How long to get to know new horse ?

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Notimetoride

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How long does it take to get to know a new horse - where you trust it implicitly, and feel the horse knows you and trusts you ? I know this is a rather ambiguous question, but just wondering what people think ?
 
Really depends. Had my coblet 5 months and she had 2 months off riding, been back riding her for 2 months now and ridden her every single day. Feel like I know her completely.
 
While I instantly fell in love with my welsh cob, it's probably taken about 12 to 18 months for us to start 'getting' each other when ridden. Probably didn't help that we're both grumpy and opinionated.. :D
 
Depends on the horse really. The baby has followed me like a puppy since day one. The older one took a couple of months and I still don't have that implicit trust thing but he can be a diva. My two best horses, both mares, were both aloof and took a few months to bond but I would have trusted either with my life once we made that connection.
 
I bought my horse of a lifetime last May, I would say (despite all the one step forwards two step back times!!) we are just about starting to be where we need to be. Depends on the horse, the confidence and ability of rider and circumstances. However when I've been low and feeling it wasn't going to work pretty much everyone I've spoken to said 'don't worry, it's at least a year before you really know them' and its rung true. It's been worth the wait as I am now having an absolute ball :-)
 
Wow you guys are quick movers. My mare, after 10 years we had the most amazing relationship and I would trust her with anything. My boy, after 4 years, we are getting there and i feel in time we will be the most stunning partnership who will wipe the floor.

i just think with horses, anything worth having isn't won easily and the amazing feeling when you achieve after years of improving your knowledge, building a relationship and pure slog is absolutely terrifyingly wonderful. i never get over people who have a horse and pass it on after a few months because the horse isn't good enough, to me, its always, what do I need to learn to be good enough to make this horse terrific.
 
Totally depends on the horse/pony usually takes me daughter months to really get to know trust hers.
Yet I bought her a new one 6 weeks ago a green 6 year old daughter is 10. Typical sharp jumping pony. But they seem to have just clicked she trusts her completey and have been to 3 shows and at the lady one already got s 1st place at a big show at bs level.
 
canteron said:
i just think with horses, anything worth having isn't won easily and the amazing feeling when you achieve after years of improving your knowledge, building a relationship and pure slog is absolutely terrifyingly wonderful. i never get over people who have a horse and pass it on after a few months because the horse isn't good enough, to me, its always, what do I need to learn to be good enough to make this horse terrific.
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Absolutely :) With the Welsh chap I start with a working assumption that I'm the problem and go from there. It's usually true as well :D
 
canteron said:
Wow you guys are quick movers. My mare, after 10 years we had the most amazing relationship and I would trust her with anything. My boy, after 4 years, we are getting there and i feel in time we will be the most stunning partnership who will wipe the floor.

i just think with horses, anything worth having isn't won easily and the amazing feeling when you achieve after years of improving your knowledge, building a relationship and pure slog is absolutely terrifyingly wonderful. i never get over people who have a horse and pass it on after a few months because the horse isn't good enough, to me, its always, what do I need to learn to be good enough to make this horse terrific.
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I have had my mare four years in Feb & only now starting to feel like I really know her. Do i trust her completely - not yet.
 
Absolute minimum 6 months , more like a year with the average rider. Sometimes a lot longer with the more complicated horses . Me and Bob the nota cob are only now making significant progress after 4 years.Hardest horse I have ever ridden ,but oddly enough also the most inteligent and willing.
 
Myhorseeatsmoney said:
I have always found that groundwork builds a bond far quicker than ridden work.
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I agree but it can destroy it too. I've had my mare 6 months and we've been getting on pretty well. I've been doing lots of groundwork with her, but last week she docked me in the mouth (my fault entirely, I was stood in front and she threw her head up to call to her mates who were being turned out) and it bloody hurt, so I called out and even cried for a bit!! Bit through my lip so blood everywhere. I also caught her with my schooling whip as I jumped back.

She was a gibbering wreck for the whole session and I still think doesn't trust me on the ground and I'm bloody pissed off with myself for allowing it to happen. I've had to work with no whip since, which is fine, but I've been trying to get her to slow down in SI in hand and she's done nothing but rush. Maybe we haven't destroyed our bond but I'm still annoyed with myself.

We are getting there ridden though. Out hacking yesterday and my friends galloped off (with warning) and she waited to be asked to canter and stayed at a steady canter even when they disappeared out of sight. She did call to them but settled when I talked to her and was totally fine once she could see them again. It felt like she was ok cos I was with her. I don't trust her implicitly when out but I do know her well enough to have complete confidence when in her which is good. The groundwork has def helped but I think she'd waiting for me to start screaming and crying when we do groundwork atm lol!!!
 
I know my cob inside and out - do I trust him? No. Never will either - he's not trustworthy! I've had him 4 years.

My mare not yet - she's much more trustworthy but we are still learning about each other -she's not four yet so she's learning as well...
 
The yard I grew up the yard manager used to say that it took a year to get to know a horse properly. I would probably agree with that.
 
I've had Sunny coming up 3 years now, and I do feel that we're both properly 'clicking'. We've always got on well, and I've never not trusted her or not liked her, but I do feel that now we're really starting to trust each other. For example, I used to be nervous of a 90cm jump on her, always thinking that I'd fall off at it. However, these past few months, I've really started to trust myself and her, and I feel she's trusting me.

With Lilly, it didn't take long at all, she's so easy to ride, and you couldn't not like her! My previous horse, well sadly I never really clicked with him, and to be honest, I don't think he really liked me, which is why he sadly left. I miss him a lot now though. The others took around 1 year to bond with.
 
