New horse new yard new rider problems help!

[wernickwonder]

I have finally acheived a lifetime goal and purchased my first horse at the age of 56 yard people are nice but I am trying to bond with my horse and people keep interferring. She is in a nice paddock but was in before and I cant catch her so I have just been trying to be with her treat her and NOT try to catch her. Yesterday as i came into the yard another horse owner informed me she had been trying to catch my horse as it was screaming and distressed as no other horses were in the surrounding paddocks! My phone number is on the board and we live minutes from the yard and husband is retired I am really angry as she was spooked and we could not get near her So some advice please on how to catch and how to deal with well meaning but annoying yard mates.

 

[SpottedCat]

Firstly - the person on the yard was trying to do you a favour - if it's your first horse, in the nicest possible way it is entirely possible other people on the yard have more tricks up their sleeve to try and catch her. They won't have intentionally spooked her, they were trying to bring her in for you because they were there and could see she was getting upset. Be tactful about how you react to them, as you might well appreciate their help in the future.

Secondly, get a safe headcollar - either a leather one or one with a leather headpiece or one of the field safe ones with the rings that snap. Put it on her and leave it on when she is turned out. Then you have much more chance of catching her!

Then, just head up as often as possible to catch her, bring her in, do something with her (even if it's just a quick groom) and turn back out again. There are a million other tactics I'd use, but this is where I'd start!

 

[Flummoxed]

Wernickwonder - welcome to the world of horse ownership. I too bought my first ever horse once I had turned 50. It's a steep learning curve and can be frustrating, as you are finding.

My major fear was that my horse would become ill and I wouldn't be able to cope. I've now had him 7 years and he has survived so far.

As has already been said, your fellow liveries can be of enormous help to you - just weed out the one or two know-it-alls and, if you don't want their advice, thank them kindly and then ignore it.

But, you are asking for help, so perhaps some of the liveries or your Yard Owner can give it. Or use the internet, which is a wealth of information - some bad, admittedly, but there is no one right way of dealing with horses so plenty of options available to you.

Don't forget that your new horse is possible as bewildered as you! You just need to get to know one another.

Food works wonders, I usually find.