New horse settling in!

[junior_R]

hi,
i have bought a new horse and he arrived on the yard yesterday, He is a 4 yr old warmblood who was gelded at 3 and a half. He was stabled the first night, in the stable he was ok a bit jumpy but to be expected new place etc. I put him out this morning in a paddock on his own next to the paddock of geldings who he would go in with once he had settled (thats what we normally do with a new horse on) leave them on there own for a few days. But he really did not settle in the end he jumped the fence! we put him back on his own & decided because i didnt want him hurting himself i asked him to go in with others see if company helped & he has just been charging ears back head down at the horses in the paddock no kicking lashing out just chasing them round he is left out tonight as i thought its best to get him settled. But he seems to of singled himself out away from the 'herd'.he came from a field with 2 stallions in and he has a couple of scrapes on him where he may of been caught im not sure if its self defensive or what! On the plus side when i rode him from where i had him from he goes well when ridden and hopefully should be a really good fun horse, i just wondered whether anyone else had known this situation or what he may be thinking, i think it could be a case of it being early days new home friends etc thanks for any comments!!

 

[Tiffany]

Sounds like he's just trying to establish his pecking order in his new herd. If there are even numbers I'm sure he'll pair bond with someone soon

Good luck with him - any piccies of your new boy?

 

[junior_R]

I will sort some pictures out to have a look at him, he is a lovely boy.
I went up the yard this morning he was still clingin to the fence where there are 2 geldings on the other side and hes still keeping his distance from the other 5 that are in a 'group' i just wish he would settle down but i think im wanting everythin to happen too quick! I have someone checking him throughout the day so fingers crossed hel be ok !

 

[AmyMay]

Horses can take ages to settle in a new environment. Our preferred method is to introduce horses overnight in their stable and then pop them out one by one to allow things to settle down.

Turning your new lad out with five others may be a bit of overkill - but he's in now.

My advice would be to now leave him in the field for several days to help him establish himself with the others, rather than bringing him out and in etc.

Good luck with him.

 

[junior_R]

Yes looking back it may of been the wrong thing to of done, it has shown in the past when new horses have gone in we have been very lucky with how new horses have settled mine is the exception! Yes will leave him completely to just settle down now.

 

[SALLYT]

If its any help I had settling in problems with my new horse too, he seemed settled in the stable so turned him out in a paddock next to other horses he went wappy, even though he could touch them it just wasn't enough.

I spoke to the YO and we decided to just put him in the field with the others I think there was 4 in at the time, he seemed happier in there but didn't find a friend.

Another youngster was then introduced and I guess upset the balance, my youngster and this other new one just kept sparring with each other and mine always came off worse, it got to the point where I wanted him out.

This I did and he just wasn't happy in his new field and I had no choice put to put him back where he obviously wanted to go, he still hasn't bonded with anyone, but just hovers outside of the groups, he has learnt the pecking order and fingers crossed hasn't come in with any more bites.

I would say from past experience unless there is real danger to any horse let him get on with bonding and finding out where he fits in, he may be similar to mine and not bond with any group of horses but may just be a bit of a loaner. We have a freshly cut gelding in the group and he just grazes on his own for most of the time and just doesn't seem bothered with field politics, he has established himself as the boss and every horse knows this.

I'm sure everything will be fine.- Relax