New Young Horse Paces in Field

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lellyw

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Hello, I wonder if anybody can help me. I took delivery of a new horse recently, a 3yo Andalusian filly and she now lives out with my home bred 2 year old filly. They get on very well. Since I have had her I have noticed that she has a tendancy to pace around the field sometimes and then stop and gaze into the distance. She also sometimes tosses her head as she is doing this. She doesn't do this frantically but quite calmly in a way. My other filly does not do the same. I moved her to a new field last weekend - although I had noticed the same behaviour in the last field she was in. She has plenty of grass, water etc and a wonderful hedgeline in the new field in they can find plenty of different things to eat. When she arrived with me and I began to introduce her to my other horse by putting them in adjoining fields she immediately panicked and threw herself over the gate. Once we had calmed her down she went back in fine and by the next day they were comfortable with each other. There have been no problems since. Could this be stress - boredom - both? Any ideas? Thanks.
 
I'd guess stress. Do you know much about where and how she was kept before? Some horses, especially if they have been used to bigger groups, don't settle with just 2 horses in the field. They feel more secure when there are more pairs of eyes to watch out for tigers. My 2 rescued shetlands are an example. They need very restricted grazing in the spring and summer so were separated from the main herd a month ago. From their paddock, they could still see the main herd in the field across the drive so were ok and happily grazed and lolled about as per normal. But yesterday, the main herd were moved to a different field and now the shetlands are standing anxiously at the fence calling and calling to the main herd. They won't do this for ever and I don't think your horse will, she'll settle eventually. If you can establish a routine that doesn't change from day to day, that would help her too. What would almost certainly sort it for good is having a 3rd horse in the field.
 
Stress, my WB used to do this alot. It was almost like repetitive behaviour and the staring into the distance was rather spooky.
Give her time to settle.
 
Yes she was in a herd. I put a mineral lick in the field yesterday and she has spent some time licking that. When I checked on her but she didn't see me today, she seemed quite settled - but paced around when I was pooh picking. Thanks.
 
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