How long until you ride a new horse?

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SilverFilly

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My new thoroughbred gelding arrives tomorrow, hes not been properly ridden in a month and he was super fizzy when I went to try him. Now usually with the more chilled out breeds, I ride after a day or two of the horse being with me, to start as we mean to go on etc! :) With this lad i'm not so sure so need some advice? Shall I leave him to settle a little longer? Or start with ground work, lunging etc for a couple of days then saddle up?

Thanks in advance guys :D
 
I also ride straight away. I like to ride the new horse to the yard from the previous yard if it's possible.

I would crack straight on.
 
You need to try and set them up for a successful start so some I will get on the day they arrive, others get as long as they require to settle down, sort out a routine, get tack sorted that fits, some basic groundwork will be done in this time, they are all different, so are our circumstances so do what seems right for the individual.
 
be positive said:
You need to try and set them up for a successful start so some I will get on the day they arrive, others get as long as they require to settle down, sort out a routine, get tack sorted that fits, some basic groundwork will be done in this time, they are all different, so are our circumstances so do what seems right for the individual.
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Thank you! His tack is coming with him, brand new custom fitted saddle so it still fits fine :)

Thank you everyone else, I will crack on!
 
Nearly always ride the day they arrive. With your one I would probably long rein him first then perhaps ride that day would depend how he behaved. Although I wouldn’t have bought a fizzy horse for myself (!) so I suppose if you like that sort of thing you will be brave enough to crack on. I don’t think leaving in the field lets them settle I believe getting into a routine straight away is better for them and if you hack them out they recognise “home” when they come back which makes them feel more secure.
 
Peter7917 said:
I also ride straight away. I like to ride the new horse to the yard from the previous yard if it's possible.

I would crack straight on.
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unfortunately there is a motorway between his current yard and my yard, plus a horrific country road that people drive down like they have a death wish. Safest way is a box otherwise I love a hack as much as the next girl xD
 
I like to let them settle for a couple of days first. Then, depending on the horse, I will do some ground work. If a horse had not been ridden in a while I would long rein first. My thinking is that a new place will put them on edge and add to any friskiness. I like horses to be settled before I ride them, but then I'm not as brave as I used to be!
 
In my opinion it depends entirely on the horse. If I have ridden them more then a few times before getting them then straight away, it would be no different then going to a competition to be in a new environment. If I’ve only sat on them once or twice then I let them settle in for the day, and providing I have tack normally always the second day.
 
Hugely dependent on the horse, I usually get on day of arrival if I can but with what you describe I'd go for a lunge session to see what's waht and ride 2nd day if OK, if not play by ear.
 
I always ride them out straightaway when they arrive, straight off the wagon. So does my trainer, she swears by it and always does it with hers, I do now too.

It doesn't need to be a long trek, just tack-up and a quick scavenge round the block (10 mins, lanes) will do nicely. Then turn-out (individually to start with for bio-security reasons as well as minimising risk of injury).

I've recently got a youngster, when she arrived this is what we did. Then left her for a couple of days to settle & chill and meet the rest of the herd gradually. Worked a treat!
 
each horse is different . I have had my boy eleven years. I had to move him in may. there is no way I would have got on him the day I moved him he was beside himself. he went straight out in the field because he would not have coped with being asked to go straight into the stable. he came in several hours later a lot calmer but still tipped his stable upside down overnight. it took him several days to settle. he is very happy now, but I know what he is like. if he had been a newly purchased horse I would have wondered what on earth I had bought!!!! you need to play it by ear most are fine but some like mine most definitely aren't ok to just get on and ride.
 
I rode newbie the second day, simply because my saddler didn't come out until that day. If you're set up with tack etc I would ride but perhaps lunge first but see how he is when he gets there.
 
I just crack on with things as soon as they arrive so usually ride the same day or the day after they arrive and try and get them into a routine as soon as possible.
 
Always the same day, or if too late in the day, the following morning. Much easier to get them into a routine, and also to find out what you've bought. I always want to ride the newbie - like playing with a new toy!!


Latest new boy, rode him the day after he came off the boat, as I needed someone to hack out with me, and they weren't available the first day, as he's a just backed 4 yr old. Went round the block with a friend, then circumstances intervened and I didn't ride anything for a week. Got on him today and took him out round the same block by himself.
 
Update on said gelding!!

He is now lame -.- went lame 2 days after he arrived. No idea why, vet is stumped but he's lame in both back legs. No heat or swelling. Wondering if he's done the splits or skidded in the field. Anyone ever had the same mystery lameness?
 
It could have been a field accident but if you had bloods taken at vetting I'd be getting them checked just in case.

Did your vet suggest any further diagnostic tests?
 
SilverFilly said:
Update on said gelding!!

He is now lame -.- went lame 2 days after he arrived. No idea why, vet is stumped but he's lame in both back legs. No heat or swelling. Wondering if he's done the splits or skidded in the field. Anyone ever had the same mystery lameness?
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I would be hoping and praying I had bloods taken on the vetting. sounds very dubious!
 
I'd also check the bloods, but I'd suggest it's at least as likely he's hurt himself charging around while he settles in...
 
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