How to Introduce A New Horse to the Herd
Introducing a new horse to the herd can be dangerous if rushed and not done properly. Make sure you do it properly as even then accidents can happen. Here's how:
1. Take your time and let the new horse settle in. When he is good in the stall, move him to a pen where he can see the other horses. Let the herd come to the fence to greet. This may take a few days for things to settle down. You may hear a lot of squealing in the mean time.
2. When it's time have some people around to help in case things go bad. Be sure that the pasture area is safe. Try introducing the new horse to the herd one horse at a time. It may take a while pending how many horses you have, but this way the new horse will develop bonds along the way. It will not be so traumatic introducing him to everyone at once. Plus, there is less chance that they will gang up on the newcomer. It may sound funny, but there's nothing fun about the new horse getting chased by even a few horses. This is how they may choose to try their luck running through the fence in the effort to get away. Try rotating who is in together until they all get along.
3. Remove any apparel that the horses are wearing. This is not the time for blankets, masks, or anything except for bell boots and protective leg wraps if you want to protect your horse's legs. Be sure to take off the halter.
4. Have plenty of feeding stations and water bowls because the new horse may be chased away for a while.
5. Check on them often! You're keeping an eye on them for any behavior changes, injuries, and damage to the fence, etc. But let them sort it out. Of course, there are times when it does not work. If that happens, do not let a horse get beat on too long. You will have to have a different area. It may be stressful, but most times the herd settles down and everyone goes back to grazing.
1. Take your time and let the new horse settle in. When he is good in the stall, move him to a pen where he can see the other horses. Let the herd come to the fence to greet. This may take a few days for things to settle down. You may hear a lot of squealing in the mean time.
2. When it's time have some people around to help in case things go bad. Be sure that the pasture area is safe. Try introducing the new horse to the herd one horse at a time. It may take a while pending how many horses you have, but this way the new horse will develop bonds along the way. It will not be so traumatic introducing him to everyone at once. Plus, there is less chance that they will gang up on the newcomer. It may sound funny, but there's nothing fun about the new horse getting chased by even a few horses. This is how they may choose to try their luck running through the fence in the effort to get away. Try rotating who is in together until they all get along.
3. Remove any apparel that the horses are wearing. This is not the time for blankets, masks, or anything except for bell boots and protective leg wraps if you want to protect your horse's legs. Be sure to take off the halter.
4. Have plenty of feeding stations and water bowls because the new horse may be chased away for a while.
5. Check on them often! You're keeping an eye on them for any behavior changes, injuries, and damage to the fence, etc. But let them sort it out. Of course, there are times when it does not work. If that happens, do not let a horse get beat on too long. You will have to have a different area. It may be stressful, but most times the herd settles down and everyone goes back to grazing.
