Spanish Boy arriving next week - EEKK!

Turned him out in a paddock today as he just wasn't liking school turnout.
Was pretty chilled, the geldings in the next field were more stalliony than him! Was out for 1.5 hrs and was pretty chilled tbh. Came in a bit sweaty, more from adrenalin than running around.
Out again for an hour this afternoon and absolutely nailed it,super chilled and found him playing in the water trough 😜
 

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So, after a great day on Saturday, turned him out for a bit, quite chilled in the field, then lunged him with tack on and had a little plonk around the school, was quite forward, but the weather was cold and very windy, so will forgive him for that!
Sunday, a disaster, he has now decided that he likes having friends in the field next door, and when I brought him in yesterday bed time, as all of the other horses weren't in, he was in a bit of a pickle (he did have company in the stable next door, but wasn't happy with that horse)

He did settle once the others came in and hour or so later, but he was pretty stressed for a bit.
I think he has just seen what a normal horse life is like and doesn't want to be confined to a stable AT ALL!!
Having spoken to his seller, she said I need to just let him get on with it and he will settle soon enough, it is all a big change for him, they don't wrap them in cotton wool in Spain!
So feeling a little despondent today :-(
 
Can he just come in when the rest of the horses do? It won’t need to be forever but while he tries to adjust to his new life it may make it easier for him. Try not to worry too much. It’s common for them to be unsettled for a bit so it will just be about getting his confidence up.
 
Mum bought an ex-racehorse who had been stabled a lot and seemed very chilled in his stable. He then discovered being turned out in a big field with friends and, understandbly, decided he hated the stable and would take ages to settle when brought in. Despite everyone else coming in and being next door etc.

Once he realised that he will go back out again and his friends are still there etc and not be in for days he has settled right down again and is chilled in his stable.

So don't stress, just try to be consistent in you managemt so he learns the new normal amd I'm sure he'll settle down again in a week or two. But it is tough and they do stress us out 😅
 
YourValentine said:
Mum bought an ex-racehorse who had been stabled a lot and seemed very chilled in his stable. He then discovered being turned out in a big field with friends and, understandbly, decided he hated the stable and would take ages to settle when brought in. Despite everyone else coming in and being next door etc.

Once he realised that he will go back out again and his friends are still there etc and not be in for days he has settled right down again and is chilled in his stable.

So don't stress, just try to be consistent in you managemt so he learns the new normal amd I'm sure he'll settle down again in a week or two. But it is tough and they do stress us out 😅
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Thank you, that is exactly what I need to hear!
I could bring him in with others, but that will mean that he won't be in routine, so then when I decide to get him into my routine, will we have this all over again.
I am going to bring him in a little later, do some ground work with him/groom etc and then he will only have an hour or so to cope before the other boys come in (our little mare is in the stable next to him, but she isn't good enough apparently!!
Everyone I have spoken to (inc his seller) has said to just keep to my routine and he will eventually suss it out, but it is so hard, when he stands at the door piaffing until the boys come in (they've missed a trick cos he can piaffe for Spain!! :p )
He hasn't dropped any weight and is completely chill once everyone is in, eating well and drinking well too. I didn't think he would take to turnout so quickly and would want to be back in his safe place - how wrong was I!!!
You are right very tough and stressful, need to fast forward a coupl of weeks 🤯
 
Well, Trigo seems to be settling pretty well now, he is managing a full day in the field, he has friends on both sides. He is trying to graze, but finds it all rather confusing!! He has a big tub of hay in the field which he is munching his way through, so obviously quite relaxed about it all.
The issue of him being upset once in and the other still out for a few hours, we have started going up to the yard a little later, get him and our mare in at the same time so he know she is coming in too. Then groom and do some groundwork with him, he is a quick learner and very chilled in school.
He was then getting very stressed and was piaffing at his stable door until the others came in, but getting him in a little later, working his brain and then less time until the others come in , seems to have worked. He came in last night and started munching his hay. He had about 5 mins of piaffing inbetween leaving him and the others coming in, so definitely winning :cool:
I'm so much happier that he is happier...
 
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