New Horse- how to proceed

P

Peaches24

Active Member
Joined
10 January 2025
Messages
49
Visit site
I did it, bought a lovley horse of my own again. Totally forgot how stressfull it can be to help a new horse settle. Didn't see me having a horse again for couple years for lots of reasons, but here we are 😊.
New mare is just lovley but we had definitely having some initial settling issues, most of which sorted easily. Some not so much to be honest. Only been over a week but already had a few warning signs from her. I bought her from a reputable dealer and am in contact with previous owners, who have been great with information. Don't know if I'm looking for advice or kick up the bum.

We have got to the stage where she turned her bum on me in the field Sunday, backing up to kick, as she didn't want brought in, twice. I'm thinking separation anxiety. No problem until then and again like normal tonight when her friend was coming in at the same time.

Working for 10mins in the school today, she decided to throw all sorts of shapes to get me off, that wasn't successfull but we ended it shortly after. She is an ex school horse, worked in one for 2 years as far as I know. She can suss people out a mile away. In the past she has got away with alot. Hacking she is on her toes, happy and keeping up with her nearly 18hh buddy.

I'm really sure we can work through these little things. Advice is welcome also any stories of new horses 💙
 
Happy New Horse!
Yes it is and will be stressful until she’s settled in properly. In the field she’s letting you know she’s not best pleased atm. How long was she at the dealers for? She’s had a lot of change to cope with lately and it’s not uncommon for the stress of moves to cause ulcers to flare up/appear, so that’s something to consider if behaviour continues. Also did she come with tack? If she did get it checked as she may have changed shape recently. If she didn’t and you’ve only had her a week are you confident what you’re using fits comfortably? Did you get her vetted before buying?
I wouldn’t be overly worrying yet, it can take a while for horses to get used to their new norm, each one is different. It sounds like she’s just not coping with everything too well atm.
With regards to your hacking, even my steady Eddie boy would get on his toes in new places until he got tired, which was usually after 20 mins 😂
Have you got a trainer helping you? Get proper support around you for a while - Good Luck with her, I hope she settles soon 🤞🏻
 
Peaches24 said:
I did it, bought a lovley horse of my own again. Totally forgot how stressfull it can be to help a new horse settle. Didn't see me having a horse again for couple years for lots of reasons, but here we are 😊.
New mare is just lovley but we had definitely having some initial settling issues, most of which sorted easily. Some not so much to be honest. Only been over a week but already had a few warning signs from her. I bought her from a reputable dealer and am in contact with previous owners, who have been great with information. Don't know if I'm looking for advice or kick up the bum.

We have got to the stage where she turned her bum on me in the field Sunday, backing up to kick, as she didn't want brought in, twice. I'm thinking separation anxiety. No problem until then and again like normal tonight when her friend was coming in at the same time.

Working for 10mins in the school today, she decided to throw all sorts of shapes to get me off, that wasn't successfull but we ended it shortly after. She is an ex school horse, worked in one for 2 years as far as I know. She can suss people out a mile away. In the past she has got away with alot. Hacking she is on her toes, happy and keeping up with her nearly 18hh buddy.

I'm really sure we can work through these little things. Advice is welcome also any stories of new horses 💙
Click to expand...
Did you verbally reprimand her when she turned her back on you and backed up to kick? Sorry but that's totally unacceptable in and I've been around horses all my life and never had that happen. If mine did that they'd get short shift I'm afraid. No excuses.

I'd echo what others have said about ulcers. I'd also het her vet checked. Going round in constant circles in a school environment may have caused her joint issues.

I hope you get it sorted, she sounds great other than these niggles.
 
It isn't very long, especially if she was at a dealers since her previous proper home.
RS horses get pretty good at testing boundaries, so calm consistent no nonsense handling will help- and make her feel more secure. Get some help with this if you can, as timing and posture and confidence is key. This is missing in a RS situation where different people make boundaries blurry.
If she is being sharp to ride, is the saddle fitting? this would be more noticeable in the school than hacking in straighter lines
If you need more confidence to get after her when she's bold, can you lunge her before you ride to take the tickle out of her toes just for a bit until you get your confidence? Once the saddle and ulcer thing is checked of course. In the meantime, ground work of all sorts will help you build a bond with her and help her to see you as someone who she needs to pay attention to. There are great books on this, though again timing and positioning are very important so if you can get some real life help that would be great.
Also people think horses who get turned out don't get sharp, but especially with changeable weather and grass varying, that's not necessarily true. A tired horse is an easier horse to manage, so don't be afraid to make sure she gets truly worked (whatever way you are working her) to get that tickle out of her toes.
 
