A morale boost needed for new horse owner!

ReggiePerrin

ReggiePerrin

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I've had my new horse for just over 2 weeks and although I'm loving having him, it's certainly not been plain sailing!! I'm sure most of the issues we're having/have had are to do with him not being settled and young but sometimes it's hard not to get panicked that I've bought the wrong horse!!

At the moment he's like a cross between a puppy dog and a toddler; unbearably cute one moment and throwing his toys out of the pram the next! I've not looked after a horse this young before so it's hard to know how firm to be with him sometimes.

He's only 6 and was shipped over from Ireland about 6 weeks ago and was at the dealers for 4 weeks before he came home to me. So he's had a lot to deal with.

He went through a phase of not wanting to go in his stable but we seem to have cracked this now with me walking in with a schooling whip if he's in the mind to be awkward. He doesn't really settle while he's in his stable (he's out 24/7) but it's not the nicest stables so I'm not going to worry about that until he's moved into his proper stable in 3 weeks time. He also messes around at the mounting block but I just walk him around until he'll stand still. The main pains at the moment are making me have a couple of goes before he'll let me catch him, getting joggy if we spots other horses out, being spooky in the school, not wanting to pick up feet or standing on 2 feet so he panics himself and generally making a pest of himself in the field with the older horses.

It doesn't seem that bad when I write it down, it just feels a bit one step forward and 4 back at the moment. Would love people to tell me it's all normal and how long your new ones took to settle properly!!

Sorry for the extreme length, a mug of hot chocolate is all yours!
 
None of what you describe is abnormal, but all of it is rude behaviour. Do you know what your horse has done previous to you owning him? In Ireland a 6 year old would be considered a fairly experienced horse! Horses here are normally hunted from 3 years of age, and yours could well have had more work than is likely had he been bred in England.
 
6 isn't that young tbh and it certainly isn't young enough to warrant a horse being so rude. I'm not saying that you should start yelling and hitting the horse by any means but you do need to be firm. Is there anyone who could help you with some ground work? You want to nip this in the bud now before it gets any worse.
 
Apart from the changes for him, two moves in six weeks is stressful, most horses that come from Ireland are usually greener than they appear when tried at a professional yard.
They will take time to settle, need more schooling and bringing on than you may have expected. While at the previous yard he would have been worked, probably daily by a rider experienced with many different types, they would not have had any real attachment to him and just got on with the job.
He will be needing you to take time, be firm but fair and to not expect him to be quite the same as he was before.
He looks a lovely sort and I am sure you will soon make progress, treat him more like a 4 year old than 6 and you wont go far wrong.
 
It takes a while for a new horse to settle, two weeks isn't really that long. Also it takes a while for them to trust you, which is where the behaviour is probably coming from. Try building up your trust with him by just being around him, groom him, not just when you want to ride him.
Perceviere and once he is settled and gets to know you a bit more thinngs may calm down a bit. x
 
I'm not sure I can help with the problems you are having as I'm not very experienced, but maybe what happened to me will make you feel better?

I got George 4 1/2 yrs ago and he was my first horse at the grand age of 37 - I was so happy and excited :) but although I loved him to bits I totally thought I'd bought the wrong horse :( He is a big (16.3) shire x and although he had a lovely manner if he saw something different or unusual he would grow about 2ft and his eyes would be out on stalks. He wouldn't stand at the mounting block and would try to barge out of the stable. I didn't really know what I was doing, but by being persistent and not getting annoyed (v hard!) I taught him to stand at the block, and to step back whenever I came to the stable door :)

I was also having problems riding because I was nervous and I was making him nervous and it got to the point that I was getting scared to hack on my own or canter in the school :( he also was very unsettled by the lack of routine at the yard (so we ended up moving yards, which turned out to be the best thing :))

I came very close to selling him, but because he was my dream come true and I loved his character so much I decided to keep at it. The thing that helped me most was the help from my instructor and a friend at the new yard, both on the ground and whilst riding.

It probably took me 6mths to feel properly comfortable with him (but don't forget I was a nervous 1st time owner), and although the riding confidence has taken a lot longer he has turned out to be one in a million, and is my dream horse :) he has taken me to events, over jumps and won me rosettes that I never dreamed possible :)

Good luck I am sure you and your new horse will settle together, 2 weeks is no time at all to get to know each other, and for him to settle in.
 
Didn't you buy him from Emma at Clip Clop Traders. Have you spoken to her about this ? She is supposed to be a very good dealer. I am sure she would be able to help you.
 
be positive, that's spot on!! I keep saying to people that he has a mental age of 4! He was very well behaved and schooled at the dealers and I was pleased as the thing I'm least confident with is bringing a horse on with his flatwork. I know he's pushing my boundaries and whilst I haven't let him get away with things, I have tried to be calm and patient with him rather than shouting at him. I don't know much about what he's done previously but I don't think he's seen a huge amount before. To give him credit he's pretty good at going out on his own and I don't ever get the feeling that he's going to do anything really silly. Of course working in central London and the winter darkness doesn't help but I keep telling myself that this is the worst it's ever going to be, so if I can get through this, I can get through anything!

