Spooky and noise sensitivity

[marestare2024]

We have a new 10yo horse for approx 8 weeks so still settling. Lovely on the ground and stable but very noise sensitive so can be sharp and spooky ridden. Going to try acoustic ears to see if it helps during riding but paddock turnout on a windy day (individually paddocked yard) is difficult. I don't want to keep stabled unless dangerously windy but without trying to bring in a very spooky horse which I fear could be risky I guess I have 2 questions ...
1) do they eventually settle to the new noises and environment around them (or will noise and wind always be spooky)?
2) if they are spooky in the paddock, am I best to try and do a bit of groundwork before bringing them in if safe to relax them first rather than just "rescuing" them from their nervous state?
Thanks in advance

 

[SpeedyPony]

They should settle in the wind/noise, as they get accustomed to their new home/handlers everything will become more familiar/less stressful for them. Whether or not they become entirely calm in the wind will depend on their personality and also how they are trained/handled- most horses can be taught to be sensible in all weathers, but some will always be a little more on edge in the wind.
As for leading in, I would try and keep it as low stress as possible, perhaps using a bridle to turn out/bring in if need be. I probably wouldn't ask them to do anything taxing groundwork-wise, as giving an overwrought horse more to think about can backfire, but it may help to do a little basic work on leading nicely/quietly, i.e. asking for a halt, give a scratch and perhaps a treat if they stand nicely, then walk on again.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Agree with above, mare needs to experience the new yard in winter. I have/had mares who get a bit flighty in high winds ..and our yard is surrounded with trees which doesn’t help. When windy I turn out in fieldsafe headcollars and I have a bit on a headstall which I use to bring in if I feel mares energy is too high. I also play the one step game to bring attention to me cos I treat when I’m listened to… I ask mare to take one step with me and stop, one step with me and stop. If marches past me I back up..gently with as low an energy I can muster..and repeat. Each halt with me is rewarded with a tiny piece of apple. Didn’t take long for the mare to catch on and look for treat rather than listen to spooky wind in trees.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Use a bridle to bring in and take treats it just distracts them from what's going on.

 

[Birker2020]

If he is reactive have you considered that he might have some physical issues?
Lari was a nightmare at times to bring in so I had to use a dually or sometimes a headcollar with a nose chain when he was particuarly headstrong.
He was extremely reactive to ride, if he heard a noise on the yard it would set him into a tailspin. He had multiple issues.

i hope this isn't the reason why, but worth bearing in mind.

 

[Jester&Pie]

@marestare2024 how are you getting on? just got a new horse myself, he is 12, was sold as a schoolmaster and a safe hack but the first time I did hack him (in company) he did seem quite unnerved and spooky, I actually thought I was quite relaxed as I hadn't really expected that from him, so I was a bit perplexed when he seemed quite tense. Disclaimer is that hes only been with me for 2 weeks, so Im sure an unfair judgement?
Im a newbie at horse ownership (had one 20 years ago as a teen so new in this life decade ) but I guess my more deep fear is that he's too much horse for me. I was more used to kick on and hes more blood. Any advice is welcome, Im perhaps looking for reassurance that its early days. He is proving to be fantastic in the school and around the yard. TERRIBLE at the mounting block (again seems tense) so Im doing a lot of groundwork.
I guess my question is, does a 12 year old schoolmaster still take some time to settle?

 

[Exasperated]

@marestare2024 how are you getting on? just got a new horse myself, he is 12, was sold as a schoolmaster and a safe hack but the first time I did hack him (in company) he did seem quite unnerved and spooky, I actually thought I was quite relaxed as I hadn't really expected that from him, so I was a bit perplexed when he seemed quite tense. Disclaimer is that hes only been with me for 2 weeks, so Im sure an unfair judgement?
Im a newbie at horse ownership (had one 20 years ago as a teen so new in this life decade ) but I guess my more deep fear is that he's too much horse for me. I was more used to kick on and hes more blood. Any advice is welcome, Im perhaps looking for reassurance that its early days. He is proving to be fantastic in the school and around the yard. TERRIBLE at the mounting block (again seems tense) so Im doing a lot of groundwork.
I guess my question is, does a 12 year old schoolmaster still take some time to settle?

Some will always be more reactive, a blood horse often ‘high couraged’, and it’s early days to have become fully confident with the new rider, regime, environment, stable and field mates, etc.
Depending where you are, possibly all sorts of Halloween / Guy Faulkes noises going off too - enough to freakify anything!
However, if he was advertised as schoolmaster / safe hack, should expect him to stand like a rock for you to get on, he’s definitely old enough to know better.
That’s a fixable issue, but very annoying, can be hazardous, take care while getting the measure of each other.
But even if he’s more horse than you thought, doesn’t mean you can’t rise to the occasion and really enjoy him! Was it a private sale, or dealer?

 

[Barton Bounty]

You could ride the calmest steadiest horse in the world at a trial and when you take them from their safe comfortable environment to a new place that they have no clue about, I would expect spooky and unnerved. It will take time to settle in. Does not matter whether they are 12 or 2. Few weeks for the horse to gain some trust in you and I am pretty sure you will both be fine

 

[Birker2020]

We have a new 10yo horse for approx 8 weeks so still settling. Lovely on the ground and stable but very noise sensitive so can be sharp and spooky ridden. Going to try acoustic ears to see if it helps during riding but paddock turnout on a windy day (individually paddocked yard) is difficult. I don't want to keep stabled unless dangerously windy but without trying to bring in a very spooky horse which I fear could be risky I guess I have 2 questions ...
1) do they eventually settle to the new noises and environment around them (or will noise and wind always be spooky)?
2) if they are spooky in the paddock, am I best to try and do a bit of groundwork before bringing them in if safe to relax them first rather than just "rescuing" them from their nervous state?
Thanks in advance

Bailey was spooky, so too was Lari.

When bringing in I would put their headcollar on and insist they stood still at the gate before I'd even think about opening it to bring them in.
With Lari I had to bring him in from the paddock in a dually or one of those chain headcollars, not all the time but only if it was a very windy day.

Lari was extremely reactive to ride, he was actually suffering physically and this can cause horses to be spooky so worth bearing in mind.

 

[Jester&Pie]

Some will always be more reactive, a blood horse often ‘high couraged’, and it’s early days to have become fully confident with the new rider, regime, environment, stable and field mates, etc.
Depending where you are, possibly all sorts of Halloween / Guy Faulkes noises going off too - enough to freakify anything!
However, if he was advertised as schoolmaster / safe hack, should expect him to stand like a rock for you to get on, he’s definitely old enough to know better.
That’s a fixable issue, but very annoying, can be hazardous, take care while getting the measure of each other.
But even if he’s more horse than you thought, doesn’t mean you can’t rise to the occasion and really enjoy him! Was it a private sale, or dealer?

Thank you. I definitely think he has some anxiety about standing.. so will work on that, mounting block issues closer to being resolved but I do set him up so he’s secure between the block and the fence. It’s either impatience or anxiety, I’m not sure yet, I think it relates to him maybe being buzzed up in the start box cross country as I have seen evidence of that (after I transacted on him)… hopefully a lot of groundwork and instruction and trust in each other will be the making of us.
Maybe that’s my next question- how long in other peoples experience before they feel that they have bonded truly with their new horse?