Ashur - intro to the herd - 18 Aug 2023

Ashur - intro to the herd - 18 Aug 2023

Ashur is a 5yr old blue roan TWH gelding. When we intro a new horse into the herd (very small herd) we first put them in an adjoining lot - so the horses all first meet each other across the fence. Before we let the new horse loose we lead or pony them around the inside perimeter of the fence - in a small lot on foot we lead them twice around in each direction and we tap/flick the top wire of the fence to make it move so the horse, with vision keen to notice motion, sees the high tensile electric fence. By the time you have walked the horse around the small lot four times it is generally calm - no longer excited about being in a new place - and if it is calm we turn it loose knowing it knows where the boundary fence is. If we are introducing a new horse to a large pasture we generally pony the new horse off an experienced horse so that the new horse is closest to the fence - can see the fence - and we go around twice. We don't go the other direction simply because it wouldn't be likely to pay attention to the fence when the pony horse is blocking direct to the side view of the fence. We put the herd in the small lot. We turn the new horse loose ALONE in the large pasture so it familiarizes itself with the pasture without any members of the herd pushing it around. Once the new horse is used to the large pasture then we turn the boss horse in with it and once it understands who the boss is then other herd members are introduced.

This video is raw unedited video segments spliced together which I took as Ashur was first introduced to the boss mare, Avi, and many hours later was introduced to Cinnamon, a 3yr old Gypsy-Shire filly. In the video you hear me repeatedly say that Avi made no contact in her initial charge with teeth bared as Ashur invaded her space. That is assuredly how it looked as I watched in person. In the video it looks like she did bite him. I checked Ashur very thoroughly with my eyes and hands and if he got bit it took off no hair and it left no mark nor bruise. So if he did get bit as it appears in he did in the video it was VERY mild contact if any actual contact was made at all. Any time a new horse is introduced to an existing herd there is HIGH likelihood of physical confrontation. The way we go about doing the introduction helps REDUCE the severity of the physical confrontation - because the horses have already tended to figure out who the boss is across the fence before they actually are together.

Remember to intentionally, on purpose, learn of God each day by prayerfully reading, studying, and pondering upon God's word each day. Talk to God in prayer as your Heavenly Father who would like for you to be His friend. Find out what He would like you to do for Him as His friend and go and do it for Him as His friend. Yes very intentionally, very much on purpose, become the friend of God. And have a blessed day!!

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