Settling in a new horse

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katiex2

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Had new horse for a week. She has settled in well in the field and we have hacked her out twice which was fine! But she is not settling in her stable and has already buddied with one other horse and is now suffering with seperation anxieties!! Any suggestions on helping her settle??
 
takes a while basically. she needs to associate the stable with her smell (i actually left mine dirty for a few days so that she knew that she had scent-marked it. short spells away from the other horse with a feed and a groom will help her think of separation more positively. She'll settle soon enough tho.
 
Has she been stabled before? Can she see other horses from it? Just take it slowly and give her time. Make sure that every time she goes in her stable she has a feed (even if it's token guesture) so she associates it with good things. Spend time in there with her. My horse hated his stable when I first had to stable him, I couldn't get him in. But with time he's now quite happy.
 
Sounds a bit like my new horse. Ignore the behaviour - it will soon stop. It's not separation anxiety per se. Just have everything ready to tack her up when you bring her in - get on and go.

You'll find in no time that the behaviour will have stopped and she will be happier to be in without the others.
 
It is still very, very early days. As others have posted, make sure she associates coming in and going into her stable with something positive - i.e. feed! If she doesn't settle (and some horses just don't), a stable mirror can work wonders. We use one in our lorry and it has really helped.
 
Hi Katie,
I have sympthy for you, I am going through a similar thing at the moment. I have had my horse for 11 years and recently had to move yards. She moved from a yard of 60 horses to a yard with 7!
Like your horse she settled in the field however in her stable she is a nightmare when he next door neighbour is not in. She has started box walking/running quite badly - Which she has NEVER done before, neighing uncontrolably, being bargy, and generally neurotic.
I would start bringing your horse in just for short periods on her own, give her a brush and ignore her behaviour. This will prob be frowned upon but I got so sick of her pacing round the stable while I tried to brush her I tie her up loosly and it seems to work. If I tie her outside she fights til she burst the string.
Feed might not work cos if ur horse if like mine she will be too stressed to eat in the stable?
Dont worry it does get better, I am sure your horse will get calmer, mine certainly is with time, and the box walking is becoming less. Do not rush to get your horse ready for a hack etc if she is stressing this willl just make her more anxious. Also ignore her when box walking - i believe its an attention type thing. Dont let people stand and watch her box walking as this will make her think there is something to stress about!
Sorry if this rant isnt of much use, time and patience really is the only thing i can suggest? U could try stable mirror but my friends box walker was very aggressive towards it.
 
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