First night for New Horse

[Annaandbuglet]

My friend is taking delivery of a new gelding in a couple weeks.....I have advised that she spends a couple of hours with him in the stable when he arrives - real one-to-one attention - and then look to turn him out for the first time in the early evening, keeping an eye on him whilst its still light - this would also fit in perfectly with her work arrangements the next day and far more importantly won't be leaving him alone (poss fretting) whilst the other horses are turned out. She's getting conflicting advice to leave him in and turn him out the next day......over to you for your views and I will pass it all on. Many thanks!!

[maverick927]

It depends really on the temperment.

when Mavy first moved homes to my uncles farm, he wuldn't allow him to be turned out in the fielda t first as he thought Mavy would panic. We put Mavy in the stable and he looked as though he had been there his whole life, so we turned him out immediately and he was fine.

Just see how they respond.

[nat17]

I would say turn him out straight away, if she has to bring him in at all then i wold turnout for a while then bring him in when things settle down.
But if at all possible turn him out straight away and let him get to know the other horses first. Then bring him in for a hour or so for either a feed or a groom with his owner then turn him out again.

This is only my opinion but its what i have always done and i have never had a problem.:D When i got Minnie i turned her out straight away on 70acres with a herd of 15-20 horses, she stood at the top of the bank and then galloped off down the hill inbetween all the horses, bit one and made then chase her.:eek: drama queen:D But all was fine in about 40 mins.:D

[Tootsie4U]

We stall our horses for 24 hours after their arrival. Firstly because it allows constant supervision incase they colic or have other problems (ie. panicing like maveric suggested). It also serves as a quarantine in case they have any weird sickness. You're more likely to notice if the horse has strangles or founder if he's in a stall rather than out in field.

[ros]

I think it varies. It's important for a new horse to find out where everything is in daylight - water, fences and so on. It's also important that it shouldn't just be chucked in with strange horses unsupervised. Ideally there should be a period where the new horse can be seen by the others without any risk of a punch-up, so both sides get used to each other. In my experience the longer that period is, the less hassle you get when the horses are eventually allowed to mingle. But of course you can't always do things the ideal way, and then you have to come up with the safest compromise.

[eml]

I keep everything new in for 24hours while they are wormed then turn them out with something quiet in a small paddock early in the day.. Then at least you have monitored the horses health before allowing it with others and being in a small area allows you to check it is catchable etc..

[nakedescapee]

I kept mine in the paddock for 4 days so she could get used to the other horses from across a fence and it allowed us to watch for colic, etc. When I did turn her out, I led her around the entire fence line and showed her where the water was. But she is high strung and was upset about the move, a calmer horse in plenty of acreage could probably be turned out sooner.

Good luck!

[AJB]

in our yard they are kept in for 24 hours to be wormed and then turned out in early part of day so that they can be supervised-its best as horses can see in the dark and you cant!!.... its often best to keep them in a few days so that you can turn out when you are around, I wouldnt want to go off to work leaving new horse in new field with new mates!!! also if you think he will be difficult my advice is to make sure he goes out without back shoes on and hungry-most horses wont fight by choice and a hungry one fights a lot less!!!!-maybe the person in the next box would be good enough to keep their horse in for a day or so so he is not alone????

[Esther.D]

Mine have always had to go straight out through necessity - no stables! - but I do try to make sure that they are where they can see the others but not get to them. This is not always possible and we added Rupert straight in with the others as the only way we had of dividing the field was electric fencing and we thought he would be at more risk from that than from the other horses. We have not had any huge problems but then ours have all been pretty laid back natives. The worst one we had was introducing Bobby but he was an entire colt of 2.5yrs and used to holding his own in a field of 17 bigger horses so he decided to fight everything that moved and ended up losing his front baby teeth to Gallie's hooves:rolleyes: But they all settled within a couple of weeks and he was exceptionally stalliony - still is a bit!

[Annaandbuglet]

Thanks everyone.......your great advice has been printed off and past on!! I think "play it by ear" is order of the day.

[western]

well when i brought my horse home I kept him in his pen just to settle in their first then the next day i lead him auround in the pasture to show him the fence and how far it went . If i were you i would leave the horse inside then the next day walk the horse auround to show it its boundries and where everything will be at like food and water.