.

[alonerawnut]

I wonder whether Beauty is 'acting up' because her routine / environment has been disrupted by the new arrivals, rather than that she wants to be with them. I'd leave it a bit longer & try to make your fences more safe.

Can you put them together for a short time while you're there to see how they react, then separate them again? Then you can judge & leave them together for longer & longer each time to let them adjust.

[portiabuzz]

Nice to see you back Caroline, I saw some pics on Sarah W FB page

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[VeronicaF]

hows it going caroline?

[Caroline]

Thanks for asking VeronicaF - sorry not to update sooner!

I kept them seperated by an electric fence for 2 weeks - with it switched off for the second week so they could make contact if they wanted to. I was keen to get them together as soon as possible, but didn't dare until I saw signs that it would be ok. I noticed Zeebee had taken to grazing up near the fence a lot and there hadn't been any arguments for a few days, so I let them in together last week. There were some initial skirmishes, but nothing terrible. Then for several days they occupied the same open space, but Beauty kept far apart from TigerLily and Zee.

On Friday night however, something horrific happened. The horse in the adjoining field got stuck in a metal gate. It was truly awful. I spotted her predicament and called out the Fire Brigade Animal Rescue Team and a vet and then I managed the situation until help arrived. It was all very traumatic and it is only by complete miracle that the horse didn't break her legs. There were 3 fire trucks, a vet, lots of fire officers and many very worried people trying to help a very distressed horse who was Beauty's best friend and TigerLily and Zee's new friend. My horses were very upset by the whole incident and it bonded them as a herd. I could see them bonding up even as events were unfolding. Now they are all inseperable! I can't say it is a method of herd bonding that I would recommend, to say the least.

Beauty gets very anxious if seperated from the other 2 for a moment. I expect she is still traumatised from Friday. I know I am! I think she found safety in the herd during the incident and has felt better when close to her new friends ever since.

Yesterday, I decided to have a little play with TigerLily for the first time since she moved here. When she started walking backwards, which is her favourite trick, Beauty was horrified and ran round us whinnying. I can see that is going to be a little issue to work around! It's still just 2.5 weeks since TigerLily and Zee moved in, so early days. I expect we will work it all out in time.

[portiabuzz]

Oh goodness what a horrid accident. Thank goodness no broken bones. Well done for keeping everything under control.! Glad things are better with your herd now x

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