New horse in new home - help needed

[Sasababe]

Hi all - this is my first post

I have bought an almost 5yr old ISH who arrived yesterday. I've not had a horse for 20 yearsor so. Prior to that I was an international SJ groom etc. BHSAI Loads of experience

I tried her twice. She was calm, sweet and brave. Happy to be alone, I hacked her alone and all was fab. Wasn't what I was really looking for (a bit young) but she was so lovely and from a brilliant home.

She arrived yesterday - travelled brilliant on a big lorry and walked off no problem. I have her at my brother in law's place. They have 2 ponies - they were out all day at a show.

She was calm most of the day, ate well, lay down in stable and I led her to grass and all fine.

Once ponies arrived home we turned them out in adjacent paddocks. Again all ok, she pulled me down there but I put it down to her wanting the grass

Because there is too much grass I planned to bring her in Last night. She didn't do well at all, bucked and reared in stable, didn't settle when ponies also came in to stable next to her. I was fearful she'd injure herself.

Only option was to turn them all together in larger paddock with little grass. They seemed fine and left them overnight.

Went this morning caught fine, happy with me. Brought her in for breakfast but dragged me out of stable. Barging so badly I couldn't even get the door closed.

I turned her back out. She was ok, stayed near and I gave her a pat and fuss and she followed me happily.

Just not sure how I get her used to being stabled here? Old owner said she was happiest in the stable. And was fine to be left and would be left lots.

My niece's will go to PC tonight and I am already worried about how I will manage her whilst they're away with both ponies?

It's knocked my confidence and I can't even imagine riding her at this stage.

Does she just need time to settle?
Do I keep bringing her in for feed and give her lots of time in paddock?

Anything else I can try?

Sorry for long post. I'm a worrier and I just don't want this to get to the place when I become scared of her.

Thanks in advance x

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

She has had a big change in her life. Everything that she knew and trusted has disappeared, especially the horses that she knew she could rely on. It will take time for her to settle . If the ponies will only be away a few hours, I would try taking her for a walk so that she is leaving them, rather than being left and then pop her back in the field after they have gone. I'm sure she will eventually revert to her usual self when she realises that her companions always return.

 

[Nicnac]

What PAS said with bells on. She's also 5 which is age where they can push boundaries but I don't think that's the case here. It's all new, she doesn't know/have a routine. Time and more time.

 

[Upthecreek]

Pop a bridle on to handle her so you have more control and the barging doesn’t become a habit. I can see why she’s doing it, but it’s unacceptable behaviour and you need to nip it in the bud. Ideally you would want to be able to turn her out and stable her with company constantly in sight for the first few days whilst she settles in her new environment. I would bring her into the stable for a feed and then turn her out before she gets distressed. When are you planning to ride her? Might be wise to lunge first.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

She will settle, so don’t worry but it is going to take time. As others have said, her whole world has been turned upside down and she hasn’t a clue where she is etc. I have found a routine can help settle a new horse in, then they start to understand when food is coming, what to expect etc. Groundwork and lunging is a good place to start if you’re not feeling safe enough to ride her as yet.

 

[Sasababe]

Thanks for your replies

I can't ride yer as had wolf teeth out so out of action for another week yet.

I wasn't nervous of riding but now I am due to her behaviour and spring grass! I'm limiting that to 2-3hrs a day.

I'll wrap chain/rope round nose to stop the barging, agreed I do not want this to become a habit.

She was so different in her old home. So calm and gentle and to be fair she's extremely friendly with me in the field. Just rude to lead now and distressed in stable. I'll bring her in twixe days for feed in stable and get out before she gets wound up.

I want to spend time grooming her but not sure how to do this while she can't be in stable? I might try loose tying her on yard.

Other ponies are calm but not too friendly of her yet.

Thanks for reassuring me. I am wondering how the hell I used handle fit competition stallions without a care in the world!