Definately depends on personalities, how well suited you are etc.

I don't remember taking long at all to get to know little oldie but we have had her for 14 years so maybe I've forgotten all the trauma! ;)

We have had my daughter's pony for a year and I only now feel like we are getting on with each other. She was very aloof and frankly, not very likeable when she first arrived. I didn't really take to her and if I'm being totally honest, I didn't make a great deal of effort to get to know her. Eventually, I had to admit that I hadn't really given her a chance, so I spent more time with her, did groundwork, lots of grooming etc and now she actively seeks me out in the field and we have lots of cuddles. :)

My welsh cob was given to me by my Dad in the New Year and the funny thing is that once she became mine, I felt I had to get to know her all over again and try and have a closer relationship with her. She is absolutely hilarious which helps a lot! :)
 
Trusted him before I rode him, he was broken and instantly felt happy as I was quite nervous. Yes there have been moments but he's all fizz and no bottle.
 
i think it depends on you, the horse and how much you do with them, i trusted my anglo and my cob from the moment i backed them because ide done the ground work and they both have a "want to please" nature, i remember with my old arab it took well over a year to gain trust because she came with alot of issues but ultimatly in working through her issues we became incredibly close she turned from a fire breathing "dangerous" horse to the most amazing girl on the planet that i trusted not only with my life but that of my childs and ive never quite had the same bond or trust with another since.
i do however trust all of my 1000% not to kick or bite because i test them on viewing, i have children and would never have a pony i didnt completely trust around them (on the ground that is, ridden is different, sec As are a law unto themselves lol)
 
My big horse took me a year to find his buttons ridden wise (always a lovely friendly boy on the ground) he'd been ridden for 10 years by the same top professional man - so we were oceans apart in our style, I'd also say my horse took a year to understand me - we have nicely met in the middle of what he understand and how I ask.

New OTTB has been here a year but lot of time off chilling (and I have kids and busy job this time round) so probably another year from now realistically
 
After 4 years I still don't know or trust my TB! But bought another horse in December. Started riding her a month ago. I've probably done more in the past month on her than the 4 years with my other. She's easy. And willing and sweet natured.
 
It depends on what sort of horses you buy I think.

I've had horses who I've owned for years but still wouldn't trust them not to do something daft. When I was little it took me a good few years to get comfortable with ponies I had, now not so much. I tend to ride/handle them like they're not mine for the first few weeks - I find it's easier to establish the rules that way.
 
Took a couple of years with me to really get to know and understand my horse.I found by going into his stable and standing quietly beside him for 10 mins. most days I felt I could tune into how he was feeling.If I sat down in a corner he would come over and stand beside me.If I was in the yard doing the hay he would sometimes give a neigh over the door that clearly said "I need some company".and I would stand with him for a bit.The nicest thing was going out to the field and he would often be standing with his mates .I would shout on him and he would give a loud whinny and come trotting up from away down the field to see me, no titbits involved. Thats when I realised when he could leave the herd on his own we had a very good relationship going.
 
It took me two years to get to know Denys properly, though I still don't trust him. It took him those two years to settle - he'd been passed around a bit before he came to us.
I feel like I've had a bond with Alf since the moment I first sat on him. He's a total mummy's boy though and has glued himself to me since day one as he knows I adore him - he enjoys the attention! He always looks to me when I'm around him, even though my mum is his primary carer and feeds him more often than I do. I don't trust him not to swipe me oit of the saddle one day with a branch, or accidentally buck a bit too high / too much and deposit me on the ground, but I trust him in the way that matters. I've had him for 15 months now :)
 
I've had tb mare for 18 months now and still wouldn't trust her 100%. She isn't an overly fussy girl who has been passed ffrom pillar to post and I don't think she trusts me either!

Cob boy is a pleasure. I have had him for 3 months and he always comes over for a fuss when he sees me.

I think bonds are sometimes built according to personalities. Cob boy is easy to get on with and loves human interaction, so spending time with him is a pleasure. Mare, being rather aloof, doesn't particularly like contact so it's easier to leave her be.
 
Im at the 9 mth mark and dont feel I know him yet! I think you need at least a year to see them through all the seasons, we had a great start, unfortunately he had a few niggles early on so couldnt ride for a few weeks, then on and off for a while longer, then he found his feet and tried it on, not helped by me thinking is he trying it on or something else, got through that but my confidence was and still is a bit knocked and now we have Spring fever :) Bring back my old boy lol, he wasnt easy but I knew him inside out!
 
My first horse was an unbroken 3 YO Arab/Welsh D X and I bonded with her very quickly because I was doing a lot of groundwork with her and when I started riding her I already felt like we knew each other inside out. I had her for twelve years before I put her on loan and bought my next horse.

Next horse was an 8 YO ISH mare and it took me a few months because I'd ridden a few friends horses and had a couple of bad experiences which made it take longer to trust another horse. Horse after that took me a year because he was a cheeky ****** who would buck at the slightest excuse (not broncing to get me off, more like 'sproinging' but I did let him walk over me for a year before I got brave enough to start letting him know he wasn't the boss ! He was also an ISh and 8YO when I bought him.

My current boy was rising 6 and very green when I got him and I trusted him immediately my bum hit the saddle when I was trying him, and once I got him on to DIY after 3 months of WL formed a very strong bond almost straight away. It seems I bond better with green youngsters that with older more established horses.

So to answer the question, depends on the horse.
 
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