Settling a new mare

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ellaandtia

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I bought a lovely mare a few weeks ago, and I guess I’m just after some reassurance/tips if I could be doing anything differently to help her settle.

When I tried her, she was super chilled out, easy to do etc. Upon moving to my yard and joining a bigger herd (she was previously out with just one other) she has become very reluctant to leave her new friends (planting her feet, I’ve not let her get away with it though and have always managed to get her out of the field), and she seems very stressed when I bring her to her stable to be tacked up etc on her own.

So, I’ve been bringing her out the field, walking her away a bit, giving her a nice groom/feed/few treats and popping her back in - giving her positive experiences away from the herd, but not bringing her all the way up to the barn/stables.

And when I’ve been riding her, I’ve been bringing her in with and riding with one/a few of her field mates/horses in the field next door; and she’s wonderfully chilled, exactly how she was when I tried her.

In time, I’d like to be able to bring her away from her herd easily, and ride on my own so I’m not relying on others. Shall I carry on as I am? Would you be doing anything different?

I think it’s just a case of she just needs more time to settle in her new home and with me, and is clinging to her new mates for reassurance?
 
ellaandtia said:
I bought a lovely mare a few weeks ago, and I guess I’m just after some reassurance/tips if I could be doing anything differently to help her settle.

When I tried her, she was super chilled out, easy to do etc. Upon moving to my yard and joining a bigger herd (she was previously out with just one other) she has become very reluctant to leave her new friends (planting her feet, I’ve not let her get away with it though and have always managed to get her out of the field), and she seems very stressed when I bring her to her stable to be tacked up etc on her own.

So, I’ve been bringing her out the field, walking her away a bit, giving her a nice groom/feed/few treats and popping her back in - giving her positive experiences away from the herd, but not bringing her all the way up to the barn/stables.

And when I’ve been riding her, I’ve been bringing her in with and riding with one/a few of her field mates/horses in the field next door; and she’s wonderfully chilled, exactly how she was when I tried her.

In time, I’d like to be able to bring her away from her herd easily, and ride on my own so I’m not relying on others. Shall I carry on as I am? Would you be doing anything different?

I think it’s just a case of she just needs more time to settle in her new home and with me, and is clinging to her new mates for reassurance?
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I would just continue with your approach until she develops more trust in you and knows that you will always return her to her herd.
Our RDA group got a new mare last Summer and the only riders she had were the volunteers who are already riders. She was turned out with the mixed herd over winter, hacking a couple of times per week until the start of the new season and she is like a different horse, far more chilled, taking disabled riders as they come and happy to be groomed by inexperienced volunteers. Time was all she needed.
 
ellaandtia said:
I think it’s just a case of she just needs more time to settle in her new home and with me, and is clinging to her new mates for reassurance?
Click to expand...
It's quite natural to wonder if you are doing "enough" but I think you have really answered your own question. Whatever we "do" to and with our horses, it really is only time which enables them to trust us. In the meantime gentle and consistent handling will bring that trust.
 
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