Anxiety is the worst.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would groom her in the field to start with, then maybe bring her out and let her stand just outside the field to be groomed. Ideally her field companions need to stay put but half-term is the wrong time to expect that.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OP, apologies as this is meant to sound as though you don’t know stuff. However, a lot has moved on in 20yrs. I personally wouldn’t use a chain around the nose to stop her barging. A simple change to a rope halter or clipping a kemp controller onto her existing halter can make a difference.

There’s some excellent videos on you tube by the likes of Warwick Schiller and Jason Webb who go through training methods for stopping barging behaviour/leading etc.

The basics is to get their feet moving and making sure she will back up and respecting your space. There’s som fantastically easy training sessions you can do that you wouldn’t be aware of 20yrs ago (I’m that old I know ?). You’ll get there and before long you will see the lovely horse you viewed, don’t give up hope.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

5 is still quite young and expecting her to stay alone in an unfamiliar environment is a big ask. My new boy is 10 and spent the first few weeks waving over the stable door for the few moments it took to turn the others out and then chuck him out. I reckon he’d have lost his mind if he’d been left completely alone in the early days. Does anyone have a companion you can borrow for a little while just while she settles?

 

[Trouper]

She was so different in her old home.

I think you have answered your own question. She was calm because everything was familiar and in a routine. She is only 5 and such a move will have been a huge upheaval for her and she probably feels that she is not getting much support from the ponies yet - particularly if they keep disappearing.
Just give her time - do lots with her on the ground to keep her interested and get her to trust you and I am sure she will settle.
But - yes - please don't use a chain.

 

[meleeka]

if you think of horses as flight animals, it’s easy to see why she prefers an open field to a small stable.

I think you have to remember she doesn’t yet have any trust in you, or her companions. She literally has nobody on the world she can count on. It’s not like she’s even had that many homes she knows it’ll he ok.

I don’t think there’s any shame in listening to her and taking things slowly. Groom her in the field if that’s where she’s happiest. If you bring her in, make sure it’s short and sweet and put her out again.

When it’s time to ride and if it makes you feel better, lunge first and get someone to lead you at first. She sounds like she’s got potential to be amazing so taking it slow now could pay dividends.

 

[Sasababe]

Thanks guys for all your comments. I'm reading and taking on board.

She's been very good to be caught and led around now. She goes in stable for breakfast and tea and has started to look less distressed in there, I always get her out on a good note but this morning she even started to eat the hay after she'd finished her breakfast. I'm now able to get in there with her, feed carrots, open door and lead her out on my terms and no barging.

I'm grooming on the yard, loose tied with my partner chatting to her. She's fine with this, bit fidgety but she's young!

Lots of leading in hand, last night up the lane and was fabulous.

My instructor is coming tonight to help and again on Saturday once she's allowed to be ridden.

She's doing great.

Sadly I do suffer terribly from anxiety and I panicked!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks guys for all your comments. I'm reading and taking on board.

She's been very good to be caught and led around now. She goes in stable for breakfast and tea and has started to look less distressed in there, I always get her out on a good note but this morning she even started to eat the hay after she'd finished her breakfast. I'm now able to get in there with her, feed carrots, open door and lead her out on my terms and no barging.

I'm grooming on the yard, loose tied with my partner chatting to her. She's fine with this, bit fidgety but she's young!

Lots of leading in hand, last night up the lane and was fabulous.

My instructor is coming tonight to help and again on Saturday once she's allowed to be ridden.

She's doing great.

Sadly I do suffer terribly from anxiety and I panicked!

A great update!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Glad she is settling now I find a bit of overnight turnout can knock the stuffing out of them, you could then bring her in during the day and ride or do groundwork so she gets in a routine of it everyday.

My 2 really chill down once in there summer routine of out at night in during the day they.

 

[Sasababe]

Yes was previously out at night and in for most of the day. I'd like to do this but having been unable to leave her in the stable I haven't. Hoping I can get to this soon