Things You'll Need
- Paddock
- Large pasture
- Professional trainer
Instructions
Identify your herd's dynamics by watching their natural behavior when turned out. Observe them to learn their personalities and the overall herd hierarchy. Study which horses will be the most and least aggressive, but remember that oftentimes lower-ranking horses may display the most aggression as they attempt to move up the herd's hierarchy with the introduction of the new member.
Vaccinate your horses and the stallion, and ensure Coggins tests are negative because horses under stress are more vulnerable to viruses and bacterial infections and your existing herd and the new stallion may carry organisms neither has been exposed to.
Pull shoes from the back feet of all the horses to reduce the risk of serious injury from kicking matches that may occur during the introduction.
Prepare a large area or pasture so that there is room for the horses to escape from aggression without injuring themselves.
Tour your pasture and perform repairs or remove obstacles such as holes, open fence corners, protruding nails, broken or splintered boards, farm equipment and low-hanging tree limbs. Block off dead-end spaces or enclosures where a horse could become trapped. Make certain the pasture is as safe as possible to prevent injury.
Plan an escape route for any horse that may need removal if things get out of hand.
Secure an adjacent paddock next to your main pasture and move the herd indoors or to a separate area before bringing home your new stallion.
Ask a professional horse trainer to assist you with the stallion when bringing him home, and with introductions to the herd.
Walk the stallion around his new home, familiarizing him with his fence line and feeding area. Ensure that the rest of the herd is not nearby so that the process is calm and uneventful.
Turn out your new stallion in the paddock next to the herd's main pasture when he becomes relaxed for three to five days. Provide food and water and allow him to settle in.
Move the herd to the main pasture once the stallion has been in his paddock for approximately two to three hours. Allow the horses to meet from a safe distance for several days so that you can begin preliminary introductions without them threatening or challenging each other.
Feed the stallion and a middle-ranking, nonaggressive horse from the herd. Choose a horse that you think will get along with the stallion and form a bond. After feeding both horses, place the nonaggressive horse from the herd into the paddock with the stallion for three to five days.
Remove the remaining herd from the main pasture and secure them in stalls or a separate paddock.
Turn out the stallion and middle-ranking horse in the pasture for approximately two to three days to enable the stallion to become comfortable by discovering the pasture boundaries and becoming familiar with its new surroundings, which will reduce the risk of serious injury if a horse flees during introductions.
Add one horse to the pasture every couple of days, providing sufficient daylight hours. Introduce herd members slowly to minimize anxiety and conflict as a result of the change in herd hierarchy. Introduce each horse to the stallion 15 to 20 minutes after feeding.
Observe each introduction closely and throughout the day, intervening if necessary.
Separate the horses at night for several days until the horses adjust to each other.
Position feeding buckets or hay piles at least 20 feet apart if you feed your horses in the pasture, allowing the lead mare to choose a feeding spot first.
Remain alert to aggression or depression within the herd and carefully observe any illness or injury such as runny noses, lethargy, bruises, bites or lameness issues. Contact your veterinarian immediately with any concerns or problems.