I think ground work is an excellent idea and would welcome any suggestions.
 
Welcome to owning an Irish horse, direct from Ireland! Now before I get shot down in flames I really can't rate these horses enough and have a yard full of them!

Patience, perseverance and confidence will get you by.

The mounting block issue is very common, all but one of mine have been like this, just be consistant and reward (verbal/pats etc) when they do a good job - they catch on quickly to this. Most have been vaulted on/rider legged up whilst on the move so they haven't learn't to stand still.

I had one that wouldn't leave his stable (?!) once in and tried everything, but did resort to a schooling whip. Never was an issue again - he just accepted that he had to go in and out after spending 5/10 mins doing so calmly and quietly.

Catching - we have a new one who's only 5, he started this but we just spent time catching, bringing in, grooming and turning out again. It's now not an issue.

Excited when it see's others out hacking - mine have all been very good on this front, so I'd say stay calm and quiet and just ask questions like leg yield, shoulder in etc to keep him occupied and his mind off the others. I'm not talking advanced dressage movements, just something a little different to make him use his brain in a different way (have done this with all mine from babies out hacking and has been great if they are spooky etc)

Spooking in the school - even though he's 6 he may well have done a lot less than you think. Our version of events in the UK can be very different from that in Ireland. I've bought several that have been to 'training shows' to which we'd think 'oh its been to a local show, so must have been produced and schooled for it...mine where only just backed!! I'd go back to basics, do a bit of lunging first - let it have a spook and a buck and get the edge off it then hop on for 10/15 mins, do some good work and then bit pats and finish. Its amazing how quick they come on if you just learn to avoid an issue.

Good luck and have fun - they really are great horses, I just think the english perception of what some of them differs from what they have done :)
 
Lisamd makes some good suggestions, I think you are at livery so maybe get someone to hack him once a week ,in company this would help as they could get him out when you cant due to working in the day.
Lungeing will help establish some basics, which are usually lacking, they tend to just get on and go in Ireland, but do be firm he may be green but dont treat him like too much of a baby otherwise he may become less confident.
Get some help when mounting, it can take a while, we have one that will not stand if you pick up your reins, you have to get on holding just the buckle, so the person on the ground is holding it still.
 
Sounds like a normal just over from Ireland stuff be patient consistent and calm, they are often awkward to catch may be because they are in all the time and then turned away completly try feeding him dobson and horrel pasture sticks in the stable they come in a really noisey bag which I crinkle it works like a charm.
When you have time pop into the field crinkle the bag feed him a couple then leave so it's not always catch up and then into the stable which he's not keen on. I am not a mad fan of titbits for horses but it will help with this and also works with loading once they hear the magic bag it just helps to ease the way.
Spend as much time with him as you can he will change don't worry it will be fine.
 
I have three horses, one of them since Feb and one of them since the end of June and all I can say to reassure you is that it does take time for them to settle into new surroundings. They all live out at the mo and it took a fair while for my Clydie X (the Feb arrival) to settle to being in his stable when I brought him in to ride. The slightest odd noise would make him box-walk and panic, but now he's as calm as anything. It took a good 4 months though. Arthur, who arrived at the end of June is more placid than Jack and is pretty much there now but was still very jumpy after only a fortnight.

Personally it's very early days in your relationship, I would recommend consistent, calm behaviour around your new boy, no punishment but keep up the requests for manners and polite behaviour. And lots of praise for the good stuff. Repetition (like you are doing at the mounting block) - and in time I'm sure most, if not all, of what you have listed should settle down.

This time next year, I'll bet he's a different horse (I don't mean that literally, btw :D)
 
Thanks everyone, this is exactly what I was hoping to hear!! I did try the food bribary for a bit but was uncomfortable with it, which is when I came up with the idea of the schooling whip. I didn't hit him, just was able to touch him on his rear to stop him swinging around and now even without the whip he walks straight in. I tend it leave it on the floor outside the stable anyway, more as a comfort blanket for me than anything else!! I go out to check him in the field in the morning and do some poo picking at least 3 times during the week and he always comes over to say hello and I make a big fuss of him, so he is getting to know that me turning up doesn't always mean he has to come in. He got a bit much mugging me for titbits all the time so he's nill by mouth now!

Fortunatley I work from home one day a week so can hack then and at the weekend. The rest of the time we're either just grooming or schooling in the dark. I had throught about asking someone to ride him during the week but at the moment think it's probably more important for him to know that I'm his mum and get consistent riding messages. I'm going to get one of the girls to give me a lesson in lungeing at the weekend so I have more mid week options.

