Bonding with new horse.......

aidybex

aidybex

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I've got a new neddy - had him since the end of November. Due to our beautiful weather I've been unable to ride for two weeks - I took him out today and he was rather excitable. I have to say (call me a chicken if you want) but I was rather petrified. He had a bit of a cowboy moment when me and company stopped to get off the grass verge. I stayed on - but was tempted to bail. I carried on, on him for a while but I was quite scared. I don't feel as though I'm getting anywhere with him at the moment or developing much of a bond. I hoping to hire a menage tomorrow so I can lunge before getting on so I can try and get some of this energy out of him. I want to do as much as possible with him - but I guess it's thw wrong time of year, as I work Mon-Thurs so can't ride. He is ridden once or twice in the week but someone else where I keep him.

I guess this is just a moan really - on the plus side the new saddle I've bought for him was dropped off today so fingers crossed that may help!!

Thanks for reading - hitting the pear cider now!!
 
Have you done any ground work with him. That may help build a bond/trust and could calm him down. It might also help you cope with his 'silly' moments.
 
I know just what you mean, I've had my new girl since the end of November and only felt that we finally 'made a real connection' on Christmas Day.

Again, because of work commitments riding during the week is not alway possible and then the bad weather forced a 2 week break in riding.

I rode yesterday and did have a hairy moment or two when I wanted to drop back to trot from cantering and ended up having a gallop - not her fault - I think I tensed up!!! and she thought I wanted to go faster
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I think it is hard for a horse to come into a new home and learn who they can put their trust in - so, it will take time. Not just riding time, but perhaps poo-picking and generally 'hanging out' in their field. Grooming etc too.

Holly B
 
I think lunging is great to build up a bond. I did lots with my mare when I got her while fittening her and tried some join up too. She really responds to my voice from all the lunging so I can calm her down by using my voice when riding or handling her. Doesnt always work when ridden though. Sometimes she is just in one of those moods where she wants to be the boss but am still trying to work on that
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Oh, having your new neddy since end of November is no time at all. I wondered how long it would take me to bond with Archie when I got him and someone said six months, which seemed an age. In fact, I would say it took much longer - probably about a good twelve months.

Even now, sometimes we don't seem to see eye to eye, but then again, all relationships have their ups and downs and we work at it and things pan out.
 
I bought my new horse in November too. Since which time its been very difficult to keep a routine of riding and the temptation is to fret about riding and 'getting it together' with him. But I keep telling myself, wait til spring, it will all be so much easier then but if the weather is okay and the horse seems chilled then I ride if I want to. Can you take the same view? I also think it takes many, many months to really bond well with your horse so I'm not worrying about whether we are bonding or not! It'll come and you can't really hurry it along.
 
I bought my horse in Feb and up until a couple of months ago, I didn't feel like I had bonded with him at all. Wont bore you with the details but we've had a very testing time this yr and it's only been recently that i've genuinely enjoyed spending time with him! I reckon it takes a long long time to develop a true bond, maybe a year plus? Mine has been out of work since the summer through injury and as a result i've done loads of ground work with him and I think that has been a brillant foundation for us. I know there is always loads of pressure to get on and go as soon as you get a new horse but if you're feeling aprehensive just scrap the riding for now and concentrate on building a bond on the ground, it will def pay off in the end
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Huge thanks to everyone for your suggestions and kind words. I'm not going to do anything I don't want to and make sure I don't push myself or him. Problem is he's purely hunted before I bought him so he can be a little green with some things.

I'm heading to a menage this morning so I can give him a good lunging/loose school before I get on so I can work the worst out of him.

I'll will keep updated and hopefully get some pictures on here in the near future!!

Again big thanks!
 
You don't need to ride to bond with him. Much more is acheived working with his on the ground.

I toook on a new horse this time last year, unbroken, and the most bonding was done going for inhand walks too see the world.

Don't worry about 'having' to ride him - a couple of months off to do ground work and build manners and respect will do him the world of good and set down foundations for later life.
 
I feel extremely lucky I too got my horse the end of Nov and already feel a good bond with him. However I have spent an awful lot of time with him already. We have done a lot of ground work. Also he has had wolf teeth out, and an allergic reaction so have had to give him extra care which has made bonding happen faster. On top of which he is a really good boy which is so important for me otherwise I would lose my confidence.

However my previous horse whom I totally adored it took me a good 4-6 months to bond with him. I had him on full livery to start with and it wasn't until I swapped to DIY that I built a bond with him
 
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