New pony.... The first few days?

[Meoldmucka]

So my daughter's new pony arrives tomorrow afternoon.
She will be put in the side paddock where she can see but not touch the rest of our small herd for a week or so.
In her last home she was hacked once every couple of weeks so she really hasn't done much but is definately more woah than go and needs to lose some weight.
How should we spend the first few days with her? Ride her the day after she arrives? Leave her a week? Bring her in to be groomed etc. How does everyone spend the first few days with their new horse?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I usually do some familiarity with them. Get to know them , pamper them and if they are feeling comfortable, get on , usually leave them a couple of days

 

[blitznbobs]

I usually get them into their normal routine straight away… if that is normally a hack then I would do that the day after they arrive … give them the life they understand and they usually settle quicker

 

[PeterNatt]

I would start riding her as soon as she arrives and continue riding her each day so that she gets used to the routine.

 

[fetlock]

I’d give time to settle in to her new surroundings for several days before attempting to ride.

 

[ThreeFurs]

I'd do some groundwork. Give the hindquarters, give the shoulder, step back, carrot stretches, see if it has one-rein stop button installed! Long and low on the lunge [specially if its had a long trip to your place] Build a relationship from the ground. I'd also be mentally ticking off things prev owners have claimed it does, but does it really do them ie tie up quietly, pick up its feet, have its body touched etc.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'd ride the day after she arrives. It doesn't need to long or strenuous, just a pootle round to keep everyone's confidence up. Start as you mean to go on. Congratulations!

 

[Bobthecob15]

We've always let ours settle for a day or 2 but no more, and start riding then. Obviously made sure we groomed etc each day and got them to being handled by us over those first few days. Good luck!

 

[Patterdale]

Our new pony is arriving tomorrow and going to pony club Thursday and Friday. I think it’s best to just crack on - if you as the rider/handler are happy with that.

Congrats on your new pony! Hope your daughter has lots of fun with her.

 

[ycbm]

I think you've got to judge the horse when they arrive. If they are obviously unsettled and it would seem risky to either of you to ride, then I wouldn't. But if they seem settled enough, or are unsettled in a way which seems likely to be made better by a bit of exercise, then I would ride. I'm afraid I don't like quarantine. I'm not sure if does much for biosecurity unless you're in a place where the horses never leave home, and it does seem very unfair on a horse which has just moved home to prevent it seeking reassurance from other horses.

 

[gallopingby]

We usually ride the next day, assuming thats what they’re used to. I think it’s important to bond and getting out and about can be a good way to start. Leaving for a week or more when they’ve been in regular work isn’t the best start especially if you have a nervous or worried jockey. Good luck with your new pony.

 

[Birker2020]

So my daughter's new pony arrives tomorrow afternoon.
She will be put in the side paddock where she can see but not touch the rest of our small herd for a week or so.
In her last home she was hacked once every couple of weeks so she really hasn't done much but is definately more woah than go and needs to lose some weight.
How should we spend the first few days with her? Ride her the day after she arrives? Leave her a week? Bring her in to be groomed etc. How does everyone spend the first few days with their new horse?

Don't leave her, ride her the following day. And no hard feed. The problem with new horses is that some people will give them a week to settle in, continue or start to feed them hard feed, they have that much pent up energy that they then start with undesirable behaviour and you have what they would class as a 'problem horse'.

Obv not saying you would do that, just saying it has been known ....

 

[Meoldmucka]

I think you've got to judge the horse when they arrive. If they are obviously unsettled and it would seem risky to either of you to ride, then I wouldn't. But if they seem settled enough, or are unsettled in a way which seems likely to be made better by a bit of exercise, then I would ride. I'm afraid I don't like quarantine. I'm not sure if does much for biosecurity unless you're in a place where the horses never leave home, and it does seem very unfair on a horse which has just moved home to prevent it seeking reassurance from other horses.

I understand your concerns, I have the same ones but we have a herd of five, four of which never leave the yard and the one who does is fully vaccinated. The new pony isn't vaccinated so we're just being a bit cautious.
She also needs to lose some weight fast so unfortunately her usual routine may be altered slightly to prevent her getting laminitis.
Thanks everyone! This is daughters first pony that isn't a loan so she's very excited!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I think you've got to judge the horse when they arrive. If they are obviously unsettled and it would seem risky to either of you to ride, then I wouldn't. But if they seem settled enough, or are unsettled in a way which seems likely to be made better by a bit of exercise, then I would ride. I'm afraid I don't like quarantine. I'm not sure if does much for biosecurity unless you're in a place where the horses never leave home, and it does seem very unfair on a horse which has just moved home to prevent it seeking reassurance from other horses.

What she says above.

If they are calm when coming off the transport and are used to travelling then riding, then I tack up and do something short, say a 30 min steady ride out, then brush off and turn out.

At least walk and trot the pony up to ensure they are moving ok and sound, before doing anything else.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

Another one here who would get on. Are you going to leave the pony to settle for a few days on arrival at shows / rallies etc (obviously not). If there’s a problem, either physical or behavioural, I want to know sooner rather than later. Obviously this doesn’t apply to real youngsters or babies but any pony that has supposedly been out and about, you should be just able to hop on. Equally, once it has been in a field it becomes very hard to claim that a physical issue is pre-existing issue…

 

[Fransurrey]

I just get to know mine in the field. Handling, grooming, finding the best scratchy spots and so on. With my cob I took him for a couple of walks, too, just to reassure myself he hadn't changed personality in the move! I think it was about two weeks before I got on, but he was rising 5, so I didn't see any rush.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Leave a day to settle in, then day two take in school and lunge or lead around to establish manners, day three arrange a little hack out with a trusted nanny horse and rider.
Good luck with your new pony!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Bear in mind she's unfit.
If she's travelled a fair distance , balancing her podgy self in a trailer might be the equivalent of the amount of exercise she's used to in a normal week.
Give her a gentle walk round when she arrives then let her rest until the following day.
Then next day I'd start at once but doing a "diluted" version of what her normal routine is going to be. Make sure your daughter doesn't dive on her & do everything she's been looking forward to doing, all at once on day one but go for a shorter gentler hack on the hacking day, keep schooling very short if it's a long time since she's done it etc - so that the routine is established but the actual exercise level increases gradually.

 

[splashgirl45]

I would ride the day after arrival as long as pony isn’t stressed… give her a groom and make a fuss of her then tack up and do a short ride , start as you mean to go on , as she is overweight I would keep her on slow hacks to start with , mainly walking with short trots . Congratulations and we will need pics please

 

[Jenko109]

I ride straight away whenever possible.

Even if that's just a short 20 minutes around the block and back.