Introducing mare..

[sammyceeee]

Hello, i have a 12 year old mini shetland stallion who has never covered (from what ive been told) and i may be getting a mini mare who is also 12 and who has also never been covered (from what ive been told!!). My stallion lives with my mini gelding and they are best of friends.
The questions i wanted answers to are:
Is there a high risk of my stallion becoming aggressive to my gelding with the mare involved?
Could the mare live with the gelding and stally throughout her pregnancy?
Would putting the mare and stally in together concidering they have never bred be a good idea ( and if not how to do it?)

Ive never bred before, but always wanted to, so thinking starting small is the best bet the foal would have a forever home with me like all the shettys so please no comments on why not to breed! I just want some answers or experiences or suggestions that i couldnt really find on the internet!

Thanks

[sarahp]

Ideally I would wait until the mare is well in season and then cover her in hand, using two handlers, at least one of whom is experienced in covering, and then turn them out together immediately. I have occasionally just turned them straight out together, but only when one of the pair is experienced, I think it far better for the stallions future covering manners if he learns them correctly right from the start.

I've never heard of running a gelding out with mare and stallion, and I personally wouldn't attempt to, I'd fear for the gelding's safety.

[Louise Dixon]

Agree exactly with what Sarahp said.