help with sensitive new horse??? Please point me in right direction

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CMequestrian

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So I'd be the first to throw my hands up and say:

"It was me, I messed up/may have made a mistake and it scared the new horse so he is now a nervous wreck and I can't put a bridle on/catch or stroke without him panicking"...

Especially taking into account he settled in fairly well for the first 4 days and for the behaviour to change over night... But I have analysed it as much as possible and there's not one thing I can pin point to upset him.

I am now struggling as he lives out and I always ride and tack up in field area outside and away from where horses are turned out.. But this is a problem as when he changed, he reared as bridle came off and got away too fast for me to stop him. Since, he can't be caught, can't have bridle on, cant get near him to groom, lucky to be aloud to stroke him and I've had to herd him up to catch and even feeding him and turning out doesn't seem to cheer him up, I am thinking about moving him onto livery close by for a week and keep stabled to deal with him in a more enclosed environment?

With regards to rearing and getting away when taking bridle off, nothing went wrong, it's a quiet and non spooky area we where untacking in... The bridle was slowly lifted off his ears fine, and as I was about to lower it, he dropped the bit himself and ran off to his field. I remember it so well and feel 110% sure nothing tweaked him, everything was fitted very well and his not been told off once by me to be scared.

But why would this happen? I can think of 2 reasons.

1) the new home has upset him, he was switched off and in shock for first few days and only just woke up to react and worry

2) something has happened that I have failed to notice?!? But struggle to come to terms with this. I have youngsters much younger than him and they're not as timid. He was sold as a young, clean slate but it's almost like he has underlying issues so I am just clueless???

Any other reasons maybe? So lost and actually worried for him I just hope he is feeling okay and I feel regardless of my efforts, things have got worse for him and I've done everything as sensible as possible to appeal to his better nature but its just not helping.
 
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Sorry to hear about your problems. i had a similar problem witha young mare I had years ago. She NEEDED to be stabled now and then. It was like she would revert to some of her wild ways so being kept in overnight every now and then reminded her of the life she was leading. I never could get a bridle on her normally , I had to undo it every time, and she was much worse when living out. (I had her till she died at 32 and yes I still miss her 10 years later) but she did need to go in from time to time. It helps with the handling and regular attention I think, might be an idea for a while. Good luck
 
I have had some similar problems recently, I was lunging him off the bit and he got exciteable, reared and probably pulled himself in the mouth, so was not happy with bridle for a few days (especially about taking it off actually). I lunged him in headcollar for a few days then took noseband off to make things simpler and put the rest on over headcollar for a few days, I did have to hold an ear gently but firmly but we got there and after three days I have gone back to full bridle and no problems! Obviously catching is your biggest issue and I think having her in might help if you've tried everything else. With this guy I chase him round the field a couple of times if he doesn't want to be caught and eventually I can get leadrope over his neck, headcollar can be a bit tricky the blighter!

I'm sure she will settle down eventually! Also have you changed bit or anything as she may not be getting on with something? Mine doesn't like a flash noseband and gets antsy!
 
A few more reasons jump out at me:

1. He was doped and now its worn off.

2. He was getting different feed / a calmer that he needs to stay sane and hasn't had it for 4days now.

3. Now that he's settled in, he's trying it on to see what he can get away with.

I could be wrong with all these reasons though.
 
With you saying 'youngsters younger than him' is it possible its a teething problem that's caused his fear? I know you said it didn't knock him but if he was already uncomfortable it could have been enough to associate you with pain after just a few days.
Other thing is herding him up to catch him is only making it worse. Unless he has an injury, I would just leave him out & slowly build up his trust again without trying to catch him.
Could also be he's just liking his new field mates, hence his rush to be off when unbridling & the fact he'd rather stay out than be caught.
 
littlelegs said:
With you saying 'youngsters younger than him' is it possible its a teething problem that's caused his fear? I know you said it didn't knock him but if he was already uncomfortable it could have been enough to associate you with pain after just a few days.
Other thing is herding him up to catch him is only making it worse. Unless he has an injury, I would just leave him out & slowly build up his trust again without trying to catch him.
Could also be he's just liking his new field mates, hence his rush to be off when unbridling & the fact he'd rather stay out than be caught.
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Thanks for replies.
His teeth where checked on vetting and are due but vet said no rush to get them done urgently so we where going to get it booked in so he can be sedated when vet comes out for his next lot of injections in a couple of weeks. He also is not out with the other 2 horses in the same field as I didn't want him to get kicked due to being on a weeks warranty.

