The show season may be winding down, but if you are looking for something horse related to do, fall is a great time for horse shopping. If you love horses, there is always a good reason to get another horse. Once you’ve decided to bring a new horse home, the next step is making sure that they have a smooth introduction when they get to their new home. Here are some tips for helping to welcome a new horse to the herd.
Health Check – When bringing horses to live together it is just as important that horses at home are up to date on vaccinations as the new arrival. Getting all the horses on the same health maintenance schedule should be the goal. Consulting your veterinarian to get basic exams on a new horse will help give a better understanding of what the horse’s needs might be and how they might be different from the other horses in the group as far as care and feeding go.
Quarantine – A stall space where they can be separated from other horses is helpful, especially if the horse is coming from a sale or if the horse has moved around a lot and was shipped with other unknown horses. A full wall stall that doesn’t allow for horses to touch each other is the best to keep communicable diseases at bay. A specific quarantine stall or stalling area for your facility can be a great addition. Your veterinarian can provide guidance on how long your horse should remain in quarantine.
Safe Pastures – When you do eventually turn horses out together, a good way to start is by selecting a horse or a few horses you know tend to interact well with others. Utilizing a pasture that has enough space for the new horse to get away from overzealous new friends is helpful. Avoid turnout areas that have areas where a horse can get trapped in a corner or small spaces. Strong, horse safe fencing and gates will help minimize the chances of injury.
Monitor – After allowing the horses to interact, give them some space to get to know each other. There may be a little squealing and running around and that should be expected. They are herd animals and do need to establish dynamics when they come together. Remove yourself from the pasture so the horses can get acquainted but have someone on hand who can help if the situation looks like it might turn into something that needs intervention. Continue to monitor at a distance and keep an eye out for how the horses are reacting together over the upcoming days and weeks as your new horse settles in.
Getting a new horse is very exciting. Remove some of the stress of adding a new horse to the herd by allowing the horse to settle in slowly. If you would like information on adding a quarantine horse stall or area where your horse can be separated from the rest of the group when you first bring them home, we are here to help! Our team can help you every step of the way in your project. We encourage you to fill out our Consultation Form and one of our expert Project Managers would love to assist you. You can also reach us at (855) 957-8255 or sales@americanstalls.com. We look forward to assisting you soon!
