Advice please. New pony arriving tomorrow

[kate]

morning
He is a 13.2hh little welshx, 5 yrs old, he has mainly lived out with his mum. he is going to be separated from his mum for the first time in his life . He was never weaned. We have 2 other horses,1 very friendly, the other can sometimes be moody, both geldings. I have 2 fields and initially thought I'd put the pony in the back field on his own and allow them to get to know each other slowly over fence(my normal procedure) is this a good idea when he has never been on his own and is used to close contact rather than a sniff over fence. Any advice greatly received.

[Susan]

My friend bought what at 1st she thought was a 5yr old and after vetting turned out to be a 7yr old ( mis communication nothing untoward) and she had always lived with her Mum in a large barn. She was backed and ridden in an indoor school with lovely classical music. But that day we collected her was very traumatic for her, to travel in a box on her own and to arrive at a busy yard and go into a stable, then go out with other horses in a field, which to be honest she hadnt had much off.
The pony she went out with was so calming in fact never lifted her face from the grass when Ambar the new one went out.
Ambar went galloping around at this new found freedom, but within 10 mins settled down and walked over to us at the gate.
Going out with a calm one was good, you own idea is also useful but she might find it a little more scary if she has never been on her own.
Is she shod? if so then have her on her own? are the others shod, then I would say have her on her own, for fear of risk and injury, till they find themselves.
If they are not and she isn't then I would be tempted to put her with a quiet one not a grumpy one.

I also have used such things as Mimulas and Larch as they help with fear of the unknown, just a drop placed on the neck or a few drops in drinking water, may help her over come her fears.

Also a pony only ever turned out to grass, often doesn't know how to eat out of a hay net or even eat say Hi Fi so when you worm you may need to use a paste not granules. That was something I found when I bought my youngster who had only lived at grass.

Don't expect to do much, take your time getting to know each other. I'm sure with time and confident handling you will soon form a bond of friendship.

Good Luck

[joc]

I'd echo the above but from experience I would put out on own first but so they can sniff over fence and see how it goes. If your pony is obviously distressed and doesn't seem to settle then only put with one other and quiet one at that. I introduced a mare to my gelding and other mare even after a period of sniffing over fence and it was a disaster. My gelding was totally horrified at this new intruder despite the fact she was a mare and went for her in a dangerous way. The new mare was also a piebald and I think he thought she was a cow!
Any way best of luck and enjoy!

[kate]

thankyou for replys
Think I will turn out on own for a couple of days then introduce the calmer boy first. Thankyou again