The seller said to catch him and ride him and he should be fine but I need to get on and ride... I then found out I can't even put his bridle on without him being in danger of getting his leg caught in it whilst freaking hence why I may have to move him to a yard so we can use a stable to help as only shelter mine have is tree's and bushes in fields.

I've never been this puzzled about a horse in my life. Every new horse i've had has settled in great too and I just can't get my head round it.

It's not a stressful yard either. Fields behind house, grass cut school, grass area where I get horses ready and 3 average sized fields. My 2 youngsters are happy as larry and he has seen me catch and handle them too but doesn't seem to give him any confidence in me.
 
Put yourself in his position. He woke up one morning as usual and then this whole world as he knew it collapsed. He was put in a lorry and turned out into a new field he didn't know and all his friends were gone.
He does not know you yet and has no reason to trust you, whether or not you have offered kindness and love.
Stable him and excercise for a while. Give him time to get to know you as his carer and herd leader. Then he will accept you in the field.
Good luck :)
 
OP, I think Littlelegs is not talking about rasping sharp teeth, but about a youngster teething ie new ones coming through. It would make the whole gum area sore.
 
You're right sugar & spice, that's exactly what I meant, not that he might need one rasping.
If he is on his own for the first time even with friends over the fence that could be enough to stress him out combined with a new owner & home he doesn't know. Have you contacted the previous owner to see if they could come out & handle/ride him without issue? At least that way you'd know if it was just a settling in problem that requires time.
 
Like Sugar and Spice, I wondered about doping or a calmer. How well / or not at all, do you know the seller? Is he / she reputable?

You say he's on a week's warranty. What you don't say, I think, is how many days you've actually had him? It could be that he's just a sensitive and at present unhappy youngster who is finding it very hard to settle down.

If the seller is up for it, and the warranty is still in place, you could always invite him/her over to see what they make of the situation. It would be interesting to see if the horse reacts differently with someone he knows.

Don't despair - issues like this are usually overcome fairly quickly. And don't over-analyse yourself too much. Chances are you are doing nothing wrong. Just think of him as a child at a new school - even worse, a boarding-school!!
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
A few more reasons jump out at me:

1. He was doped and now its worn off.

2. He was getting different feed / a calmer that he needs to stay sane and hasn't had it for 4days now.

3. Now that he's settled in, he's trying it on to see what he can get away with.

I could be wrong with all these reasons though.
Click to expand...

I'm always amazed by how many people jump to the thought that a new horse could have been doped and its now worn off. I very much doubt many horses ARE actually doped especially with most people getting 5 stage vettings and blood tests being kept for this very purpose. Why is it the first thing you think of?! A horse is in a brand new home with brand new horses, a brand new routine and a brand new owner - most horses will be a bit weird to begin with and IMO most intelligent horses will test their new owner out to a degree, its only natural.
 
I thought the sellers where very honest. he is a naturally sensitive horse who is a little wary but they still stand his never put a foot wrong with them.

Teething is an option, didnt really think of this as my head is about to explode with stress.

Warranty stands for nothing and they have offered to take him back to sell on again but I have got myself so worked up and upset with the sellers as I have been accused of not telling them and he must have had an accident with me and reared over or something and i've ruined a good horse and now trying to return him on the warranty.

I would not be openly discussing this if I had encoutered one single accident with him. I can't even prove my innocence and the yard I thought I could move him to has no spare stables so don't know how to go about it now.

He can't have been doped either as it was 4 good days but he was not acting doped, he was enjoying his riding and had a lot of energy but it was all good energy and I just wish I knew what changed or if he just suddenly worked himself up to feel out of security in a new home?

I don't know what to do with him now as the sellers before accusing me, said to stable him and keep him in but I don't have that option. I am too upset atm to send him to them again as all though it may be the only reason they can think of for me to have had an accident with him, I couldn't be more innocent from anything like that happening. I have been so careful I just cant make sense of things.
 
There must be another yard near you that he could go to? A proper routine might help for a bit, as has been suggested. And if I were you I would be stressed and worried when I went to do stuff with him and he would/could pick up on it?
 
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