How long do you allow for "settling in?"

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Sologirl

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Following on from my last post - when you buy a new horse, how long do you consider acceptable for a "finding their feet" period before any bad behaviour/vices/etc turns from new place wobbles to just taking the P? Would be interested in knowing other opinions!
 
No, I wouldn't allow any horse to misbehave if possible. You need to be nice but firm with them, so they know they can trust you when you ask them to do something. If you allow small quirks initially they may well become bigger ones later on. That said, I would expect them to have a good look at things and need a bit of time to feel confident in their new home, so a bit of fuss and bonding goes without saying while they are.
 
I honestly think it can take a good 6 months for a horse to settle in a new yard and with a new owner.

During that time they might have lots of wobbles due to being unsettled but will almost certainly test you to see how much they can get away with ;-)
 
Sologirl said:
Following on from my last post - when you buy a new horse, how long do you consider acceptable for a "finding their feet" period before any bad behaviour/vices/etc turns from new place wobbles to just taking the P? Would be interested in knowing other opinions!
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I think it can take a long time for a horse to settle into a new home, it is a big change seeing as they have no idea that it is going to happen, it also depends on what background the horse came from.

my ex racer came from a bad background of multiple homes and I feel like it took her a good year to fully settle and be comfortable with her home and with me. She was quite dependent on horses and grumpy/defensive towards humans and it took us a good year to get the stage where she trusted me and was no longer defensive.

however she is a very different horse now to when I first bought her, we did a lot of work and taught her a lot of manners and to therefore trust her handler. I recently sold her and expected her to carry those manners through with her and that she exactly has according to her new owner. So behaviour and manners wise towards people I would not expect the horse to change, maybe have a few stressy/nervous moments but that's all.
 
Goldenstar said:
Unless I have bought a project horse , I don't expect them to misbehave at all.
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Exactly this, the way I view it is that we expect to be able to load up arrive at a venue and get on with a competition, why should it be different when moving yards? I sent my youngster away to be backed, they started work the next day, within three weeks he was back with me but at a new yard, I rode him the same day. I never left time for my mare who was sharp and nervy to settle, especially as my opinion is that if a horse is highly strung the best thing for it is some work! I expect my horses to start their routine from day one. Even if it is a project horse I generally start some form of routine on day one unless lay off in a field or box rest is needed for medical reasons.

I just don't understand how people can think a horse should have settling in time at a new yard but expect it to go to a show and compete in a completely new environment.
 
I think we expect to spend a while working the horse out for ridden work as you both need to work out who knows what and how they know it. But in terms of behaviour, start as you mean to go on...

Though ours have all settled really quickly, and oddly it's the sharpest of the three who settles the most easily! Smokes seems to just arrive somewhere and assume he now owns the place whereas Tango (who is so relaxed and easy) takes a few days to work out his new surroundings. But when they're ridden they are expected to be nice, sensible citizens regardless of where they are.
 
I think the difference between going to a show ground and being expected to compete, and having a new owner is that in the first instance the horse has a 'constant' in that it knows and trusts the person riding it at a show. In the second instance the horse is in a new home with a new handler so everything is different.
 
In my experience horses/ponies will behave fine and as you expect for the first couple of weeks in a new home, assuming they are treated confidently. After a few weeks ponies in particular will start to push the boundaries often and there will be a period where you have to have your wits about you. That should pass pretty quickly and hey presto you have the horse you tried out back.
In terms of management though I think it can take between 3 & 6 months for a new horse to settle into it's social group, enjoy your food & stables & find it's feet.
 
It's taken about a year for latest horse to truly settle. She went from stables at night with individual turnout to 24/7 herd living.
Ridden wise she was ok, but tense from the start, tested us about a month after arrival - fairly quickly sorted.
good behavior is expected from the start, but a stressy type like her really has taken a while to be truly chilled in her new environment.
 
it depends what behaviors you are talking about, as some i would never want to put up with even if they are in a new home. both of mine were projects, so hand a few things to learn! when they have moved yard with me they have settled quite quickly, i would say within a month they had got used to their new yard. but a new owner and yard, although they shouldn't be misbehaving they might be unsettled for quite a few months. still need to know the rules though.
 
Because for a very long time mine only ever met me and my oh. Years in fact, when I found a new rider for her she took a good three months to bond and that was without moving home. She is a funny mare anyway and is suspicious of everything and still wont take a treat or anything from a stranger she has to know you a while before she doesnt look at you like you have two heads. She I would say would take an age to settle in a new home with a new person. The other three dont care as long as you make a fuss and they have their tea and cuddles so I guess the answer is how long is a piece of string as it depends largely on the horse. Having said all that I do get them into a routine from day one and do make sure they have all their manners in place from the start, ridden and stable routine is important and naughtiness is best ignored while positive advances are encouraged. Same as with kids I suppose
 
I agree with others who say that it can take a good six months for a horse to settle in their new home. However, I wouldn't expect bad behaviour simply because of a move - nor would I tolerate it.
 
It really depends on the individual horse and circumstances.

I have moved CM three times. Twice she settled immediately (the first and third time) but the middle move really upset her. It took her a good three months to not be stressed out of her tiny mind and she continued to settle further after that.

I don't agree that it's the same as going to a show, but horses who do go to shows regularly (especially ones where you stay overnight) are IME quicker to settle when changing home. However a key factor in this is that they tend to be owned by experienced people who can cope with slightly stressed horses without any bother or even thinking about it. This makes a world of difference. Give the same horse to a first time owner and it probably wont go as smoothly.
 
I would expect them to be on their toes a little for a few days with all the new sights and sounds but that's about it. I want a horse to be able to cope with staying overnight at a show so if the horse is being unreasonable at a new yard then I would assume they will be difficult staying away at a show. I don't want a difficult horse.

