How long for new horse to settle?

C

Christmas Crumpet

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 August 2007
Messages
4,035
Visit site
Bought a new horse last week - 6 year old Irish bog pony. She has been at home since Thurs and seems to be settling well on the ground. She is fine in her stable - doesn't seem to stress at all.

However, she is quite timid and does seem to be waiting for a beating (which she won't get obviously!!). I just wondered how long it takes them to settle. She is quite nervous out exercising and only seems to settle after about half an hour. She isn't the easiest to get on although today took less time than yesterday. I know that I have to take my time with her and that I've been spoilt with all my others that you can just leap on and go.

I know everything is new - she has been on 4 different rides so far and its all exciting. She hasn't put a foot wrong. She just seems anxious. I know its going to take time - anyone got any experiences of how long it took their new horses to settle into life.

I am not saying this because I want to rush it but just curious to know. I know I have to take it gently with her but I do want to start as I mean to go on and that means being exercised first thing and then turned out until 6 p.m when she can then come in again. She has to fit in round me not vice versa. I want her to feel happy and secure and laid back!! I'm not sure what she does in the field all day but is always waiting to come in at nighttime. She does need to learn that she will be out all day and should find something to do e.g. eat grass!!
 
Hi there

i got my mare in September (she was Exactly the same)
She would spin everytime i got past her shoulder to mount..
It took about 1month before i could just get one her and go still if somethings abit odd she will have a second look but like my friend said..

Imagine being put in the centre of London with nothing familiar.. Pretty scary ey?

Im sure she will soon settle :D
 
It depends on age, temperament and breed I think. Also what sort of herd they're in.

Our haflinger settled straight away, Breeze our TB mare only really settled after a few months.

:)


edit - Just to make myself clear which I didn't, I'm not talking about riding, just getting used to their new home :)
 
Last edited:
To be honest I just got on with it - I never made room or excuses for "settling in". I have always been of the opinion that if you give and inch, they take a mile. So I have always cracked on and expected the same good behaviour as I would at any time from my horse.
Oddly enough I have always got it!
 
carolineb said:
Bought a new horse last week - 6 year old Irish bog pony. She has been at home since Thurs and seems to be settling well on the ground. She is fine in her stable - doesn't seem to stress at all.

However, she is quite timid and does seem to be waiting for a beating (which she won't get obviously!!). I just wondered how long it takes them to settle. She is quite nervous out exercising and only seems to settle after about half an hour. She isn't the easiest to get on although today took less time than yesterday. I know that I have to take my time with her and that I've been spoilt with all my others that you can just leap on and go.

I know everything is new - she has been on 4 different rides so far and its all exciting. She hasn't put a foot wrong. She just seems anxious. I know its going to take time - anyone got any experiences of how long it took their new horses to settle into life.

I am not saying this because I want to rush it but just curious to know. I know I have to take it gently with her but I do want to start as I mean to go on and that means being exercised first thing and then turned out until 6 p.m when she can then come in again. She has to fit in round me not vice versa. I want her to feel happy and secure and laid back!! I'm not sure what she does in the field all day but is always waiting to come in at nighttime. She does need to learn that she will be out all day and should find something to do e.g. eat grass!!
Click to expand...

I think a lot of how quickly a new horse settles is down to the owner. These people that spend about 6 months riding it at home before taking it out anywhere or giving it a week 'to settle down' really don't do the horse any favours. I collected my present horse on the Thursday, was out hacking on our own for an hour on the Friday, Saturday saw us at a show and riding round the club grounds jumping logs and streams (horse had clearly never done this before in his life) and the following Saturday we were out competing. Each horse is different. In my experience give him his first day of arrival off work, and ride him the next. He will be fine.
 
I agree that it's best to just get on with it and don't make too much of a deal out of 'settling in.' My gelding did take a couple of weeks to fully settle in, e.g. coming quickly to call and finding his place in the herd. Whereas when my mare came as a 2yo she settled in straight away and didn't need any adjustment time- it was like she'd lived here all her life.
 
To be honest I have just cracked on with her. She came on Thursday and went hunting all day on Sat (and was brilliantly well behaved. Phew). I am not the kind of person who gives them weeks to settle in. She was bought as a hunter and is to be hunted every week. Don't have time to pussyfoot about!

My routine is to exercise every morning before work, turn out with breakfast and get in when I get back from work. Quick groom and put to bed. Hunting on Saturday's and day off on Sunday, again turned out with breakfast and left for the day.

I think so far the issues I have found are:

1. Getting on. It seems as though she's more used to being leapt on rather than standing up to the mounting block. I know this will take time.

2. Quite wary on the ground. She doesn't relax when tied up in the yard. I have a wash box though so have been putting her in there and she seems ok. She is a bit headshy. Tenses up when I'm doing up the front of her rug and when I pull the neck cover up her neck. I have a feeling the first time the farrier comes, she might be a bit difficult. Have asked him to come when I am there because I think I will need to hold her.

