New horse.... When should she be ridden?

N

nelle48

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2010
Messages
352
Visit site
Well we got our first horse today, she arrived safely and is settling in quite well. We were just wondering, when do you think it will be ok to start riding her? Ovbiously not for the first few days, but we don't really know, and we don't want to start too early with her.
Also, she does not yet have a saddle, but she has a bridle, do you think it would be ok just to sit on her and walk her around to start with, until we get a saddle fitted for her? She's really calm and wouldn't bolt off or anything, but we just don't want to hurt her or anything. Any help would be appreciated :)
Thank you :)
 
I've always ridden my new horses the day they have arrived, even if its just 10 mins in the school. And then got them in a routine of being ridden daily immediately. Obviously not starting straight in with serious work, but schooling and hacking.

Never had an issue with any horses i've had and they have settled very quickly!!

I would advise getting a saddle for her asap and get on with riding her :D If you want to try riding her bareback and feel confident doing that then i dont see why not :)
 
I'm always of the opinion that as soon as you get them into work and a routine the better. That said I wouldn't be riding a new horse in new surroundings without a saddle. I love riding bareback, at one point I rode for over a year without a saddle but even I like a saddle on a new horse. You just don't know what they might spook at and you don't want to start off with an unpleasant experience.
 
New pony arrived for LJ yesterday and was ridden today.

2 new ponies arrived for me to work on on Tuesday and were both ridden and lunged the same day.

I say crack on with it!! :D

Good luck and have fun.
 
Ditto this lot :D.

When I got Dizzy I was a little nervous(!), so I got on and rode her the first day she arrived :).

When D1 got Little Cob, she rode the next day, without a saddle as LC came the week before Christmas and we didn't know any saddlers etc. at the time :).
 
Thanks everyone. I think i'm going to leave it until sunday, because i'm busy camping until then, but i think i'll just sit on her bareback and walk her around the school for a bit, just for her to get some exercise and get used to it and all :) Also, when do you think we should start to put her out? She's stayed in today, but should we put her in the field on her own for a while tomorrow or wait a bit longer? She hasn't met the other 2 horses at the yard properly yet, they're only small compared to her (she's 15.2hh), one is 12.2hh and the other is an 8hh shetland, will they be ok if they can just see her over the fence, and when do you think we should put them in together, or shall we just wait and see how they get along together?
Sorry if i sound really dumb and all, but alot of this is new, so yeah, its better to ask instead of rush into things i think :) Thanks
 
Definatley ride as soon as poss! But I wouldn't ride a new horse without a saddle, no matter how calm they appear to be. You don't know them, they don't know you, and they're likely to be a bit spooky first time in a new school. Does anyone at your yard have a saddle thats a similarish size to the one you will be buying? If so you could try using that, (if they're willing to lend it) even if only for 10 or 20 minutes, because you obviously don't want to be doing any damage with an incorrectly fitting saddle. But if you can get a saddle, then go for it! :D
 
Unfortunately not, she's the first livery there, and the owner has a 12.1hh and a shetland pony. We're going to ring the saddler tomorrow and try and get one as soon as we can for her, but until then i don't know what we can do:confused:
Thanks :)
 
I'd put her straight out with the others first thing tomorrow morning, keeping her in will potentially cause more problems when you do start riding her!
 
As for putting her out, I'd do it tomorrow, tbh I'd put her straight in with the other two and keep and eye on them for a bit until they settle (she may stress on her own)

I think Sat will be fine to ride her she will then of had a nice day in the field settled in and sat just have a sit on her or lunge her until you can get a saddle :)

Good luck with her x
 
Yep, stick her out with them in the morning, she will probably be glad of the company. I've never found height played a role in whether horses got on or not myself but as with any new introductions, just keep an eye on them all.
 
QR

Has she been in work? If so, definitely get on, saddle or none! I tacked mine up and hacked him out the second he was dropped off :)
 
Another vote for straight away! I personally would not have ridden my lad with no saddle as I am straight out on roads here but I would get a saddle fitter in asap to sort that and potter around without in a safe place until it is sorted.
 
She went out today, she was really good with the other two, she went in the same field, but was in a fairly large area on her own cornered off. She was good to groom, though i had trouble with her feet, as she kept leaning on me when i tried to pick them up, and my sister moved her round accidentally when I managed to get her back one, and she dropped it on my foot :( I have a very swollen foot, but it wasn't her fault, and she looked really upset and started neighing at me when she saw me on the floor :( Saddle coming thursday, as its the earliest he can do. I'm just going to walk her around in the small more secure school sunday, then possibly go into the bigger one monday with her and see how we get on from there. My sister wants to ride her bareback, but i'd rather she didn't to start with, as i'm only 6st, and she's over double my weight, so i'd rather get her used to me just sitting on her to start with, and so we don't hurt her back, but what do you think? Thanks :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top