I'm useless....:(

Take a deep breath and put this into perspective.
You bought a new horse 2 days ago, brought her home and popped her into a field. Yes, she went through the electric fence, maybe she was just wanting to say hello to the others.
Next day when you put her out she had a run in the field.
If one of your other horses, that you know well, broke through the fence one night, and had a hoolie in the field, would you say then you couldnt cope?
 
Last edited:
Right,just had a quick check up there....basically new mare is pacing fenceline,came over to say hi at gate to me (which is a good sign),but is basically FAR from settled. My old companion mare is generally being very busy,herding new mare away from fence and squeeling and generally looking horridly at her. Little in foal mare in with companion looks generally nonplussed about everything,but is being herded away from fence also by oldie companion.

I'm not at all happy about putting them intogether tomorrow if they're like this. I don't think infoal mare will be any bother,but oldie and new girl could well be clash of the titans! I don't risk injury in any way at all.

I know that I will keep them out like this until calmer,whether that be until Tuesday,Wednesday or not...there is little reason to bring in actually,although farrier is due next week at some point to trim littleuns feet.

Patience I reckon,lots of 'hello girlie's' and field time.....I truely believe this mare has had little turnout at all in her life!

She has a bedded down double field shelter to herself to get away from flies,plenty of grass,fresh running water,and company over fence.....what do you reckon??
 
benson21 said:
Take a deep breath and put this into perspective.
You bought a new horse 2 days ago, brought her home and popped her into a fiels. Yes, she went through the electric fence, maybe she was just wanting to say hello to the others.
Next day when you put her out she had a run in the field.
If one of your other horses, that you know well, broke through the fence one night, and had a hoolie in the field, would you say then you couldnt cope?
Click to expand...

No,you're totally right,I wouldn't worry at all. The thing is I know mine sooo well,thats all,and honestly feel I've tipped my happy little herd into bedlam!!
 
Cheer up love-if she sbeen stabled a lot maybe shes feeling weeeeeeee! A field ! Stop hard feed ,let her settle , is it just her second home its going to be a big change , let her settle for a good few weeks to get used to new surroundings then start handling , i think you will be ok , really you know what your doing
 
When my chap arrived last summer, he was very unsettled. He paced up and down the fence line constantly, so much so that the YO put her old mare in with him. He immediately calmed down, and although he still gets anxious alone he is nowhere near as bad. Your mare will be feeling very insecure - she is on her own and has no other horses to keep her company in her field. Do you even have a sheep or something that could go in with her for a while if you feel you cannot put your other horses in with her?
 
fjordhorsefan said:
When my chap arrived last summer, he was very unsettled. He paced up and down the fence line constantly, so much so that the YO put her old mare in with him. He immediately calmed down, and although he still gets anxious alone he is nowhere near as bad. Your mare will be feeling very insecure - she is on her own and has no other horses to keep her company in her field. Do you even have a sheep or something that could go in with her for a while if you feel you cannot put your other horses in with her?
Click to expand...

No I don't have any other animals...only my 2 little ones and now this bigger girl....
 
Oh dear, you probably feel like you've made the biggest mistake of your life! Don't panic, like everyone else has said, just let her chill a bit. She may have been fed lots and worked hard so you may need to let her fitness down a bit before she settles.

When I bought my guy a couple of months ago I worried because he stalked around the field for 5 minutes, checking the fencing was to his liking, sniffed the mares, made a face at the gelding and started eating. I expected much more like what you are experiencing. Also, maybe bring her in in a bridle if you have difficulty. Good luck! :)
 
I very much agree with Brighteyes post - the sooner you get her into a routine and she becomes familiar with her surroundings, the sooner she'll settle. Spend some time with her, just grooming and general handling, show her the stables, the fields and the school in hand. Personally I'd try to get her settled into a herd as soon as possible but not if you think they may injure each other. Also get her settled into a work routine - don't ride if you don't feel safe but a little lungeing, long reining or just groundwork, which will have the added advantage of hopefully teaching her to respect you and beginning to develop some trust. I bet you she'll be a different horse this time next week.
 
We like to keep ours separate for the first few days until we have at least seen them grooming over the wall. We have been able to put them together after varying times, ranging from a couple of hours to a week. In your case, I'm guessing none of them have back shoes on, I would put them in together, there is very little danger of serious injury without shoes. They will soon work out their own 'pecking order'. Your mare is bound to be unsettled if she's come from a stud, she's either lived in a herd, so now feels very lonely and vulnerable, or stabled a lot of the time so that she could be a show horse. Either way, her life is so very different now that she is bound to be unsettled. If your small ones are generally settled and chilled out, this will rub off on her. You really do just need to give her time and let her get to know your routine.
 
Ted was a complete nightmare when he first came, ending in injury when he jumped the gate and caught his stifle :( It is a trying time having a highly strung horse at a new yard, but you WILL get there.

Something I disagree with the others about tho. I would be handling her on a daily basis, taking her away from the others and not allowing her to become to attached/reliant on them. You say you want to be able to ride her, so she must find her confidence. If she is naughty to lead, use a lunge line instead of a lead rope so you can give yourself space if you need it. Do some groundwork immediately, give her the boundaries and she will love you for it - simple lead, halt, back up work will work wonders. Teach her to walk on a loose lead rope, you can do it, but I would get cracking immediately and not linger about it :)
 
Lots of good advice from others (I'd go with 'don't put them together just yet'), so I'll just send you a hug and a hot choccy and strict instructions to chill and give her and you time to get to know each other and this new life :).
 
any news on how it's going ? I was thinking about you this morning - all our yard horses seriously have the wind up them, which probably wouldn't help your mare atm, if she has. Thinking of you, sm x
 
Well I bit the bullet whilst OH was there this morning and opened up the fence to let her in with others. She shot straight into their field shelter and then they shot out! Old girlie slight squeal but nout much....then they all cantered through to the paddock I had new girl in (more grass!!). I closed up fence and watched. Absolutely no violence,just warnings from oldie. I left them to it and went and had a coffee. When I went up,new girl is in field shelter (face in,bum out) and the other 2 are grazing outside shelter. Quite normal behaviour I think....littleuns wander up to shelter and have a look and then wander out to graze again.....I think they are establishing herd. I'm not concerned,but it would be nice to see new girl out of shelter soon!

I have enlisted help (2 ppl) for tomorrow after lunch. We are going to bring them all down for half hour fuss and then turn back out....

I know I am still wary,so I will lead other 2 in front and my friends will lead one each side of new girlie behind. I don't want her to pick up my anxiety at all.

I'm going to go up again and poo pick in field beside them and observe them,and if all settled I will go into their field and gently poo pick and hum a tune to keep me calm.

I soooo sound like a numpty,don't I,but I really want this to work and will do ANYTHING to keep calmness!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top