Reintroducing to herd before weaning

[Deleted]

This is the set up.

Small field - 3 ponies
Big field- mare and foal.

We are possibly weaning the foal next month and we need to reintroduce the mare back to her field mates before that happen. Now the reason they are in a field on their own as mare is rather protective over the foal. We tried to put her field mate in when foal was a few weeks old and she spent most of the time trying to kill him.

The foal needs some other horse time as she is frightened to death when we pass any horses on the road or I take my gelding to say hi over the fence.

I was thinking of just putting all three ponies in the big field as that is their field then turning the mare and foal out with them then the mare just doesn't have one pony to pick on then and she might hopefully give up.

What are other people's thoughts as it needs to happen I just don't know what way to do it safely. Foal is big enough now to shift out of the way of mum.

Any help appreciated

Edited to add the foal will be staying at home with the ponies at weaning and the mare will be coming up to the farm to be stables with my mare and gelding till after Christmas.

[gilbertgrape]

Mainly you have to worry about the other ponies reaction to the foal once mum has gone and the foal has no protector. Ponies can gang up on a vulnerable baby who may well panic and try to jump out or something daft.

If they all get along well with mum and foal as a starter you could try one pony with the foal so she doesn't get 3 ganging up on her.
Best is to wean 2 foals together so try to borrow one. You can always advertise for one, as loads of people have your problem.

[Deleted]

I want to introduce them before the mare has gone. Our old pony was the mares field mate before she had the foal but last time we put them out together she tried to kill him. We've tried all the ponies and not one is bothered by the foal just the mare causes all the trouble. Hense why I wanted to turn all the ponies out with the mare and foal now then the mare can calm down and the foal can make friends with the ponies before mum goes.
The field is big enough but I didn't know of it was a good idea. I don't just want to wean and put foal with the ponies I want them acquainted before weaning. Foal is very independent so I have no worries about her making friends I'm more worried about mare butting in with her legs flying like usual