New Foster horse... *pics*

[Lorije1]

New question :

I have only fostered a few times - all older (14yrs and up) mares. This is the first time with not only a yearling, but also with a relatively freshly gelded colt. My old mare is 28yrs old but she is THE BOSS.
When the county lady walked Buddy past my backyard (small chainlink fenced area) where I had Skye, she took him over to greet Skye and Skye half-reared and got her foreleg stuck between the gate and the fence post. After a tense minute or 2 I was able to free her (Thank God she is a calm easily settled old girl... she just stood there and waited for me to help her).

I had planned to wait through this week before really getting into the introductions, as I will be off from work and home to referee. But yesterday we had a really horrible storm and I had to tie Skye in her stall and lock Buddy in his across the aisle, then sit out there with them. Granted, Skye was more antsy over the storm than she was interested in Buddy, but I just want to avoid as much drama as possible.

They have been in seperate fields, but able to hear each other, occasionally see each other at a distance and of course smell each other. I let Buddy out in the big field yesterday after locking Skye in my backyard again and he kept going to the fence lookign for her (he could hear / smell her).

Any tips on introducing these two without too much blood? In the past my fosters have been weak and just happy to have a shelter and food, they didn't care about who was boss. I think Buddy won't care about boss, but he may not know to respect his elders!

 

[tcmstalcup]

A spray bottle of vinegar stops a nibbler. Just spray him right in the nostrils when he starts that mouthy behaviour. The best way to blend horses is to house them next to each other for a few weeks than turn them together in plenty of room. There will be some "carrying on" so to speak. Pecking order must be established. If they have enough room and have been exposed to each other nobody gets hurt usually. Feed far apart so no squabbling over feed buckets.

 

[babyblue]

letting them fuss at each other threw a very sturdy stall wall is the perfect way. but I would also work and mess with both horses at the same time....two seperate handlers. and keep letting them see and be around each other as much as possible.

 

[geebs]

I like to give an audible cue before a correction where possible.... that way you can take away the physical correction and remain with an audible one for later. It sounds like the horse is fairly predicatable... The horse will regulate how strong of a correction is needed but I alway give an Ah Ah sound (as if to a child) slightly before the correction... A cue that the correction is coming, hence a chance to do the right thing... This is taught methodically and a predictable horse is a good student. The correction can be from a flick of the finger to a poke with an elbow (situation depending)... I do like to set it up where the horse figures out it is his doing that caused the response.

I hope this helps.

P.S. He is fantastic looking!!!

Since he is a young horse the training you put on this with him will pay great dividends later... Thanks for the eye candy!!!

 

[itsachicken]

He really is a beauty! Not what you'd usually expect to find in a rescue situation. If it's exploratory lipping, I usually don't mind too much. I just shrug/push them off. Nipping, however, whether playful or aggressive, get's a much firmer response. You've been doing this a while, go with your gut.

 

[Lorije1]

Thanks... well it just seems different working with an older horse. They have, so far, had an idea of what is expected of them and just needed guidance in remembering. This is a young horse that I could totally jack up by doing the wrong thing!

I have found that holding his head and petting his nose like I am trying to rub the fuzz off, high pitched "aaawww sweet buddy ooooh" annoys him to the point of leaving me alone lol. I figure if I hit him he may be head shy or get aggressive - but loving on him like a crazy person just confuses him and he stops. So far.

ETA - he was at the county shelter from March until I got him Aug 5, that is why he looks so good. His mom contracted EEE and so they kept him quarantined due to his close exposure and also until they could have him gelded / give him time to get some of it out of his system. By then, they decided to just wait until the custody hearing before trailering him over here (next county) in case the owner somehow got him back.