3. Seems unsettled in the field although doesn't charge about. Just hangs around at the gate. I'm ignoring that though because I'm not there during the day so can't see her (out of sight, out of mind) and she's going to have to get used to being there for 10 hours a day and hopefully she will realise its nice to graze on nice grass and relax.

4. Am having her teeth done tomorrow and quick vet check by my vet although she did pass a 5 stage last Weds. She does seem a little unhappy in the mouth and won't take much of a contact. Hoping teeth being done will help that. She is also a bit funny about having her bit put in her mouth and dunks her hay quite a bit so hopefully all relative.

Good points though...

1. Loads and travels brilliantly.
2. Eats up very well and loves food (not sure about polos or carrots though. Might end up saving a fortune not giving her these!! She will take nuts from your hand though).
3. Hasn't really put a foot wrong riding so far - obviously its all new but I'm sure she will soon realise hacking out is nice in the morning and settle a bit. She just seems a little bit on edge and won't relax.
4. Happy in stable. Now poking her head out of the door when I walk down the yard.
5. Getting braver to be dealt with on the ground.
6. Easy to catch (esp. because she hangs round the gate!!). Not entirely sure about being caught in the dark with a torch though but again, she's got to get used to it.
7. Was good riding through village today at rush hour. 2 lorries and a coach went past and she was ok. Also ok with tractor pulling big trailer of squealing pigs (did hide in someone's driveway at that point).

We shall see!!

Thanks for advice everyone. Made me feel far better!!
 
carolineb said:
To be honest I have just cracked on with her. She came on Thursday and went hunting all day on Sat (and was brilliantly well behaved. Phew). I am not the kind of person who gives them weeks to settle in. She was bought as a hunter and is to be hunted every week. Don't have time to pussyfoot about!

My routine is to exercise every morning before work, turn out with breakfast and get in when I get back from work. Quick groom and put to bed. Hunting on Saturday's and day off on Sunday, again turned out with breakfast and left for the day.

I think so far the issues I have found are:

1. Getting on. It seems as though she's more used to being leapt on rather than standing up to the mounting block. I know this will take time.

2. Quite wary on the ground. She doesn't relax when tied up in the yard. I have a wash box though so have been putting her in there and she seems ok. She is a bit headshy. Tenses up when I'm doing up the front of her rug and when I pull the neck cover up her neck. I have a feeling the first time the farrier comes, she might be a bit difficult. Have asked him to come when I am there because I think I will need to hold her.

3. Seems unsettled in the field although doesn't charge about. Just hangs around at the gate. I'm ignoring that though because I'm not there during the day so can't see her (out of sight, out of mind) and she's going to have to get used to being there for 10 hours a day and hopefully she will realise its nice to graze on nice grass and relax.

4. Am having her teeth done tomorrow and quick vet check by my vet although she did pass a 5 stage last Weds. She does seem a little unhappy in the mouth and won't take much of a contact. Hoping teeth being done will help that. She is also a bit funny about having her bit put in her mouth and dunks her hay quite a bit so hopefully all relative.

Good points though...

1. Loads and travels brilliantly.
2. Eats up very well and loves food (not sure about polos or carrots though. Might end up saving a fortune not giving her these!! She will take nuts from your hand though).
3. Hasn't really put a foot wrong riding so far - obviously its all new but I'm sure she will soon realise hacking out is nice in the morning and settle a bit. She just seems a little bit on edge and won't relax.
4. Happy in stable. Now poking her head out of the door when I walk down the yard.
5. Getting braver to be dealt with on the ground.
6. Easy to catch (esp. because she hangs round the gate!!). Not entirely sure about being caught in the dark with a torch though but again, she's got to get used to it.
7. Was good riding through village today at rush hour. 2 lorries and a coach went past and she was ok. Also ok with tractor pulling big trailer of squealing pigs (did hide in someone's driveway at that point).

We shall see!!

Thanks for advice everyone. Made me feel far better!!
Click to expand...

Blimey - sounds like heaven to me! I'd be getting out the champers at this point if I were you
 
I guess it depends on the methods and approaches that you use. For instance, if you want to bond and form trust then maybe spend more time grooming her than the others in the first few weeks.

I think once she gets used to her new routine she will calm down. It's only been a week after all! :)
 
Not even a week so perhaps we aren't doing too badly after all. Hopefully she will realise that life with us actually can be very nice!!

I must remember not to take things personally - ie. mounting issue - but that she needs to learn to do it my way and be firm with her.

Onwards and upwards!!
 
took me 2 months to be able to catch my mare from the paddock.
before that, i'd spend about 2 hours running around like a fool.

riding wise, i fell off 3 times the first week if i "worked" and not if i went on a walk-hack.
so yeah, she took about 2-3 months to settle. she's much nicer now, it's our 4th month together...
 
jcwh said:
took me 2 months to be able to catch my mare from the paddock.
before that, i'd spend about 2 hours running around like a fool.
QUOTE]

You've just decribed my nutcase! His previous owner used to give up after 10 mins so I had my work cut out to prove I wasn't ever giving in! He waits at the gate now but I don't see that lasting as soon as the spring grass is through! :)
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top