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Best buds
Posted in Pony knowledge
Discover more about pony relationships and behaviour right here!

Ponies are very sociable animals and most ponies love having company when in the field. But, just as with humans, they have their own personalities, which means not all ponies like each other.
Let’s find out how to introduce your pony to a new fieldmate and the signs to look out for that will tell you whether they’re set to be BFFs!
Chit chat
Don’t rush the introduction process, because when ponies are suddenly put into new or stressful situations, they can react strongly if they’re not comfortable. The first step is to do your research to find another pony who seems a suitable match in terms of temperament.
It’s a good idea to chat to other owners to find out more about their ponies – including what sort of personality their pony has, his likes and dislikes, as well as his turnout routine.
First impressions
Once you think you’ve found the best match for your pony, put on your hat, gloves and suitable footwear, then allow your pony to meet his new potential friend on the yard. Keep them several metres apart to start with and decrease the distance gradually – as long as they are happy – to allow them to greet and smell each other.
Watch and learn
When observing your pony’s behaviour, look out for signs that show he’s unhappy…
- ears pinned back
- tail swishing
- stamping
- charging at, chasing or cornering the pony
- biting
- kicking
- squealing
Also look out for behaviours that show he’s happy, including…
- mutual grooming
- grazing happily together
- greeting with a whinny
Out and about
If your pony and his pal seem happy enough around each other on the yard, then it’s time to allow them a little more freedom. Before putting them in the same field, it’s a good idea to put them in adjoining ones so they can get to know each other from a safer distance while still having the freedom to move. This can help prevent injury as they get acquainted.
After a few days of being turned out as next- door neighbours, you can try putting them out together in the same field.
Top tip
Try going out for a ride with your pony’s friend-to-be before putting them in the field together. It might give you an indication about how well they’ll get along.
Top tip
If you’re putting hay out in your pony’s field over winter, make sure there are more piles of hay than the number of ponies. This will help avoid arguments and make sure everyone has their fair share.
Keep an eye
For the first few days of turnout together, spend plenty of time watching the ponies in the field, looking out for and acting upon any behaviours that might indicate they’re not on board with the arrangement. If they settle down after a little while, it’s likely they’re quite happy being companions. But if one pony is very aggressive towards the other, or they don’t settle, speak to an adult as soon as you can and ask them to separate the ponies.
Happy days
It’s likely you and your friends bicker from time to time, so don’t worry too much if your pony and his pal have a little disagreement every now and again – we can’t always get along with everyone all the time! It’s just important to read your pony’s body language and think about how happy he is – hopefully, he’ll have found a friend for life and they’ll enjoy hours of fun together in the field!
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