It’s really really early days so just keep on establishing a routine with her. Always approach her head when in the field and if necessary leave a fieldsafe headcollar on her which may help her feel “ caught”. Make coming in “nice” so drop a few bits of apple/carrot in a bucket as a treat in the stable.
My advice is not to lunge before riding as this can make a horse fitter and more inclined to throw shapes ( seriously a friend used to take the tickle out of her cobs feet with a 2 minute lunge before she wanted to get on and she ended up having to do 20 or more…even before getting on at shows or clinics).
You need to get to know your new horse and vice versa, if she had a pass at vetting and is comfortable in her tack just hack out for a while to get to know one another. She may associate the arena with riding school lessons, allow her to decompress and then introduce the arena in short bursts..perhaps at the end of a hack.
Obviously if any unwanted behaviours increase in severity over the next month run the bloods taken at the vetting…just in case the edge was taken off her before you viewed.
 
My last one had been on working livery for some time and was both mentally and physically sour. We started from the top when she arrived - teeth, body worker, tack check, farrier, worming etc. Then we let her have a "riding" holiday - just working on getting to know her, confidence building and settiing boundaries. We all know mares - you have to work with them so building a trusting relationship is probably the most important thing you can do at first. As others have said, she has been through a lot and to her this is just another episode which might or might not last. She is trying to control the small things that she can control so, while she needs to know that some behavious are not acceptable, cut her some slack and get her to trust you. It is so rewarding!!!
 
You definitely need to work with a mare rather than bossing her around, even though you are the ultimate decision maker.
I wouldn't take her into the arena for a few weeks, except perhaps for a few minutes at the end of a hack and to do some In-hand work. If she been a RS horse she is probably absolutely fed up of schooling. I've had a few, mostly they come round with time.
Our RDA group bought an 8 yr old mare about this time last year. It took her until the start of the new season (April/May) to really seem settled in her new home, having been bought from a dealer, so obviously had at least 3 homes within a few weeks.
 
Midlifecrisis said:
My advice is not to lunge before riding as this can make a horse fitter and more inclined to throw shapes ( seriously a friend used to take the tickle out of her cobs feet with a 2 minute lunge before she wanted to get on and she ended up having to do 20 or more…even before getting on at shows or clinics).
Click to expand...
Agree with you on this one. It's not just the physical energy tickles you have to get out of their toes, it's the brain tickles! If lunging for a bit gets them focused and relaxed it's one thing but you can get them focused and relaxed with some simple, low energy groundwork stuff too.

Also going to agree to just give her some time and consistency. And post pics 😂
 
Thank you all for the advice, very much appreciated. It is really early days but wanted to make sure I'm doing best by her and the incident in the field prompted me to post. It was really concerning tbh, so my initial thought was that of @Birker2020 . Around horses for years, this is not on and dangerous. Since reflecting, it was ME who was way in the wrong on that occasion, should have read her better and not persued trying to 'Win'.

I really admire anyone who has went from always geldings to a mare. Totally underestimated the change. Using a short stern voice will work with B, but any kind of force etc, she will fight, no way do i want to damage our relationship or be in the other side of it due to my own views. There's no way I can make her do something without a trust built. Your all spot on, she's been through a lot of change in such a short time. She's been treated well by her previous owners and by the dealer. All have a soft spot for her and are happy to lend advice/help

Maybe a riding break is due for her, although we do have saddle fitter tomorrow. In hand hacks after that and some ground work. She's seen vet and physio last week. Dentist next. Advice to keep her out of the school is definitely something I'm taking up too. B is cracking, really sweet just needs time to let her head settle hopefully.

Wasn't going to post a photo but anyone IRL reading this would know who we are anyway. Tried to upload photos bit files are too big
💙
 
Last edited:
babymare said:
Been through it with a happy ending but good gloves, stout boots and hard hat every time you bring her ln or work with her. Your safety comes first. Update needed🙂
Click to expand...
So glad you have a happy ending, mare for life I'd imagine 🥰
100% taken on board. A wee update above with a pic if it went through. I've maybe been overthinking and needed to just sit and strip it all back. B has had so much change, she's now taken to planting in the field, that's another thing but right now can't really blame her. Taking a different approach, just going to check her over, not looking to bring her in for 2 days, she's back to walking towards me ears pricked. Coming away from the herd she's trying to settle in to is going to be another challenge it seems. Safety first totally agree x
 
At least she’s settled in well with her new herd!
I’d be winning her over with food for that situation. Just bring her in, give her a feed, and turn back out again without riding.

Be the bearer of super tasty treats. But make her take them politely (I have a technique for this, but you can google that) Not in the field with the others though obv.

For the ridden part, you need experienced eyes on the ground ideally. So maybe hack with a friend until you can get some lessons.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top