introducing 18 mo. old colt to herd

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a 7 mo. old colt last Nov. and have kept him in a seperate pasture with only one horse at a time. His pasture pal has been sold and I want to introduce him to a pasture with older geldings and mares that he has never been pastured with.  (about 10 total).  I board him, so it would be difficult to take one horse out at a time to get to know him. He is now 17 months old and is not a real big yearling. Is is safe to put him in with the herd at this age?

ANSWER: Is this 17 month old colt a gelding or a colt?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I had him gelded at 8 months. He appears to be submissive when he has been around an older horse. He's playful of course, but seems to know when to "get out of Dodge" when he pushes too far. He just seems so much smaller than the older horses. His mother will be in the same pasture, but she pretty much ignores him now and I don't think she would be much help in protecting him.

Answer
It sounds like he will be fine.  I'm sure he will find the low man on the totem pole and buddy up with him.  Just keep an eye on things and make sure he is getting his share of the feed.  Feeding time will be the most tricky - you may want to put his feed a fair distance away from the others as most accidents happen during feeding time.
Good luck and let us know how he does.

Regards,
Jeff