New Horse

sleepykitten

sleepykitten

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How long did it take for you to feel comfortable with a new horse? I've just got one and had him about 3 weeks and don't feel confident enough yet to go cantering off on a hack, but have hacked him out alone and schooled him and cantered in the school, do I need to worry that I don't feel like blasting off around the fields on him yet?
 
NO hun you are doing just great! Took me a couple months to canter new horse out of the arena

Take your time it can take months and months to build confidence in a new horse
 
Don;t worry!!!! 3 weeks is nothing. It took me nearly 2 years to be confident to go charging round open countryside on my own on mine. Granted, I am a wimp but I really wouldn;t worry if I were you!!!
 
My yard owner always says it takes a year to get a good bond with a new horse and i'd say thats pretty true.

Nope you dont need to worry just do things at your own pace and work on getting a good bond from the ground to and i'm sure you will soon be galloping off into the sunset together :) best of luck x
 
I used to go everywhere on my old neddy, but he's totally different! I was a bit of a wimp too when I got my last one but she got me my nerve back so I'm a little surprised to find that I'm a bit apprehensive about going round the open fields on him!
 
thats fine!! do it whenevver you feel confident no point pushing it and tbh the more uncomfortableyou feel about it the more tensed up he/she will be!! good luck x
 
Not at all to take it slowly if that makes you feel better.

It took me a year to get to know my horse and I found out words ie Whoa to slow him to stop etc(he had been used for driving) Mind you it sounds like NO too! He could be stubborn and we had a few stubborn battles but then I tried the very lets be nice approach and it worked well. In fact I wish I had known his past and likes and dislikes as it would have made me understand him a lot better at the beginning. I did discover if he ever did go off with me to kick him on as if I had asked him too, he is lazy and soon run out of steam and it also reminded him I was on board. This worked for us.He is a good horse. I am a big wimp as well!

Good luck and enjoy getting to know each other & the little ways! Perhaps try a short canter out and build it up at your own pace.
 
I've had a new horse for just over 3 weeks, and haven't even ridden her yet! She came without a saddle and trying to get that sorted. I feel like I've really started to understand her personality a bit better in the last week, but for the first 2 weeks I wondered what the heck I'd done! Cantering will be a good way off yet I feel......
Good luck with yours :)
 
Thanks everyone! OH is putting the pressure on and saying i shouldn't be such a scaredy cat, but one of the first times i rode him, he napped quite badly and tried to bronc, have since had his teeth done which were very sharp, so am putting that little episode down to that as he's been fine every other time, been in the school with him this morning and he was excellent so had a wee canter round the paddock!:)
 
I've had my horse just over a month and have not cantered her yet. Many reasons, she is unfit, her teeth needed doing and the ground here is like concrete, she is also very green and I want to perfect my braking before we go cantering into the sunset :D. Lady at the stable has had her horse for 6 months and has still not cantered her although her sharer has. You have to do what you are happy and comfortable with.

I have befriended a very knowledgeable lady at the stables and she is going to help me with my schooling etc.

Good luck.
 
Each partnership is different and takes a different amount of time to get confidence up. I've had Cooper since August and in Jan we moved to a yard with indoor arena and good riding facilities so we've only just really connected. Am going xc schooling on friday. Would never have agreed to that a few months ago!

Take your time. The last thing you want is you both to lose confidence by rushing.
 
Crazydancer said:
I've had a new horse for just over 3 weeks, and haven't even ridden her yet! She came without a saddle and trying to get that sorted. I feel like I've really started to understand her personality a bit better in the last week, but for the first 2 weeks I wondered what the heck I'd done! Cantering will be a good way off yet I feel......
Good luck with yours :)
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I am sooo glad I read your post! Albeit Darco only arrived on Friday, everyone (who's not very horsey) wants to know why I'm not out charging around the countryside on her! I don't feel safe to yet, I'm still getting over the shock of owning her, and getting to know her.
 
You sound like me, don't worry and do things in your own time when you feel comfortable. My old girl was fab, a bit feisty but absolutely safe, we went everywhere and loved a blast in the farmers field. The thought of doing that now scares me to death.
 
Dont push yourself, because thats when things are more likely to go wrong!

i was put on a new horse after 6 months on another and it just felt so odd. she was a rocket and i didnt feel confident at all with her. i just didnt trust her because i couldnt feel her the way i could the other one.
 
I've had my new one for coming on 4 weeks and sat on him for the first time today. Granted he is still technically on box rest due to a tendon injury but he is at the walking stage of his re-hab before turnout.

Everyone is different and whilst I will get on anything and gallop it (to be fair I am paid to) I also appreciate that not everyone has the confidence to do this, even with their own horses. Take it step by step and do things in your own times. It will pay off huge dividends in the long run and build up a trust and a bond that so many horses and riders lack due to just wanting to get on with it and compete. Don't let anyone force you into doing something you don't want to do just yet.
 
Do it at your own pace and ignore anyone telling you what you should be doing :)

I'm horse hunting at the moment and will take my time when I do find "the one".

Unfortunately, I'm surrounded by horsey people who, even though I'm getting on a bit, tell me what to do, what I should be doing and even described me as an absolute beginner as if I'd never sat on a horse before to the owners of a horse I was trying the other day :eek::D these blerdy advanced dressage riders :p Apparently I'll advance from being an absolute beginner to beginner when I can do flying changes :rolleyes:
 
Apparently I'll advance from being an absolute beginner to beginner when I can do flying changes :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

No hope for me then, I've never done a flying change in my life!!!:D (I've been riding for 25 years so maybe I'm at the total novice stage!):D
 
sleepykitten said:
Apparently I'll advance from being an absolute beginner to beginner when I can do flying changes :rolleyes:
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No hope for me then, I've never done a flying change in my life!!!:D (I've been riding for 25 years so maybe I'm at the total novice stage!):D[/QUOTE]

:D You're one up from me, I'm pre beginner :eek: and I've been riding on and off for 29yrs, might make beginner one day ;)
 
So because I can get my horse to do flying changes, counter canter, high piroettes and beautiful passage whilst not asking, having no intention of asking and pretty much have no say in what said horse is doing, does that mean I am just past the beginner's stage?!?!
 
EKW said:
So because I can get my horse to do flying changes, counter canter, high piroettes and beautiful passage whilst not asking, having no intention of asking and pretty much have no say in what said horse is doing, does that mean I am just past the beginner's stage?!?!
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I think the passage puts you in Novice status, just pretend you've asked :D
 
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