Some advise please (long!)

M

Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk
Please can I have some advise fomr you lovely people!
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As you all no I moved Arch Sat pm and Im concerned about him setteling. It took him ages to settle at the last yard, but the yard b4 that he wasnt too bad.
I wanted to ride him Monday evening, so I lunged him first in the school and he seemed fine, wasnt spooky bukcing at all. SO, I though it was be safe to get on!!! Took him to the mounting block, got one foot in the stirrup and he span round on a six pence, resulting in me jumping off and spraining my ankle as my foot turned over, ouch!
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Eventually got some feeling back in my ankle and got back on, this time with more sucsses. But his back was so far up I felt like I was on an 18 hander!
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I was in two mind weather to get off b4 I was thrown off, he felt like he was gonna explode. But I stayed on and just walked him round until his back went down and he felt more relaxed. Tried a little trot, but he felt like he was gonna bronk, so gave up with that! I wanted to try again last night, but could hardly walk yesterday, so I just lunged him. And for ages, he just ran round looking completely petrified! It was horrible to see have Ive worked SO hard with him to get him where he WAS at and Im really worried Im gonna have to start all over again with him
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I know its still early days, but its very disheartening and I felt quite upset. He did settle EVENTUALLY last night, but it took a long time.
Any tips or advise would be greatly received as I has bad falls off Arch in the past and completely lost my confidence and I just cant face that happening again.
 
Its only been a few days!! Take a deep breath and calm down - i know its frustrating, but some horses need time to settle. He WILL settle....

Fee was very unsettled when i first bought her home, but i just concentrated on getting a routine and didnt worry about riding too much. Just walk around the school if he feels very tense, walk out perhaps or keep lunging. Nothing too taxing that might have him exploding on you.

Once he gets the routine he'll be fine, just keep it all nice a quiet and constant and you'll have your old boy back.

(((hugs)))
 
I'm sure he will settle, but you need to give him a bit of time. Its all very confusing to him and he is going to be stressed out. Some of them seem to take longer to adapt to change than others (but even those who seem to take it in their stride are often just bottling up the stress). I would keep lunging while your ankle is bad. I am sure it will work out in the end
 
Is it possible for you to turn him out in the school for maybe an hour???
That always seems to settle newbies on our yard as they have time to get their bearings, smell the new smells and take in the sites? He might even then realise that there are no goblins lurking in the school ready to pounce on him!
 

Thanks everyone, you all so lovely! xxx

Unfortunatly I cant turn him out in the school, as there is no gate on it!!!!!

I cant really give him a week or so off as that will make him worse!

Guess Ill just keep at it and hope I gont get injured in the process!
 
I would just spend some time with him in his stable or field and concentrate on letting him feel more secure and grooming etc. Trying to work a horse in lunge or ridden in that frame of mind is impossible. They are all different and I know that my lad took 6 months to truly calm down and settle because he is just not a change type at all. He turned into a wild thing from hell when I got him home and when I spoke to his previous owner about it some weeks later, it transpired that he had done the same when she first got him too...bit like everything he had been taught went out the window and he was scared of everything and did not like anything either. It took a lot of patience and time to get him right. I am not saying your horse is this bad but be calm and happy around him and dont ask too much and he will pick up on the good vibes and settle sooner...because mummy is settled!
 
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I cant really give him a week or so off as that will make him worse!

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Why will it - surely he just needs some time to settle in to a new 'space'? And he certainly sounds as if he needs time to adjust......
 
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Can't you just leave him chill out for a week or so?

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I have to agree - I think he needs a week or so to get his head round his new home. Then bring him back in to work slowly, lunging, long reining etc before getting back on. Just take your time, theres no rush
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He will also settle more if Max comes.
 
I know what you mean. When I forst bought mine back, he was an absolute looney tune and I wondered what the hell I'd done. It did take him a while though and I'd say it was a good 5 months before he was really properly completely settled.

I think giving him a week or so to get used to the new place would be a good idea and then start him really steadily. If that really isn't an option, maybe staying on the ground lunging or long reining might be an idea?

Your ankle sounds nasty, hope you're better soon. Good luck
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Horses recognise the location where they are kept by smell. Their sense and memories of smell are far better than ours. They literally mentally map an area by smell rather than sight or sound.

Some horses are very much more senitive to being moved to a new area than others as they no longer recognise the familiar smells that they are used to and become disorientated..

I have found that if I have moved a horse from one yard to another by hacking them rather than boxing them that this helps them a great deal in coming to terms with the new location they are in.

I would cut down your horses feed and gently lead him around the menage and yard areas twice or three times a day to help him get used to his new terotary and of course give him some nice long soothing grooms.

Your horse should settle but it may take time.
 
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