Settling at new home

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AHPL

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Hi all,
I went to see a horse a few weeks ago , he got delivered last week. He is a project but I liked him because he was quiet but confident ,but at mine he's a nervous wreck . I haven't bought a new horse in nearly 10 years so not sure how long it will take for him to settle . He's turned out with my lovely retired calm mare so hopefully she'll rub off on him . He's very friendly, quite in your face but he spooked at his headcollar and panicked when I tried to put it on .
I will give him all the time in the world but I have bought a nervy before and I'm terrified I've done the same
 
My nervous nelly took a while to settle properly. He spooks at the rug he's wearing or the splash of a puddle he's stepped in.

But when he first arrived he was really highly strung, then one day it was like he'd taken a deep breath and said 'it's OK here' and he was calmer and quiet. Hopefully your guy will figure out that he's in a safe place soon.
 
He’ll come round. I (purposefully) bought a semi-feral pony last April who was petrified of humans. Within 2 months she was pretty much a normal pony, now she’s the softest most chilled out pony on the yard 😅
Just treat him normally, don’t creep around him (but obviously don’t scare him). Ask people on the yard to go and give him a fuss over the door so he gets used to different things/people.
 
When I bought my most recent one she found the move very stressful and took a long time to settle. She was a pretty confident horse in her last home so I know it was the move that upset her.
Be confident (and kind) in your handling of him and he will soon settle. Keep things easy so he knows what your asking of him
 
AHPL said:
I think it's just because I haven't had a new one in years, it's a very quiet yard as there's only me and one friend.
My husband thinks I'm worrying too much, I probably am .
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Its easy to worry! All sorts go through your head, then you start second guessing… dont worry , all will be fine 🤗mine is also a youngster having most of the winter off to grow just riding once a week and he is just loving life 😍
 
I recently bought a new horse, mostly due to his calm temperament. When I got him home he was quite jittery, box walked and was on alert in arena. He came from a big yard where there was always movement, liveries, horses everywhere. He has only been under saddle 6 months and has always been with breeder before coming to my private yard at home where it’s just me and three other horses- four in total.

When I raised slight concern with my instructor she commented that my set up is very quiet with my other horses often out of sight when I am doing things with him (my stables are funny set up so in some stables horses can’t see next door neighbours and also fields are up a hill so horses can’t be seen from arena/stables) so he needs to learn to be comfortable with just me. It took about a month for him to be less jittery and another month to go back to being mostly horizontal.

Over the years I have found some horses love my quiet little yard and others would rather a big busy American barn but eventually they all settle in, some just take longer than others.

I hope this helps
 
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