How long do you leave it before riding a new horse.,

[grandmaweloveyou]

YO used to have a policy of liveries riding them out, in company, the day after arrival to help the horses bond.

New horse at our yard was very aggressive to my horse, stallion tendencies, so decided to try this route on the 4th day (3 nights). New horse is 13, apprently been there done that.....

Didnt make it out of the yard, new horse threw its new owner off.

Can't help but feel guilty but I tend to follow YO advice & I have always ridden my horse the morning after arrival so felt comfortable with the decision.

 

[Dizzle]

ASAP, if you took them to a show you wouldn’t give them a week to settle in. The only reason I didn’t ride my pony the day I got her was because I decided that 4 hours in the trailer might be enough for one day (and also I didn't get a saddle until about 9pm!)

 

[Dizzleton]

Being on the Isle of Man, most horses come over on the boat from the UK. We've just had a new horse on my yard come over from the midlands and the lady who bought him didn't ride him for nearly a week so he could settle in and get used to his new life. He was very well behaved and still is.

When I got my new horse back in 2009, I moved him from his old yard about 2 miles down the road and rode him the day after as he knew where he was.

I certainly wouldn't ride my new horse with a load of strange horses the day after arriving as there is no telling what could happen! I would give my horse a few days to settle in and ride in an arena or lunge him first.

It's a 5 hour ferry ride then nearly 1.5hrs to our yard - very long journey!

 

[Polos Mum]

A 13 y/o been there and done that horse - that afternoon/ if not the next day. When you take them somewhere strange for a competition you don't leave them days to settle in!

A youngster/ difficult/ nervous type I might take a different decision.

Hope your friend is OK after the fall, did she hack it out when she tried before buying? Has he been turned out since arriving?

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

Hi. He was only going to be hacked with 1 other ie me & mine, who is always an escort horse tor 3/4/5 year olds, calm as calm.

She rode in the school but no hacking.

She has broken the top of her arm.

I worked with new horse after, on the ground, I am 20 years older & alot firmer, he listened & allowed me to lean on his saddle.....I didnt get on as I am self employed & too damn old!

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

I get on the same day and start as I mean to go on!

 

[Polos Mum]

Oh nasty - hope her arm heals quickly - maybe he doesn't hack at all.

 

[frannieuk]

I get on the day they arrive or the following day, and usually do 5 mins on the lunge followed by a short session in the school.
I think it can be quite an ask to go straight out hacking and IMO, a short session in the school getting the horse concentrating on transitions and direction changes etc works wonders in building the trust between horse and rider, helps them get to know each other and doesn't put as much stress on as hacking in a strange place. I'd generally do the same for the first few days, and introduce a short hack after the schooling session as soon as I felt happy to do so - usually on the second or third day.
I like to get a new horse in to a routine straight away rather than giving them too much time to form their own opinions about the work/life balance!

 

[Amy567]

Depends, older ones, straight away, younger ones a few days. Bringing them to a new home is different to a competition, the horse doesn't know you and you don't know it. By the time you go competing, you get to know the horse and what it might do

Also depends what they're used to ie. stabled 24/7 when you want them out 24/7, it can be really unsettling for them

 

[POLLDARK]

If you buy from auction there is usually a time limit for returns/misdescribed horses so you just have to get on with it.

 

[monkeybum13]

The same day I bring them home. Start as I mean to go on!

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

Thank you. My friends seem to agree, get on and start as you mean to so I don't feel as sick now.

 

[Jools2345]

not sure why you feel guilty,

at 13 i would get on the same day and hack out unless it was along journey then i would hack the next day.

never really understood giving them time off work to settle as many horses enjoy routine and if they are fit then time off just leaves them full of beans

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Ridden animal, unload, tack up & ride for short while.
Did that on Sunday week when I collected FLF late morning - got her off the lorry & tacked up, rode round a paddock & then hacked up the lane & back for 10 mins

Youngster etc; then they learn my routines & start the next morning with a gentle 'something' (learn to be groomed, walk in hand, perhaps lunge etc dependant on what its done before)

 

[welshied]

I always ride the next day and tend to hack them out hope everything works out ok

 

[Antw23uk]

I dont think you should feel guilty, it was just a bit of bad luck and hopefully she did her research and brought a horse that hacks out but potentially he is too much horse for her?

My new boy was brought ten minutes down the road in the box, lunged that evening and put through his paces with a rider the next day in the school and a short hack up the lane. I rode him the day after but that was four days ago but hoping to ride tonight if this weird weather behaves!

I agree with others, older horse, ride as you mean to go on. Best wishes to your friend.

 

[AmyMay]

It really depends. The last horse I bought I left it a couple of days because I wanted it out and happy with it's new companions without me faffing around with it.

 

[Natz88]

I am another one that starts as I mean to go on. My boy was a rising 5 when I got him & I took him for a gentle hack the next day with my mum & it was like he had been there years

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Depends on the horse and the rider. Some are better for getting on with it, but a nervous rider needs a settled horse to prevent a mishap.

FWIW, I do the same as OP. New horse gets introduced to a selected one or two others on a hack before they're turned out together. Its a good system if the owner is confident enough to go for a stroll.

 

[CBAnglo]

Really depends on the horse, but mostly either the same day (if local) or the next day. My ex-racer we left for 6 weeks as he needed to put weight on needed remedial shoeing etc. (he was not straight off the track though, he had been "reschooled").

The last one (4 yo) came straight from Ireland so he was left a couple of days (needed farrier) and then gently hacked until I was 100% happy with saddle.

Not sure what business it is of the YOs though? If my YO told me when I should ride my horse I would tell them where to stick it!

 

[dollymix]

The next day! I actually think that getting them into a ridden routine is the best way to help them settle.

If possible, I like to lead them out in hand on the day of arrival, to see the sights and get their bearings.

 

[Vanha12]

Same day. Don't feel guilty.

 

[windand rain]

Riding wise probably straight away but as my youngster took three months to fully accept her new rider I think you should forgive a bit until they are used to you She didnt move home. She was fine ridden just didnt like the new girl catching her or feeding her etc She loves her to bits now but she is a strange little mare will turn her nose away from treat she loves if she feels affronted in any way. I guess if I ever sell her she will need a lot of time to settle in to a new home

 

[hnmisty]

My new boy arrived at 9:30 last night, I'm planning on getting on tomorrow. He's meeting his field mates tonight.

A bit nervous (haven't had a new horse for 10 years!)...OP didn't help!

 

[Goldenstar]

The next day , the only difference might be a young homebred leaving home for the first time I would play that by ear , I would probally lead round the school and spend sometime with it the next day but would not expect 'work ' until it had settled.

 

[tinap]

Ride them the next day in school/field. Would only hack out on them after a week or more after getting a feel for them xx

 

[OWLIE185]

I have had best results when I have ridden them home as I suspect they then don't loose their sense of where they are. If this is not possible then I do like to ride them straight away so that they can get used to their new surroundings and smells.

 

[MileAMinute]

I would ride straightaway, but may possibly lunge beforehand.
As others said it's only the same scenario as if horse had gone to a show or similar.

 

[MegaBeast]

Got on my 4yr old the day I brought him home (first trailer ride too!), 15mins in the school then a solo hack round the block. I did allow him the morning to settle in! I expect them to get on with it from day one regardless of age/experience so there's no drama later on.

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

Thanks guys for the reassurance x