Hoshi
Member
We picked up our new pony today (my first ever). She was fab - loaded first time! An hour and a half later and we met her at our yard, unloaded her and she pulled me through the yard! Only hesitated briefly before going into her stable, set to munching on her haylage immediately, has eaten and drunk really well. She's been really friendly with everyone, and very nosy, looking out immediately at every noise, or horse or person that has walked past her. She's called out to a couple of horses in particular as she spotted them which was interesting (one looks so much like she does they could be sisters!)
I've spent the whole afternoon with her, stroking, patting, talking, i've spent time in the stable with her and out as well. I've brushed her all over and we've both done really well. Then I went to put her rug on ready to turn her out and she got really fidgity and kept flicking her head back towards me like she was threatening to bite. Each time I just talked calmly to her and she'd turn her head back again, but a few seconds later would do it again. I ended up asking the yard manager to come in and help me cos I wasn't sure if i was doing something wrong that was causing it - she tried it once with YM who just said "OI..NO" and that was that - no more head turning!
Then I had to lead her back through the yard and along a short coastal path which was windy and noisy from the sea (she's never seen or heard the sea as far as we know). She was so strong, pulling me along, pushing me against a fence and into a thorn bush! Got her into the field, took off her headcollar and she just stood there for a bit before trotting off to sniff the grass and look at the other ponies in the field. She had a good roll, went to the loo and set off exploring the field in between watching the waves crash on the beach.
I've come home feeling really emotional. I felt really overwhelmed today, I think a combination of the responsibility of settling in this beautiful horse so she feels safe and calm, and questioning my own abilities. I've rugged up horses before, I don't know why I was questioning myself! Its a bit like after having my first baby where I was too scared to change her nappy in case I did it wrong, despite the fact that i'd changed LOADS of nappies on other babies over the years!
Is this normal?
I've spent the whole afternoon with her, stroking, patting, talking, i've spent time in the stable with her and out as well. I've brushed her all over and we've both done really well. Then I went to put her rug on ready to turn her out and she got really fidgity and kept flicking her head back towards me like she was threatening to bite. Each time I just talked calmly to her and she'd turn her head back again, but a few seconds later would do it again. I ended up asking the yard manager to come in and help me cos I wasn't sure if i was doing something wrong that was causing it - she tried it once with YM who just said "OI..NO" and that was that - no more head turning!
Then I had to lead her back through the yard and along a short coastal path which was windy and noisy from the sea (she's never seen or heard the sea as far as we know). She was so strong, pulling me along, pushing me against a fence and into a thorn bush! Got her into the field, took off her headcollar and she just stood there for a bit before trotting off to sniff the grass and look at the other ponies in the field. She had a good roll, went to the loo and set off exploring the field in between watching the waves crash on the beach.
I've come home feeling really emotional. I felt really overwhelmed today, I think a combination of the responsibility of settling in this beautiful horse so she feels safe and calm, and questioning my own abilities. I've rugged up horses before, I don't know why I was questioning myself! Its a bit like after having my first baby where I was too scared to change her nappy in case I did it wrong, despite the fact that i'd changed LOADS of nappies on other babies over the years!
Is this normal?
