Hi Isedgwick1 are you new to the Uni.? If so welcome. I think Dotttie is very lucky to find a new foster home. Sounds as if the paddock will be ideal - best to keep her separate for awhile until you find out how she responds to the other horses but once she is settled in she may value a mate given she has always had a companion. The transition will de quite stressful for her. Initially for the first week just spend time with her in the paddock so that she can get used to her. If she is easy to catch maybe slip a halter on and lead her around quietly, groom her and rub her all over with your hands so that she gets to know you are a friend. This is controversial and not something Monty agrees with but if she is respectful of you I would give her some special treats while you are with her - some chopped up carrot - but do' tallow her to look for them on you or demand them. Depends very much on her personality and your own views. Once you have built up a relationship with Dottie then you may start some retraining - preferably in a round yard or smaller enclosed area but possible in the paddock too. If she is responsive and good with your halter and lead then you will not need a dual lye but if she is at all pushy, pulley, nervous, reluctant to be touched in places then I would highly recommend that you purchase a dully halter if you do not have one already. With the halter on see how responsive she is. Will she stop beside you in the sweet spot and lead in the sweet spot. She may not have been trained to do this in the past . Will she trot beside you? Will she back up on command? etc. Once you feel she is responsive to the halter beside you then you could try a join up session if you have access to a round yard. If not just try her out with a lunge line - you will need a dually halter if she has not been lunged before but given her age she should have been at some time in the past. Try to keep the pressure off the lunge lead so that you can avoid some of the problems Monty list with single line lunging and don't lunge her for long. Just walk and trot initially as canter is harder for them when their muscles have not been used in circle work. If she is OK to lunge then you may try long lining the next time but you will need an enclosed area - not so for single line lunging particularly with the dually to aid you as they are easier to hold and there is less likelihood of getting tangled in the line. In addition to lunging /long lining I would introduce some poles to walk over etc. as these will help to strengthen her back muscles which will be essential prior to your first ride. Treat as an untrained horse given that she has been rested for so long. Take everything slowly and quietly. When you feel she is ready then saddle her and do it all again with the saddle on. If you can make a dummy rider try her with this on the saddle. Then finally you may try riding her - only do this if you feel confident that she is ready and will not buck - lean over her first so that you can easily slip off. Once you do start riding her keep the sessions really short - 15 minutes - and just walk initially then slowly lengthen the time on her - those back muscles will need to be built up. Ride her for a few short sessions in walk then try trotting once she is warmed up leave cantering for awhile. If at any stage of her retraining you feel she is sore or unresponsive then do get her checked out by a vet and maybe a physio. There maybe a reason why she was left unbidden for so long. Lengthy response from me but hope it helps - good luck

Thanks for the great answer Maggie - not new here but haven't participated much online only learning the courses myself etc., I have dually halters in all 3 sizes but she loaded well today and leads and mostly respect for stops etc., She was quite worked up from the trailering etc., so I spent some time just walking with her in the arena and around her new paddock perimeter. she is settling in and socializing with the mares next to her so we will introduce her slowly to them first and then to other new activities. I love that you included the guidelines on getting her slowly into work... I too am wondering what her issues may/may not be but am willing to work with her and take the time it takes. Thanks for the advice.

Sounds as if she is going to be responsive and fairly easy to handle which is really good news. Also sounds as if you have it all under control so apologies for assuming you were just starting. It's good to know you have an arena to work in. All the best with it and keep us posted. Apologies for all the typos but I finished in a hurry as I had a friend coming for a ride.

Great advice from Maggie as always. One thing to add - when you decide to integrate her into your existing herd I would bring out one of the herd into your new mares paddock - one that she seems to be friendly with (NOT the lead mare) let them work it out together and then return them both together into your main group after a few days. This greatly helps with the socialisation process and avoids any potential bullying. Keep us posted, I would love to hear about your progress.

Hi all -time for a bit longer note with details - its been the worst few days of wind,cold and snow here(-26C currently) but the move was made on SAturday and within two hours of arrival I introduced her to the perimeter fences and left her standing eating on the opposite side of the fence from the 2 mares she would become paddock mates with snuggled in her new blanket. Throughout the evening on each check in(admitting I am a worrier) she was happily in sync with them in their migrations from front to back of the paddock. When I checked at 10pm the mares were staying with her near the fence during the night despite the cold temperatures, wind and snow and them having a shelter to go to. In the morning the barn owner and I decided to introduce the quieter of the 2 mares to her - they had 2 squeals and settled in to eat hay together for an hour; removed her from there and put her in the destination paddock with the other horse- a bit of a scrap and then she settled on hanging out near the fence with my gelding from the other adjacent paddock for the rest of the day. We wouldn't have rushed it this soon but better in this weather to have shelter from the wind for her.
She appeared to be an outsider yesterday and spent time wandering the fences. Today she is moving more easily about the centre of the paddock and the mares are giving her a smaller perimeter around them as acceptance. Interesting that she has chosen my other gelding as her fence buddy to spend time with. Herd hierarchy perhaps as he is also the bottom of the totem pole in his paddock and they are bonding in their bottom of the pack status. Is it also possible they can both smell me on each other from handling and connect that as familiarity?. She seemed quite receptive to each new thing(trying to keep it to a minimum of change for the next few days as Maggie said). At feed tonight she left her hay and followed me to the gate after I put out the hay piles - gave her some pats as a reward and she headed back to her feed. Thanks for the great tips vicci and Maggie - I think its going well.

Sounds really good. She seems to be settling in really well so that is great. Maybe she could eventually be paddock buddies with your gelding if they accept each other over the fence.

wonderful news, glad its all going well