Introducing New Pony

[sundance]

I have just taken on loan a Section A as a companion and lead rein pony. The situation is that I have Ay-Anna, Palomino filly foal I bought about 6 weeks ago, Sundance, 9 year old gelding, and Kis, 21 year old Arab mare. The idea is that Pony will be companion for foal when we are riding the other two and that he will mostly be kept with Sundance as both need restricted grass. It is very early days but I turned him out with the foal when he arrived this morning and they got on OK. The others were in the field next door and there was the usual squeeling and occasional striking over the fence. Tonight I fetched the foal in as she is the only one who comes in overnight, the other two accidentally got in with Pony and attacked him. Mostly biting him visciously and chasing him. It was very nasty but fortunately no damage was done and I could separate them. How do I proceed from here? I am worried and would appreciate some advice. For now I plan to keep them separate, apart from the foal, for as long as possible.

[littlebranshill]

You can either separate them but allow them to be able to see and possibly sniff each other i.e. electric fencing and keep them like this for some weeks until they all get used to each other. Or keep the most dominant herd member i.e. the gelding or the mare on their own and try the least dominant one with the new pony. Either way it looks like at least one is going to be on their own at night while the filly is in. Personally I would rug up the filly and put her out with the pony. Mine have always lived out 26/7 with no problems. Hope that helps!

[sundance]

I have put Sundance on his own but where he can talk to the pony over the electric fence, working on the theory that this is the only company Sun will have for some weeks so he had better get used to him! The pony is on his own with Sundance on one side and Kis and the foal on the other side and the foal comes in at night to her stable which is in the field with Kis. The foal is OK about coming in at night but I would not want to leave her in on her own while I take the other two out for a ride. I will put her in the field with the pony when I do that, and will put her in with the pony a bit anyway so she gets used to the idea. All of mine stay out 24/7 but I want to bring the foal in at night for her first winter to give her more handling and extra feeding as the others are such good doers.
The level of aggression is quite frightening but I hope this will improve in time. Any more suggestions?

[bridge]

Whenever I've introduced newbies I have always done it by putting them in an ajoining field for a few weeks (2-3) and let them have a bit of a 'sort out' over the fence (fencing was post and rail though) and then, when they have got used to each other over the fence, have turned them out together and let them sort their pecking order. I may have just been lucky, but never had any major problems or injuries.

[sundance]

I put Sun out with him today as they seemed to be getting on well over the fence. Thought I'd cracked it as they started sharing the same pile of haylage. All went well till they saw me coming over this afternoon then Sun got very jealous, probably decided it was tea time and started chasing him again. So Sun is back in solitary and pony is on his own but has Sun on one side and Kis and foal on the other. I think I will have to leave it for at least another week, probably longer. This needn't be a problem and at least I know I can put the foal in with him for company.