When you’re driving along and see horses assembled in a field, they always look so peaceful standing together that you might wonder if they always get along with each other. After all, horses are constantly around each other in their pastures, so it is only reasonable to wonder if they are always so tranquil.
Do horses get along with other horses? Yes! If they are introduced to each other the correct way, horses will get used to each other and get along very well.
This article will discuss how well horses get along and how to correctly introduce horses to one another to encourage a positive relationship between them.
Do Horses Get Along with Other Horses?
There are few things more calming than watching a herd of horses roaming around together in a field. According to “Does My Horse Need a Companion?” horses naturally gather into herds in the wild and generally enjoy the company of other horses.
Horses are more complex than some people may think. Like most animals in the wild, your horse needs companions to feel safe, even though it is domesticated. They watch over each other in a way that humans cannot watch over their horses. We cannot be with our horses every minute of the day. You may even notice your horses taking turns keeping watch while the other one sleeps.
Horses are very seldom alone, even in the wild. If you are thinking about getting a horse, you might want to make sure you get at least two horses. Your horse will feel safer and will be happier living with another horse.
Can Humans Be a Replacement for Another Horse?
Humans can’t be all that a horse needs. Horses need to be near other horses, and they need to be able to see and touch each other. We cannot interact with our horses the way that other horses do. They form bonds as humans do amongst each other.
Keeping your horse with other horses will help lower their stress. Even if they can’t be in the same stable stall, they need to be able to see each other.
How to Introduce a New Horse to the Herd
Horses get along so well that they yearn to be around other horses. If you are going to be bringing a new horse home, you want to make sure you are introducing the horse to your current horses the correct way. You cannot just place your new horse in the same pasture or any other area without following some guidelines.
New horses need a chance to get to know the other horses, and the same goes for the herd. They need a chance to warm up to each other before you can trust that they will get along and not hurt each other. We all know how expensive vet visits can be, and horses are no exception to that.
According to “Introducing a New Horse to the Herd,” by Allison Rogers of EQUUS Magazine, there are things you need to do before you bring your new horse home, and there are necessary steps you must take when introducing your new horse to the herd.
Here are some things to do before bringing your new horse home:
- Make sure you know your horses. You need to figure out which horses could be aggressive and which ones are more accepting of newcomers. Knowing which horses possess which traits will help you later when you slowly introduce your new horse to the rest of the herd.
- Start adjusting feeding time to allow room for the new horse. It will help your current horses to get used to the changes before the new horse arrives. Always allow the dominant horse in the herd to pick their feeding space first.
- Remove the hind shoes from any aggressive horses and the new horse at first. Once all the horses are acclimated to each other and getting along, you can replace all their shoes.
- Check everything in the pasture by walking the entire space. Pay close attention to potential dangers that could cause a frightened horse to hurt themselves if they get spooked by the other horses. Look for holes that they could get their leg twisted in, check for low-hanging limbs from trees that are in the area, and investigate any issues with the fencing around the perimeter.
- If you have any small buildings or spaces that a horse could get trapped in when frightened, block those areas off to avoid any issues with your new horse becoming stuck if they get scared.
There are also essential steps to follow when you are starting to introduce your new horse to the rest of the herd. These are important to follow to ensure the safety of not only your new horse but the security of your existing horses.
Some tips for introducing your new horse to your other horses include:
- Before you merge the new horse into the same pasture or area with your current horses, place them in an adjacent field. Make sure you have a sturdy fence between the two areas, but also make sure they can come up to the fence and get used to one another. Doing this for a few days can help the horses get used to each other without the dangers that could happen if they were placed in the same pasture first.
- After a few days, move one of your non-aggressive horses into the same area as your new horse so they can create a bond. This will help your new horse gain the trust of one of your other horses instead of introducing your new horse to the entire herd at once.
- If you can, take your new horse and the horse that they have bonded with into the pasture alone. This will allow your new horse to get familiar with the land within the field while accompanied by their new friend.
- When it’s time to introduce your new horse to the rest of the herd, make sure you can be available for several hours to monitor them in case a situation occurs. You will also want to make sure you do this during the daytime.
- The best time to start the introduction is around 20 minutes after they feed. This will help reduce the issue of fighting over food. The horses are usually more relaxed after eating, resulting in a more comfortable introduction.
- If your horses chase the other horse even after they get tired, you may want to remove the new horse. There may be something going on that is causing the herd to be aggressive toward the new horse.
- For the next few weeks, check your horses for signs of aggression. You are going to want to look for bites, bruises, lethargy, and anything else that may seem out of place.
If you do everything right, your horses can create a bond and accept the new horse into the herd. If you notice anything that seems off or see aggression between the new horse and the herd, remove the new horse before any of them get hurt. It’s always best to be cautious when it comes to introducing new animals to other animals.
In Conclusion
Horses are companion animals and need to be around each other for multiple reasons. They generally get along well as long as the right steps are taken when introducing them to each other. Once they create a bond, they will be the best of friends and even look out for each other like horses do in the wild.