After a month I would expect them to be fully settled with new field mates, know the routine etc
 
minimilton said:
I would expect them to be on their toes a little for a few days with all the new sights and sounds but that's about it. I want a horse to be able to cope with staying overnight at a show so if the horse is being unreasonable at a new yard then I would assume they will be difficult staying away at a show. I don't want a difficult horse.

After a month I would expect them to be fully settled with new field mates, know the routine etc
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This is about right. It's essential that new owner doesn't ALLOW the horse to misbehave during this time. You are being 'interviewed' by the horse, and if they think they can get away with it they will, so this period is for you to establish routines and ground rules.

This applies double for anything under 14.2hh. Lol.
 
teabiscuit said:
Is it bad behaviour or nerves/lack of confidence ?
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I'm inclined to think it's more the latter: I bought a horse advertised as suitable for a nervous novice (I'm not a "novice" as such but lack confidence and wanted a horse that would look after me) - got him home, rode him in the school a few times (was fine), rode him out in company (again, fine - a bit looky but nothing major), rode him on his own 2 weeks after him arriving, just up the track a little way....not good. Spinning, spooking, head tossing, trying to head for home etc. Tried again the next day, a shorter distance and was a little better but still not brilliant. Rode him out in company yesterday and he was still pretty jumpy, particularly on the road which REALLY worried me. I then find out that he'd played up for the farrier when he was shod before leaving his old home (farrier told me today, I hadn't been present at his shoeing and seller told me he was absolutely fine)...and so now am feeling very despondent and worried that I've made a huge mistake.

I just wanted a nice safe uncomplicated horse. I completely understand that he would be a little insecure at first, but I'm just so concerned that it's not going to improve without a battle - one that I don't think I have the balls for!!

Ugh, pity post - sorry! I think I want the impossible!!
 
As discussed in your other thread - this horse is not as described.

He's not 'settling in' he's taking the mik.

You need some help with him - many suggestions on your other thread. Or you need to send him back.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
I think the difference between going to a show ground and being expected to compete, and having a new owner is that in the first instance the horse has a 'constant' in that it knows and trusts the person riding it at a show. In the second instance the horse is in a new home with a new handler so everything is different.
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^^ This exactly
 
minimilton said:
I would expect them to be on their toes a little for a few days with all the new sights and sounds but that's about it. I want a horse to be able to cope with staying overnight at a show so if the horse is being unreasonable at a new yard then I would assume they will be difficult staying away at a show. I don't want a difficult horse.

After a month I would expect them to be fully settled with new field mates, know the routine etc
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I'd agree with this too.
 
Sometimes when I look back after 2 years, I can see how mares have changed in the time that they've been with us - it seems as though it can take them so long to find their place in the herd (which is always settled, they live at home). We have a Draft mare now who has been with us nearly 3 years and appeared to be settled in the herd but could be a bit grumpy and very keen on her own personal space. We had to pts the 31 yr old cob in May, she had been very quiet but actually was still the herd 'boss' if it really came down to it, although she would move on for the Draft horse usually.
Since the cob went, we have got 2 youngsters and Draft horse is far more settled and tranquil.
As for manners with people, I expect good manners from every horse and if they are not present for some reason, I teach them from day 1. I usually give a new horse at least a week to settle into the new routine before riding but make sure that they get used to being well handled at least twice per day. They always go into a separate field alongside the herd until we judge that they are all ready to go in together, this can take weeks sometimes.
 
Try not to get despondent sologirl, its early days for you both, stick to doing what you feel confident with and building trust between you, it wil make all the difference.
When I first had my horse he attacked me in the field on day 3, completely out of the blue, but within weeks we had developed a bond and he became my forever horse, had him 8 years now and he's a dream.
I would persevere for a few more weeks, he sounds like a lovely boy in most respects..:)
 
minimilton said:
A horse described as suitable for a nervous novice shouldn't spook or spin. Unless something really really terrifying happens of course.
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Oh yes they were terrifying things! A dog barking. A metal fence. A log at the side of the road...

I want to persevere with him - SO badly. I don't want to fail him and myself, and I can forgive him for being a little jumpy but his reactions were just so extreme, I can't think how he'd be suitable for any nervous person!

I found out too that he'd played up for the farrier prior to coming here (from the farrier himself) - when the seller had told me he was absolutely perfect to shoe...He's sounding less and less like a nervous baby and more and more wilful "let's see what I can get away with"....sigh.
 
youngster (8 under) day before you start working but give then an hour or so they show them round, take them for a walk to stretch legs.

other horses - couple of hours then ride lightly

unless they have travelled for over 3 hours only give them a couple of hours to settle in. the quicker they get used to surroundings the better. will be on toes for about week but ignore any silly behaviour.
 
Sologirl said:
Oh yes they were terrifying things! A dog barking. A metal fence. A log at the side of the road...

I want to persevere with him - SO badly. I don't want to fail him and myself, and I can forgive him for being a little jumpy but his reactions were just so extreme, I can't think how he'd be suitable for any nervous person!

I found out too that he'd played up for the farrier prior to coming here (from the farrier himself) - when the seller had told me he was absolutely perfect to shoe...He's sounding less and less like a nervous baby and more and more wilful "let's see what I can get away with"....sigh.
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If you really like the horse then you can persevere and hopefully get good results. I was just reading your other thread. If he's behaved in all other riding circumstances and this is the only riding issue then get someone else more confident to hack him on his own. Then when he is more familiar with his surroundings you will be able to hack him on your own too. He isn't as described unfortunately but with a good support network that isn't the end of the world. I would only describe a total saint of a horse as suitable for a nervous novice.

Good luck
 
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