Question: I have a dominant mare and I will be getting another horse soon. Can you give me some tips for introducing them to one another? Thanks for your time.

Answer: Introducing horses to one another can be quite a scary experience for a new horse and its owner, especially if the horse is just plopped straight into the herd with no introduction. Not only does this pave the way for a stressful time for your current herd and new horse, you are more likely to have a horse experience some type of injury, whether from another horse or a portion of the fencing. Allison Rogers wrote an interesting article for EQUUS magazine, which you can access through this link: Introducing a New Horse to the Herd.

Since you are introducing only two horses, instead of several horses to a new herd member, it may be easiest to initially introduce the horses by placing them in stalls across the aisle from one another for a day (or night), then placing them in stalls that are next to each other. The stalls should be very sturdy, as the horses may kick and attempt to bite at one another across or through the rails. Another method of introducing a new horse is to introduce the horses across a fence line. If you do not have two paddocks, you can place a round pen next to your current fence, where the horses can get a good look at one another and sniff noses. Some individuals even place the round pen inside the current pasture. Introducing horses over a fenceline should be done over a period of several days to several weeks, depending on the individual horses and your own facilities. The last thing you want is for your new horse and your old horse to go running through your fence and high tailing it down the lane. Allowing your two horses to see, hear, and even interact a bit over the fence (or in adjoining stalls) will make the transition easier on both horses when they are put onto pasture together. Watch how your two horses behave while interacting across the fenceline. Does one or both pin their ears? Does your “dominant mare” turn her haunches and threaten to kick the other horse? Does your new horse avoid interaction with your current mare or initiate interaction? Just because your mare has been dominant in the past does not mean she is destined to be the dominant horse in your new little herd. Take things slowly, get the horses used to one another across safe and sturdy fencing and/or stalls, and then try some turnout time together in a sturdy and safety conscious pasture where you can observe them and remove one horse if necessary. Most horses will settle down within an hour (many within a few minutes) once they are turned out with their new pal. Good luck!