If you’ve recently decided to add a new member to the herd, congratulations! Getting a new horse can be both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. It’s never certain how the rest of the herd will react to a new addition. Since herd animals tend to create a hierarchy within the group, this can create an uneasy feeling for everyone involved.
How your herd gets along with the new horse will depend on multiple factors. These factors may include your herd size and the overall attitude of your horses among other things. The introductory approach you take makes all the difference in how quickly they will adjust to the new dynamic. Let’s check out a few methods you can take to get your horses acquainted with each other.
Safety First!
Before you start the integration process, you’ll want to keep the new horse separate from the others until you have its health status. This is to ensure it’s healthy and free of any diseases that could be spread to the rest of the herd. We love our horses, and should always put their safety above anything else!
Gradually Mix Them Together
One action you can take is to slowly add the new member into the herd over several days or weeks, depending on how they react. You’ll first want to keep the new horse in view of the others, but leave them out of touching distance for now. This is to prevent any scuffles from occurring which could lead to injury. Once the horses have become more familiar with their new member, you can try putting them all together with a barrier.
A fence is the safest way to keep your horses protected from each other. This also gives them the chance to warm up to one another even more. Initial excitement might stir up some biting, squealing, galloping, and even kicking when first combining. This isn’t anything to worry about, as the excitement will wear off and the herd will settle into the new structure in due time.
Rotate The Newcomer With The Other Members
Another approach you could take is turning the newcomer out with the others, one at a time. Take turns rotating a couple members of the herd in with the new horse. This allows more personal relationships to build between each horse and the new member of their herd. The leader of the herd should be introduced last, so the new horse will have already bonded with the others and come off as less intimidating to the leader.
Let Them Sort It Out Themselves
If you’re only introducing the newcomer to one or two horses, chances are they’ll probably adapt pretty quickly. Bringing a horse into a larger herd tends to also work itself out naturally. This method works best for horses who are more followers than herd leaders, as they quickly find their position among the rest. This may also lead to a few bite marks on the new horse, but don’t fret! As long as you give them plenty of room to run and get out of the way, your new horse will find its place in the new herd soon enough.
If the newcomer is more assertive and dominant, this process may take a longer to complete. As an owner, it’s important to keep an eye on the herd during this critical time. Watch to limit the risk of serious injury of both the new member and the others. Be on the lookout for any foul play. If this occurs, you’ll want to quickly separate it from the herd and give one of the other approaches a try.
If you’re wondering how to tell when the newest member has been accepted into the herd, just watch their grazing behavior! When all members of the herd graze together, you’ll know they have officially welcomed the new horse to the family. It’s possible for injury to occur after the introductory process is over. But as long as it’s not a frequent occurrence, it’s nothing to worry about.
Adding a new member to the herd is a joyous occasion above anything else. Even though it may seem stressful at first, but don’t let that discourage you. Seeing all your horses build a stronger bond with each other over time is well worth it!