Best way to introduce them?

[Hollywood Thrill]

So Cat is settled in to his new home, a paddock with hot wire and a shed. He is however antsy because he's all alone. I'm going to see if I can move Hollywood on the 27th, even though it's about a week before the end of my contract (I don't like Kitty being sad by himself and I don't want him developing bad habits. He's already pacing *headdesk*). Anywho, Hollywood is a top dog kinda horse and I have no clue what Cat is since I've never seen him in a herd. He was around 2 other horses when I first moved out here and he totally ignored them, so I'm thinking he's probably not a top dog. Hollywood isn't mean so I'm not too terribly worried about it. All I've seen him do is squeal and strike out with one foot when he's around another dominant horse. Granted, when he got caught in the fence it was a dominance fight between him and another super dominant horse, but since Cat is about half his size and less than half his age, I'm thinking it won't be too big of a deal.

I'm just being paranoid horse mom, and I can't wait to get them together, but I just worry about Cat. I worry a little about Hollywood because I have no clue if he knows what hot wire is either (Cat found out when he got zapped and he was MAD lol) and I don't want him running through it, but I worry more that he'd chase Cat around a little. It's a decent sized paddock so there's room for them to get away from each other if they get mad at each other.

So should I just hold Hollywood and have my fiance hold Cat and lead them up to each other in the paddock and let them sniff each other and everything and then turn them loose? Keeping them somewhat separated at all isn't an option out there. They just have their paddock and have to try and get used to it, but like I said, it's a good size so they can get away from each other, but I'm just paranoid they'll run each other through the fence (moreso that Hollywood will run Cat through it). I flagged it pretty good so they can see the flags but still, I'm paranoid lol.

So any other tips? If they do start really picking on each other when should I intervene? I love Hollywood more, but Cat's the priority since he's worth a lot of money so I have to make sure he's protected.

Thanks

 

[Midna Twilight]

This a case with some horses I know. Some want another horse in the pasture so much and are so very lonely that they accept the other horse no matter what. But that only happens sometimes.

 

[Carly x]

I recently had to introduce my new horse into a new field and I must say, although I've always thought introducing horses over a fence works best, after speaking with the girls on the yard I realize it really isn't a good idea. When horses first meet you can usually guarantee there's going to be some squealing, ears going back and some aggression towards each other. The horses can hurt themselves on the fence or the person holding the horse ends up worse off. The thing I'd do is keep them stabled along side each other if possible, that way they get used to being beside each other and in each others company so they're not strangers in the field.
When it comes to letting them out I'd have them booted up and turned out together, there really isn't much else you can do that will really help. I know how you feel, I was a nervous wreck!! my horse is so fine & delicate in my eyes I was sure someone was going to cause him some damage but to be honest he's been able to out run them no problem and has since settled nicely with no injuries at all. I'm sure your two will be perfectly fine!

 

[?pony grl?]

i would do like u suggested and lead them up to each other, but do it thru a fence so they can't get to each other if one of them decides to chase or hurt the other.
if they seem to get along fine than put them out together and watch them for a few minutes just to make sure.
if they squeal a lot or show signs of aggression you could try puttiing up one or two strings of electric fencing, just so it devides the paddock in half, just temporary, and just let them see and smell each other over the fence. you shouldn't have to have this arrangement for more than a month (at the most!). they should be fine with the smaller amount of space as long as they have food, if they don't have a lot of room to run around than just make sure u ride them at least 4 times a week.

 

[Megzter]

Can you introduce one to the other over a stable door first? Or even have one in the paddock and one held the other side? It worries me a bit introducing horses where people have hold of them that's all......lol I have been walloped before by front feet and things happen so quickly.

Anyway another idea if you're worried about the fences and them running through is to turn each horse out in the paddock on their own and allow them to inspect the paddock and find their boundaries. That way they already know where they are if something kicks off and they have a mad dash about, and they know where the fences are. Hollywood may well get a wallop from the wire (I'm thinking what you call hot wire is what I would call an electric fence? Wire with an electric current through it to deter the horse?) and he'll maybe learn all about it before Cat goes out with him.

If I were you I'd put boots and a rug (an old one lol) on both, especially Cat, if you have them. The boots might save some injury if there are kicks and the rugs do protect a bit from bites - that's why I said old ones lol.

Personally I would intervene if it got to the stage of one horse literally pounding the other round and round and round, even when that horse has shown submission. A certain amount of chasing off and squaring up is inevitable but when one submits the other usually turns it's back and ignores it. Then 10 minutes later they're grooming each other! But occasionally there are situations where one horse will continue to chase another even when it has submitted - that's when I'd intervene.

Good Luck hope it helps a bit