Best way to introduce horses?

[Breezy]

So the people who were boarding a horse at my house moved her horse out of the paddock a couple months ago and now my horse, who the horse was keeping company, is very depressed so we are using this an excuse to buy me a new horse. The new horse is an 11 year old mustang gelding. I met him he is very sweet and gentle. He is broke aswell. He is at the moment living with 15 other mules,donkeys and horses. So I dont need to worry about him getting along with others. My horse is a 27 year old quater horse who totally does not act his age and is always at the top of the pack. The mustang is not the top of the herd where he is. So what might be a good way to introduce these 2?

 

[zakiit]

The best way is to take the two out on a hack a couple of times. That way they get used to each others' company and can sniff noses - expect some squealing to begin with - but generally I found that once they had been working together for a couple of times they can be turned out together without incident - after a hack.

Another way is to put them in separate adjacent paddocks for the first couple of days and let them race each other up and down the fence and sniff. They will both generally get bored and get down to grazing while still able to see each other. Then once they are quiet when put out you can put them in together.

 

[Rocket Boy]

agree with ang

 

[Jackie]

Horses are horses, they are herd animals, the kick, bite, run other horses around etc. to establish the pecking order. Its all natural. Unless one of them has a physical condition to cause worry, don't worry. Even if you introduce the all nice nice once they are out in a field together they are going to have to figure out who the leader is.
We have a high turn over of horses at the barn. They are all in group turn out. We will either just turn them out and let nature take its course, or let them in the arena adjacent to the turn out for a bit to get a lay of the land. Most of the time it's pretty uneventful, esp if the horse is low on the food chain. If the new horse is dominate, there is some kicking and biting at times but everyone always comes out fine knowing there place, keeping natures order.
If the mustang is submissive chances are he will let you other horse know that quickly and there wont be much fuss, If there is don't worry.

 

[Lilian Allred]

Put them in a trailer and drive out for a long trail ride, usually when you get back the worst of enemies will be more likely to be friends if there are no other horses for him to bud up with.