I've bought Arnold Schwartzenegger!!!

[vyvyen]

I decided to buy little Arnie, I was all full of confidence, I have a great network of support and he's a real little dude, lovely nature, horsenality, looks etc. I have hardly slept since I got him 2 days ago. He's only 2 1/2 years old, a little welsh X arab gelding no more than 12.3hh and a skinny little weed. I'm now comming to realise all the hard work I have ahead of me (#@I!). He has absolutely no manners when I take his feed into his paddock, he's so pushy, he's also a bit nippy, I think he's been allowed to get away with a lot, but he's still a lovely little dude. He floated really well considering he'd only been in a float twice! The weather over here in Perth Western Australia has also been revoltingly hot, over 100 degrees the last 2 days YUCK!!!! My two other ponies had to be put in the other paddocks with hardly any shade because of Arnie comming home, which they are not happy about (desperately trying to get a shelter built too). What is the best way of introducing him to his new herd (ie my other 2 ponies)? I've kept them separate to him so they can only socialize over the fence, but I want all 3 of them together. My mare is bottom of the herd and seems to hate him, my other little gelding is boss of the herd and really wants to check him out while prancing around with an arched neck looking very bossy. Arnie doesn't seem to want to know at all. Any Suggestions anyone? HELP !!!!

[lisae]

How fun! I've had good luck allowing the horses to get to know each other in adjoining fields about a week or so, and when they finally seem disinterested, just open the gate and let them mingle. If your new boy is younger and smaller than the others, he may just fall into place at the bottom without much fuss. Knock wood, I've never had an injury this way but of course some posturing is always to be expected. Good luck with your new one, we have a two 1/2 yr. old also and we worked through similar issues and he's maturing nicely now. If shelter from the heat is an issue, you may need to put them together sooner.

[floppy]

when we introduce horses into the herd we just put them in the field with the rest of the herd and watch them armed with a long whip. If a fight breaks out - which is rarely did than the owner of the yard would shout at the horses and if they still didnt break up then she would go and choo them away from one another.

if you are worried about the 2 of them ganging up on new pony you could introduce them separatly to one another.

[vyvyen]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replys. Arnie is such a little dude, he's more of a people pony than a ponies pony! He sticks to me like glue and calls out to me whenever he see me, little darling! He seems to be bonding with Tonka (our 12.2 gelding) but Lindy (our resident mad mare) is being a total cow! Lindy is bottom of the herd so I suppose she sees him as someone to dominate, Tonka is boss hog around here and obviously doesn't feel intimidated with Arnie. I'll keep them separate at the moment and then let Tonka and Arnie in together not loony Lindy just yet.

Hey Lisae, wow! you also have a 2 1/2 yo it will be interesting to see what issues we will have with them, I know I'll be on here regularly pleading for HELP !!!!

Thanks again for the help, I'll keep you posted and hopefully we wont have any injuries (me included);)

[floppy]

ther eis also in our herd a silly moo that runs around like a lunie everytime a new horse comes into the herd. None of the other hroses seem to bother too much unless the new horse invades their space, especially when eating. but the silly moo has always been a silly moo and always will be...she is missing something in her brain that makes her run around like a headless chicken everyday and get herself into disputes with othe horses.

[vyvyen]

Hey Floppy,

Silly Moo must be related to our mad mare Lindy:D

[tasha]

The 'silly moo' isnt Elja, is it??;)

We used to have one that 'protected' the herd-charged if the newbie came near but no one else bothered. But she is always the bottom of the pecking order, so within a day or to the newbie has sorted her out and she is back to normal again!

[floppy]

:p no it isnt elja :D Elja is actually quite high up in the ranking of the herd. She is very dominate and only ''attacks'' other horses is they provoke her are invade her space.

the silly moo belongs to a nurse and sometimes you see this horse running around like a wild chicken and you just want to end its misery - not being nasty but it really does get annoying!

the nurses husband has a horse too and the nurse will not accept that her horse is the bottom of the rank and her husband horse is higher :D She tries to convince herself that her poor horse is not the bottom of the pecking order. I told her th eother day that her horse is like a headless chicken. :eek: hehe she found my description quite amusing!:D

[vyvyen]

Hey Tonka and Arnie are getting on great, they are still sorting out who is going to be the boss! But, I still can't let Lindy in with them, she still hates little Arnie. I let Arnie and Tonka out to free range on the property and say to Lindy, if you wern't such a silly old cow you could be out playing with them you loony!!!!! I hope she gets better, its been 1 1/2 weeks now.

[floppy]

geldings are less hassle free to put together with other horses than mares. I mean the mares dont seem too fond of the idea of sharing