How long did it take for your horse to settle into new place?

oxo

Active Member
Joined
15 March 2016
Messages
34
Visit site
Just curious as to how long any of your new horses took to really settle in to their new place. What things did they do when they first came that showed they were settling in and how have they changed?
 
Not a 'new' horse (I've owned her for nearly 3 years now) but it's amazing how much difference the right yard can make to a horse.
At our previous yard, which looked great on paper, my mare never truly settled and we had quite a lot of incidences of low-level colic. She was super stressy and hard to manage a lot of the time.
We moved to a new yard 2 and a half weeks ago - she went into her new stable, had a bite of hay, rolled, stood up, did a big sigh; and then promptly fell asleep! She's like a different horse and is so much happier in herself.
 
my first horse was seriously unsettled for months when i first got him, but im fairly sure a lot of this was due to my nervousness handling him. He was constantly on edge and very difficult to handle. I can remember a time that i was literally terrified to evn go out and catch him. After a few months as my confidence grew then he settled, until antother livery arrived and he reverted to being a nob again. We moved on and in the next place he settle within a week, finally moving to his forever home where he has gone from chilled to being totally laid back, out 24/7 in company .
During the first 6 months in the first home he was a total nightmare, his speciallity was hoying me off something he has never ever done again since then.
 
Mine has moved twice in 7 months (once for the first time in 8 years and then because we bought our own yard near home). The first yard he was never truly settled and we were there about 6 months; he always looked a bit tense to me, and didn't always want to be caught. It was very minor and if you didn't know him you'd think he was fine, but I could sense that he wasn't quite himself. Brought him home and he settled within a day.

I believe in working them when they arrive; I got him off the lorry and schooled for half an hour. He had been to the yard we bought once before, for a lesson when it was under other ownership, so it wasn't totally new. I put him in the field and he was just fine.
 
When I had 2, they always settled quite quickly as they were always next door to eat other. I think he usually settles in a couple of days, I always make sure I spend plenty time with him, and once he's got into his routine he's quite happy.

There was only one year where he didn't completely settle, but there was a lot going on and he is quite stressy. he likes nice quiet yards.
 
Had my new boy since feb, arrived and seemed fine and seemed to settle quickly. Since then he has had some moments where he seems to be testing the waters, pushing boundaries or just plan awkward, we are 4 months in. He had been in 4 different homes in two weeks, before I bought him and took him home. Although he has remained a really nice person, he has stressed at times and it clear that he does not really trust that he will stay. I have always heard that they take six months to a year to fully settle.
 
I purchased two Shagya mares from the hungarian national stud. One settled in a couple of weeks the other took months. It does depend on the horse. I am sure that many of the 'not what I purchased' thread relate to horses who are stressed by a move.
 
Always been fine but most horses I've had have been used to going to shows / camps and staying away so no problems, I did have one nightmare once with the easiest horse I've ever owned I moved yards with a friend and neither horse would settle and he went from a dream horse to a nightmare so did my friends to the point I couldn't get him near the school without hysteria and he would run round the stable sweating, I had to move again and the second I did he was fine so god knows what happened!
 
About 10 minutes. He is a food focused, laid back chap. Took him to the field, he saw the grass, put his head down and ate. A few minutes later, the crowd trotted over, had a sniff then he put his head back down to eat.
A couple of scratches over the next few days but more over enthusiastic grooming than anything.
 
I would say completely settled and happy at least 3 months and when we moved her to another yard took another 3 months or so.
 
I bought a horse about 2 months ago & I'd say she's only now getting really settled, she's very happy when out in field,get's stressy & on edge when bought in but that's improving all the time,now she'll stand & eat from haynet when in,previously wouldn't eat would just fidget & fret for her field mates,she's quite jumpy & spooky but that's improving though I suspect that may just be how she is. She was pulling back a lot & quite bargy at first,not pulled back for weeks now & the bargyness isn't so bad as she does know her manners just needs a reminder, she'll eat a feed now when previously wouldn't & at first got very stressy if I walked off but that's improving a lot. Also she now enjoys coming in,she's not backed yet & at first seemed to regard coming in as a chore & it's massively helped that she now regards me as someone to help her with stuff & that I'm not the enemy! I expected this though as she's very green & done absolutely nothing.
 
Moved mine alot and she is fine wherever she goes, except one particular yard where she went loopy for ages well over a month. I could not groom her or handle at all,she would continiously pace everywhere and when tied up trot sideways back and forth on the rope. I had to throw the tack on and dive into saddle she just trotted off as soon as untied. I think she obviously didn't like it there though she got used to it in the end
 
About five minutes for every horse I've ever bought.

Guess I'm lucky too! Only had one issue with a pony bought for my son, but he was purchased after his other pony died, so don't think he really wanted to bond with a new pony either. Pony was sold and went to nice home and was fine! Just had some horses arrive for grass livery the other day, within 2 seconds they looked liked they had been there all their lives! :D
 
Mine's not normal :P, she's been moved more times than I am happy with in the past year and each time (people mucking me around!), as long as I turn up, she's not ever had a problem with where she goes :)
 
Amazingly my new mare settled really well, even rolling in her new stable within an hour. She then had to move stables as she had been on quarantine, so now settled lovely in her own stable. Just needs to get used to me now. Also to pass vet on wednesday !
 
Last edited:
Top