Suggestions for my new horse....

[adarlinglittlething]

I have recently purchased a new horse to keep my 2 year old company and keep me ticking over until the baby is ready to be broken, also for my mum to ride, shes a beautiful 16hh bay irish sports horse she is just 6years old.

The lady that owned her had done nothing but hack her out and she has then been schooled and brought on for the past 8weeks and then I purchased her.

Don't get me wrong shes beautiful shes really cuddly and very very soppy but I cant help but wonder that maybe shes had a tough life before hand. She can be very nervous if you raise your hand to stroke her head/ears, walking in to the stable with a haynet she backs off to the corner. She is also now coming across a bit flighty.

I know she needs bringing on with her schooling which I am more than happy to do and I am yet to hack her out in her new surroundings but have this feeling that she will be very flighty and spooky once out when she is said to be perfect to hack.

Any suggestions on how to overcome her nervousness and help her relax and trust? Or any suggestions if anyone thinks she may have a bad start in life, as I have never had a nervous horse of humans before.

Thank you x

 

[Lolo]

I wouldn't immediately jump to 'poor start'. She's a baby who's had a lot of upheaval in the past few weeks and you're a stranger still who she's getting used to. Tango took a good 8 weeks to really settle at ours last year and we know he's ha an idyllic upbringing- it was just a lot of change in a short period.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I agree with Lolo. Give her time to settle in and to get to know you. I have an anxious horse and I find that it's best if I just stay calm and just carry on with what I'm doing - I do talk to her a lot which seems to help. If you start to expect your mare to spook etc... she will pick up on your tension/worries and will be more likely to spook.