Oh and he's getting his first clip at the weekend too so that will be interesting!! I'm going to pay somebody experienced to do it as I'm hopeless and the last thing he needs is a 4 hour clip!!
 
Hullo RP... I know what you mean! I got my pony 2 months ago and we were having a few small teething issues...nothing major, but still a bit demoralising. I got a lady called Cyndie Gould out (a recommended associate of Intelligent Horsemanship) and she spent 2 hours with me, working on groundwork. Time and money well spent - I can already see an improvement and am so very pleased.

Edited to add - I am in Surrey, so possibly she could travel to you to help you work out your issues!
 
All good advice, remember that its a two way partnership and you both need to get comfortable with and trust each other.
The only thing I would add (based on someone else's experience) is are you sure he is 6 and not younger? Had someone up on my yard who bought a horse who was imported from Ireland and the vet here thought he was much younger than the passport indicated
 
Herts05 said:
All good advice, remember that its a two way partnership and you both need to get comfortable with and trust each other.
The only thing I would add (based on someone else's experience) is are you sure he is 6 and not younger? Had someone up on my yard who bought a horse who was imported from Ireland and the vet here thought he was much younger than the passport indicated
Click to expand...

^ ^ This totally, in my experience there has usually been at least a year added on somewhere along the line!! Good luck, you have the right approach, be confident and persevere - it is still very early days x
 
I did wonder about the age thing but the vet didn't say anything at the vetting. He's coming out on Thursday as the young man has an eye issue and a skin condition (I know!), so I'll mention it to him.

After all your lovely comments I went to the yard armed with my new mega head torch and full of confidence. And then it took me an hour to catch him!! I was pretty laid back about it as I knew that I had all night and there was no way I was giving up. I kept him on the move and eventually he exhausted himself and was like a lamb to catch. Heaped on the praise and as a treat tied him up in the yard for some hay and a groom rather than making him go in the stable. I was planning on riding but he'd given himself more exercise charging around the field than he would have had with me. He was so tired bless him, when I turned him out he stood there snoozing on my shoulder.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and moral support!!
 
I was not clear in my post I did not mean to use the treats as bribery it more of a way of them associating you with a pleasant experience it's defiantly not horsey horsey please do this it's just a way of getting them to think that's nice Irish horses have often had a lot thrown at them in a short period of time they often need very firm handling and treats are just a way of making them think that's nice then they ( hopefully ) start to work to please you when you have had to use the whip fit barging it does help to get them on side and make them think it's not all hard work
 
No real advice but I do sympathise...my boy is only 4 and still a baby at times...he's my first and there have been times where I thought I had made a big mistake and should have bought a nice sensible schoolmaster!

Hang in there...it does get better...we are making real progress now :)
I will second the comment re doing a bit of lunge work with him before you get on - we do a little bit (doesn't have to be for long) just to get him listening and reacting before any ridden work and it does help.
 
My old mare was shipped in to a dealer from Ireland too, and she was meant to be 8 and had apparently "been there, done that".....She most definitely hadn't seen much of the world, and my dentist reckons she is younger than I thought she was....

....I have had her 10 years this December though, and I would be hard pushed to have found a better, more loyal horse...

Saying that, I barely rode her for the first 6 months of ownership (it was winter, I had young kids etc etc), so I suppose that gave us time to get to know each other first.
 
well... i have had many young horses now, and my rules are black and white and a little bit of discipline... if he looks confused, spell it out for him in black and white... if he looks stubborn or piggish, perhaps a little smack wouldn't go amiss!!

.... alsoo, probably needs a bit more work, if mine had been bad to catch, i would have made him work extra hard, not given him the evening tucked in with dinner, haha... (if i run away she doesnt ride me... score :D)
 
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All these things perfectly normal for a young green horse and a horse in a new home with a new owner.

You sound like you are doing the right things and only time can help.


Im sure your horse purchase will turn out fine in the end.
Dont mean to be blunt but was it a good idea for a first time horse owner to buy an inxeperinecd 6 year old.
Worse, one that has been shipped from Ireland and got knows from whever else before that.

If you wanted a nice easy horse to start you off you have done the wrong thing!

But as i said you are doing well and just time and patience will help.
Lots of good advice on here for thing to help you.
 
Blucanoo, not to worry about being blunt, I was expecting a polite "told you so!" You're right I knew I was taking a bit of a risk buying a 6 year old as my first horse. I've shared for 2 years so not a total novice but I appreciate I still have plenty to learn. I couldn't have afforded a been there done that horse who was capable of doing a bit of competition and I knew that if I bought an uncomplicated steady eddy I'd have got bored after a while. So yes a risk but hopefully with lots of time and patience he will become the horse I think he will be.

He wandered happily over to me in the dark this morning and stood to have his rug taken off and lots of fuss, so he's by no means a total monster!
 
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