Horse terrified of new yard

[I don’t like mondays]

Looking for some wisdom and advice please ? My horse is easy when he’s calm and settled (which is most of the time) but when he’s worried, if the pressure increases (eg something scary or too firm handling) he looses it on the ground and can’t calm down. We started TRT groundwork and that helps but we aren’t that far into it yet

We’ve recently moved yards, he’s happy and settled in his new field but the yard and school are right next to a working farm. I hadn’t realised how noisy or busy this would be, esp at this time of year (I’m such an idiot!). Took him to the yard area last night (for the first time) and it was so noisy and busy- tractors, farm machines everywhere (questioning why I chose this yard!). He started getting tense and worried, I kept calm, reassured him and fed him on the yard then went back to the field. We had a few kite moments but he didn’t fully lose his head (he kept listening to me and moving forwards).

I’m thinking of feeding him on the yard every day, keeping it positive and short and sweet. Will this settle him do you think (little and often)? Or could more exposure to the scary things make him worse (I know sometimes the more he sees scary things the more he works himself up)? We’ve been at a yard in the past where he was terrified of sheep and never got used to them, despite walking past them for months and months. I’ve got support in real life should I need it, because he can be a challenge.

I really want to crack on with him but with the yard being scary I feel like I need to get him used to it first before I can work him. However being in work will also expend some energy. He’s also got a good memory and if something upsets him, he’ll always hold a grudge!

Anyway, any ideas? Advice, wisdom? Things I could try? thanks

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Little and often, definitely. I’ve just moved mine to a much noisier box, tractors going past, multiple vehicles, it’s the lane to the field, too, so all the horses parade past twice daily. He’s a little tense and listens when something is going on, but is better, so yes to exposure.

 

[poiuytrewq]

In the hope of being reassuring this will be the absolute busiest time in a solid chunk, soon things will calm down.
This time of year, even with my horses being used to farm traffic I often can’t face riding out from here, some days I can’t even get to the mounting block if I tried.
Then all of a sudden it will be over and done with, by next year your horse will be desensitised ?

 

[AmyMay]

He’s just getting used to new noises and surroundings. He doesn’t sound terrified, just alert to these new experiences.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Sometimes they just don’t settle. My two are used to farm life but when I moved them to an indoor barn setup at a different place similar to yours they both went from cool and chilled to being dangerous to handle. I’m convinced there was a body buried in the concrete because their reactions were so extreme and I lasted less than 4 weeks before moving them back to DP’s first yard. He visibly sighed with relief when I got him off the trailer and went back to his chilled self immediately.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Little and often, definitely. I’ve just moved mine to a much noisier box, tractors going past, multiple vehicles, it’s the lane to the field, too, so all the horses parade past twice daily. He’s a little tense and listens when something is going on, but is better, so yes to exposure.

Thank you

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Sometimes they just don’t settle. My two are used to farm life but when I moved them to an indoor barn setup at a different place similar to yours they both went from cool and chilled to being dangerous to handle. I’m convinced there was a body buried in the concrete because their reactions were so extreme and I lasted less than 4 weeks before moving them back to DP’s first yard. He visibly sighed with relief when I got him off the trailer and went back to his chilled self immediately.

That’s my worry. I had an offer of a much quieter yard (you could hear a pin drop haha) but the space came up the day before we moved here. Maybe I’ll give him 4 weeks to see. He can become dangerous when worried too- he rears and tries to tank off

 

[I don’t like mondays]

He’s just getting used to new noises and surroundings. He doesn’t sound terrified, just alert to these new experiences.

Thank you, that’s reassuring, it’s early days and new. Yesterday we had rearing, snorting and stress poos

 

[I don’t like mondays]

In the hope of being reassuring this will be the absolute busiest time in a solid chunk, soon things will calm down.
This time of year, even with my horses being used to farm traffic I often can’t face riding out from here, some days I can’t even get to the mounting block if I tried.
Then all of a sudden it will be over and done with, by next year your horse will be desensitised ?

Ok thank you. Yes that does reassure me. Whatever time I go, it’s crazy busy with machines everywhere. Apart from that it’s such a great yard. If it goes quieter soon that would help. He’s not usually worried by machines/traffic when out. I think it’s because there are so many

 

[criso]

I would give a little time to see if he does get used to it before giving up. My very spooky tb settled very quickly into a farm environment and happily squeezes past trucks and machinery without a glance. The poles that live alongside the school are a different matter entirely though and require monitoring and evasive action at all times.

If you don't fancy riding him in a busy environment, you could lunge.

 

[twiggy2]

You sound as worried as him, its just noise and machines, take a deep breath and relax, he may take a little time but thats to be expected.

 

[Auslander]

I wouldn't feed him on the yard just yet if he's that worried. I'd take him out of the field, start walking up to the yard and pay careful attention to the point where he starts to get tense, then I'd give him a treat/scratch, and take him back to his safe place. Once I'd establised where the tension starts, I'd feed him a few feet closer to his field than that, and gradually move his bucket closer to the yard over the course of a week or two, taking care to always feed him in a spot where he's relaxed - not straying into the tension zone. I know it sounds like a faff, but if this is to be his home, he needs to feel safe, and taking him way past his comfort zone every time you handle him isn't going to do anything. If he's on high alert, he isn't learning anything but how to be tense, and you'll never get him reliably settled.
I

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ok thank you. Yes that does reassure me. Whatever time I go, it’s crazy busy with machines everywhere. Apart from that it’s such a great yard. If it goes quieter soon that would help. He’s not usually worried by machines/traffic when out. I think it’s because there are so many

Yes I think it’s very different being in the midst of full swing harvest than passing a tractor on the road. On the plus side it will completely road proof your horse too!

 

[pixie]

Is there a field that he could graze in that is closer to the farm buildings? Preferably with calmer ponies.
My turnout fields are right next to the crop fields, so all of mine are well used to tractors and combine harvesters running right beside them. They get used to it very quickly when they see that the other horses aren't bothered.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I wouldn't feed him on the yard just yet if he's that worried. I'd take him out of the field, start walking up to the yard and pay careful attention to the point where he starts to get tense, then I'd give him a treat/scratch, and take him back to his safe place. Once I'd establised where the tension starts, I'd feed him a few feet closer to his field than that, and gradually move his bucket closer to the yard over the course of a week or two, taking care to always feed him in a spot where he's relaxed - not straying into the tension zone. I know it sounds like a faff, but if this is to be his home, he needs to feel safe, and taking him way past his comfort zone every time you handle him isn't going to do anything. If he's on high alert, he isn't learning anything but how to be tense, and you'll never get him reliably settled.
I

Thank you. I really like the sound of this, I think it would work well for my horse

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Is there a field that he could graze in that is closer to the farm buildings? Preferably with calmer ponies.
My turnout fields are right next to the crop fields, so all of mine are well used to tractors and combine harvesters running right beside them. They get used to it very quickly when they see that the other horses aren't bothered.

Sadly not

 

[MinKo]

He will get used to it. Mine are on a working farm, used to be arable and now it's dairy. Both mine pay no attention at all.