Settling new horse in stable - tips?

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Chumsmum

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Hi All

Picked up Toby on Thursday and he is settling in well. He is living out 24/7 with my other 3 ponies. I rode him on Saturday with a friend on my old pony and he was great.

He is nervous when coming in to the barn to have a groom etc but is fine if my other pony is in there and he can see him. He was quite panicky when I bought him today as my pony was at the back of his stable and he couldn't see him - was racing around the stable doing worried wees and poos and bucking. He was calmer if I stood by him.

I've got no problem bringing in a companion (I've got 3 to choose from
smirk.gif
) if that's what he needs for now but obviously would like to get to the point where he can be on his own if possible. We have all the time in the world and want to get it right.

My other pony was 13yo when I had him and is a bit of a loner, is very quiet and settles anywhere so have never had this 'problem' before. Toby is 7yo and needs more reassurance - he seems to be a very honest pony. He also comes from a busier yard so no doubt there was always other horses about.

Any tips on how to build up his confidence in the stable?
 
Time is all it will need- my big chap has taken 19 months to settle in the field first thing in a morning if he is out on his own for the first hour or so- he is out in one field with 6 others and my other 2 go out in the main field with another 20 or so and to be calm without his stable mates next door.

Good luck - just dont rush it and it usually will sort itself out
 
I would, work from him coming into a friend to him being brought in and a friend being brought into him. Then gradually build up the time (poss with a feed) between him coming in and his friend appearing. My lad always gets more stressed when the others "go away" rather than him coming into no-one. Dont forget horses take approx 10 mins to sort out there brains which is usually 9.5 mins longer than us humans will give em.

He will be fine with a considerate owner like youself, try and do the same thing at the same time for a while till he learns to chill. Just think how you feel when you go to a new place or job, it takes at least a months for us humans to "suss" the routine out and you have no idea what has happend to him in the past.

Good luck, ime sure in a few months time you wont even think about it, and if he is still a little stress head, he is in the right home for the support he needs
 
Great tips, really grateful thank you.

Dont forget horses take approx 10 mins to sort out there brains which is usually 9.5 mins longer than us humans will give em.

I really like this bit, really made me think - thank you.
 
if you can use some of your old bedding on top of your new bedding in the knew stable keep rotine the same dont buy new water buckets hay nets etc so the horse can smell its self in the knew stable!
 
Don't have any of his old bedding etc but he using my old pony's stuff so maybe that might give him some comfort if he can smell him?

I also accidently left a poo in there so will leave it until I try him in there again so it smells more of him.
 
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