Adding another horse

MorganManiac · 07-24-08, 12:00 PM

As I posted in another thread, I have been thinking about adding another horse to my menagerie. My two mares have been raised together and there really hasn't been another horse around their whole lives. They are about 7 years old now. Is it hard to introduce another horse? Anything I should know about when doing so?

jimmi · 07-25-08, 12:47 PM

I wonder if you can do a small trial one. Get the new horse, introduce him/her to one of your two, then swap every few days so they are all aquainted with one another, but your not over bardging either of the three to a stress level. The older ones like "Oh its a new horse, we are just the old ones" and the new one like "There are two horses here already' - make sense? Less stress.

pickles · 07-27-08, 07:50 PM

A set of three is always a bad setup, as two will always band together and leave the other out. It happens even in children, dogs or ducks. Unless you really need a third horse or can turn two out together and the third in an adjoining field you're best off holding off. Horses are herd animals and social but the dynamics are just off for three.

ilovehorses · 07-28-08, 01:39 AM

I think you will find yourself meeting with some difficulties at first but after a while the older ones should grow to accept the third and begin including it

MorganManiac · 07-28-08, 09:10 AM

You know, I have noticed three isn't a good combination for children but I didn't realize that it might carry over to horses. I'd hate to think my two girls would band against a third but I don't think I want to take that risk.

Winnie · 07-28-08, 02:09 PM

Two's company, three's a crowd, but there would have to be ways to avoid that. As already stated, you could split them up a little, and introduce them one on one. Allow the new horse to get to know the other two alone, and only when comfortable in that way allow them to be together as a trio.

07-24-08, 12:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
MorganManiac Member Join Date: 03-02-08 Posts: 75	Adding another horse As I posted in another thread, I have been thinking about adding another horse to my menagerie. My two mares have been raised together and there really hasn't been another horse around their whole lives. They are about 7 years old now. Is it hard to introduce another horse? Anything I should know about when doing so?

07-28-08, 09:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
MorganManiac Member Join Date: 03-02-08 Posts: 75	Oh, that doesn't sound hopeful You know, I have noticed three isn't a good combination for children but I didn't realize that it might carry over to horses. I'd hate to think my two girls would band against a third but I don't think I want to take that risk.

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07-25-08, 12:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
jimmi Member Join Date: 07-01-08 Posts: 25	I wonder if you can do a small trial one. Get the new horse, introduce him/her to one of your two, then swap every few days so they are all aquainted with one another, but your not over bardging either of the three to a stress level. The older ones like "Oh its a new horse, we are just the old ones" and the new one like "There are two horses here already' - make sense? Less stress.

07-27-08, 07:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
pickles Member Join Date: 07-01-08 Posts: 25	A set of three is always a bad setup, as two will always band together and leave the other out. It happens even in children, dogs or ducks. Unless you really need a third horse or can turn two out together and the third in an adjoining field you're best off holding off. Horses are herd animals and social but the dynamics are just off for three.

07-28-08, 01:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
ilovehorses Member Join Date: 11-02-07 Posts: 77	I think you will find yourself meeting with some difficulties at first but after a while the older ones should grow to accept the third and begin including it

07-28-08, 02:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Winnie Member Join Date: 07-01-08 Posts: 25	Two's company, three's a crowd, but there would have to be ways to avoid that. As already stated, you could split them up a little, and introduce them one on one. Allow the new horse to get to know the other two alone, and only when comfortable in that way allow them to be together as a trio.