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  Discussion on New horse in herd
Author Message
Member:
Rizzo

Posted on Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - 2:04 pm:

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for all the help I can get. I have 4 horses all between the ages of 6-14, 15.3-16.3hh and all geldings. My 14 year old, 15.3 TB is the alpha gelding (smallest and oldest). I have had him the longest so everybody after him has had to endure being put in his place by him. He beat the tar out of a 16.3h TB when he arrived (2 years ago and they're best buds now). He did the same to my QH a year ago(who he still doestn't like but tolerates). My third addition was another QH who he never so much as pinned his ears at (go figure). I have purchased another TB, 16.1h gelding who was the alpha at the barn I bought him from. I am terrified at the thought of what these two could do to each other.

The new guy does not have rear shoes and I will keep it that way for now because he seems to chose the kicking method. My alpha TB has his rear shoes but has never kicked, his method of choice is running down and biting. He has inflicted some pretty nasty bites while defending his alpha status.

I thought about putting a grazing muzzle on my TB; Has anyone ever tried this? Do you think this could work or am I delaying the inevitable? Also in case he decides to kick, do you think wrapping his rear feet in vet wrap might soften the blow? I know if I take his shoes off he will be unbelievably sore. I read an interesting suggestion from an oler post to place the two in a round pen, establishing me as the alpha mare, teaching them that they can work together. This sounds pretty ingenious but I haven't yet convinced myself that I have the nerve to stand in the middle of a round pen with two enbattling horses.

I'm considering the two in the round pen, grazing muzzles, vet wrapped feet,blankets and me in an iron cage-lol

P.S. Introducing my others to him was totally non eventful. The rest of my guys have never caused an issue with new comers or visitors.

Thanks,
Coleen
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - 2:24 pm:

Do you have panels you could set up so they are in the same area but seperated? They can discuss issues but the newcomer would be somewhat protected.
Member:
Rizzo

Posted on Friday, Apr 8, 2005 - 8:21 am:

Right now they are in two separate pastures that share the same fence line so they have been able to meet each other over the fence for 2 weeks now. Yesterday I rode my horse (the alpha) and my daughter rode the new guy in the arena together with no problem at all. We walked, trotted and cantered taking turns being in front. My horse is very respectful of me and I have no doubt that he knows I am the "alpha mare".

Coleen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 8, 2005 - 8:44 am:

It sounds like you have done all that is reasonable Coleen assuming you really feel you cannot pull your horses hind shoes. I think early on grazing muzzles might prevent further damage. I have also seen a recent report on using a horse designed "shock" collar that can be activated from a distance that puts a stop to aggressive behavior in the field.
DrO
Member:
Annes

Posted on Friday, Apr 8, 2005 - 11:54 am:

I have found this way works best for me. I keep a new horse separated from my others for 2-3 months. I let them see each other first in different pastures separated by a gravel road for a week or so. Then I let them visit over a sturdy 4 board fence for the rest of the time. I also alternate putting the friendlier horses in with the new one after the first 2 weeks and the dominate horse can observe the other horses getting along with the new horse. When the day came to turn them all out together, I had my other three in a very large pasture together. When I opened the gate for the new horse, the others hardly even looked up when he trotted in to join them. I made a mistake years ago and rushed things because a new horse appeared to be getting along so well with my others after about a week. It resulted in my TB getting his jaw broken from a kick. The vet said it could have been a broken leg. (Thankfully, he was a trouper and recovered well, never missing a meal) The new horse had shoes all around. I am probably being over cautious now but I will always feel terrible about what happened. Good luck with your horse introductions. It is more dangerous when one of the horses has rear shoes.
Member:
Rizzo

Posted on Friday, Apr 8, 2005 - 1:31 pm:

Thank you, I certainly would choose pulling his shoes over the chance of an avoidable injury, I was just wondering if wrapping them would make a difference. I am definitely taking this one slowly. Without my alpha gelding the others live in perfect harmony, he's the only one who gets them going. The others have no problem with the new guy.

What about the roundpen method, has anyone else ever tried this? Also, if I try this round pen method would I have any tack on them?

The shock collar sounds interesting. In the past I have stood guard with a lunge whip but with one TB chasing another around a five acre field I don't stand a chance. So being able to press a button from the sidelines would be a lot less exhausting.
Member:
Rizzo

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005 - 10:25 am:

I just wanted to let everyone know that I tried the round pen method on Sunday and all I can say is WOW! It worked great. I put my alpha gelding and the new guy in the round pen and it didn't take them long at all to establish who was going to be the leader. There was no biting no kicking it was settled very diplomatically (lol). I have been putting them in the round pen each morning for a few minutes before going into the pasture and they've been getting along just fine. I will continue this schedule for another day or two. I can't believe how easy this was. I would recommend it to anyone. If it could work with my guy I think it could work with any. Keep in mind though that they were able to meet each other over the fence everyday for 2 weeks which I think helped relieve some anxiety.

Thank you Cheryl, Dr. O. and Ann. And thank you whoever wrote in with this method. I couldn't find where I saw the original post. It was an older one maybe 2 years, I found it while doing a search.
Member:
Dakota04

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 - 1:51 pm:

I was also having a problem introducing my filly into the herd - the herd boss tried to kick the poop out of her several times to the point I had to break up the fight fest before she was injured.

I tried the round pen method and it worked like a charm. Two sessions was all it took and now the filly is an accepted member of the herd and can be turned out with the rest without incident. I was so worried before that she was going to be seriously hurt trying to integrate her but not anymore.

Thanks to whoever mentioned it; I will use it again the next time I get a new horse.
Member:
Suzeb

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 1:20 pm:

I think it was Christos. There was a discussion a while ago that can be found here.

https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/25789.html

Hope this helps.

Susan B.
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