Tips on helping new horses to settle in/trust you?

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Muddy Wellies

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So any new horse I've had has always settled in and made themselves at home from day 1. But not this chap!!! He is only young and has been backed correctly. Maybe not enough handling but there's always time for that.

But he is seeing it for what it is, he has been moved to a strange new place, his got new friends he is trying to figure out, I'm trying to kill him and he is sleeping a lot, so I presume he is very stressed/tired.
 
It all depends on the horse and how he's living. But I'd mostly just let him settle for a while. Try to spend a few mins with him each day, ask him to do some simple stuff (lead a short distance, move over, step back, keep his attention on you - basically give him an instruction that he can say "yes" to and be rewarded by you). You want him to learn by repetition that if he does as you ask, he gets rewarded, and if he gets in a tizz, nobody gets angry but he doesn't get rewarded till he calms down.

Know what your boundaries are (how close is he allowed to get to your body/is it ok to rub on you etc) and calmly but firmly insist he keeps to them. If you post more details then I'm sure people will be able to help your further.
 
The horse I got in 1994 settled in a few days and within weeks I was taking him on fun rides (he was 4). The current one, who was 6 when I got him, was a completely different kettle of fish who looked me right in the eyes and didn't want to be brushed or fussed. It took 9 months of patience, regularity, compromise, sometimes frustration and tears - then at the beginning of May (got him last August) it just clicked and he seemed to think "actually, this is ok" and started licking and yawning when I brush him instead of trying to crush me/stand on my feet/wriggle uncontrollably. I'm actually dead chuffed. People at the yard thought I should show him who is boss etc. but I knew it wasn't the right approach with this one. He just needed time to adjust to a new life.
 
eatmoremincepies said:
It all depends on the horse and how he's living. But I'd mostly just let him settle for a while. Try to spend a few mins with him each day, ask him to do some simple stuff (lead a short distance, move over, step back, keep his attention on you - basically give him an instruction that he can say "yes" to and be rewarded by you). You want him to learn by repetition that if he does as you ask, he gets rewarded, and if he gets in a tizz, nobody gets angry but he doesn't get rewarded till he calms down.

Know what your boundaries are (how close is he allowed to get to your body/is it ok to rub on you etc) and calmly but firmly insist he keeps to them. If you post more details then I'm sure people will be able to help your further.
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Thanks, he is a 5 year old Connemara, but currently not seeing the reasoning in being caught, even though the past 2 days I've just took him out of the field to be fed. He does not look comfortable if you try to fuss him in the field and very timid/sensitive. I managed to get close enough yesterday in 2 hours as opposed to the 6 it took on Saturday to clip a lead rope on, so hoping that is an improvement in how he is feeling.

I've asked for someone to come out and help so I can get a second opinion on him, as I'd also like for him to build up the confidence soon so we can begin riding and make the next step in getting there.
 
Thankfully, my horse was always ok riding (though he had extremely low mileage and had never been hacked out) - he just kind of clicked into work mode when I tacked him up. It was the touching thing he didn't like - he gives people a really hard, intimidating stare, right in the eyes. Eventually, after a few months (and he's always been easy to catch by the way - he'd never had titbits before I had him - didn't know what a carrot was, or mints or anything - he just spat them out! - he soon learned though! Can't stuff treats down his gob fast enough now! - anyway, I started hand grooming, slowly and gently all over, starting with the bits he would just about tolerate - like by his withers - there was no way he would let me touch his chest or legs (though I could pick his feet up), so I just gently rubbed all over - it made him break out into a sweat the first couple of times - I did this systematically, massaging him for about an hour every day. Eventually, and very very gradually, he gave in and now seems to actively enjoy it!
 
Waffles said:
Thankfully, my horse was always ok riding (though he had extremely low mileage and had never been hacked out) - he just kind of clicked into work mode when I tacked him up. It was the touching thing he didn't like - he gives people a really hard, intimidating stare, right in the eyes. Eventually, after a few months (and he's always been easy to catch by the way - he'd never had titbits before I had him - didn't know what a carrot was, or mints or anything - he just spat them out! - he soon learned though! Can't stuff treats down his gob fast enough now! - anyway, I started hand grooming, slowly and gently all over, starting with the bits he would just about tolerate - like by his withers - there was no way he would let me touch his chest or legs (though I could pick his feet up), so I just gently rubbed all over - it made him break out into a sweat the first couple of times - I did this systematically, massaging him for about an hour every day. Eventually, and very very gradually, he gave in and now seems to actively enjoy it!
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I've ridden three times, but it's a case of playing each day as it comes with him. Was very pleased with catching him yesterday though, even if it did take nearly 2 hours haha. It's just hard to know when to draw the line and when to push it to the next step I guess.
 
Yes, I know what you mean.... I was so afraid of wrecking everything by being to bossy with him, but on the other hand, I had to be in charge..... I didn't actually ride mine for the first month as he had absolutely no experience of traffic, so I led him out in hand every day on the roads so that he would be ok out riding as that's mostly what I do - hacking here there and everywhere. He was wary of parked cars on the first day - now he is brilliant and will just take a bit of a look at lorries. It was really quite terrifying knowing that I could mess him up! Thankfully, I didn't! I thought the other day, when I was out riding, with me in front, going up the main road, that I never imagined how this could be possible late last summer!
 
There was quite a funny incident a few months back - he wouldn't let me in his space at all and didn't want to come into mine either. If you touched his chest, he'd back away and not let you scratch/stroke him. I was feeding him carrot bits from the opposite side of me so he'd stretch his head round me to get them, but he was still reluctant to do that, so I took on a sort of humble, submissive stance and walked across the front of the stable (and I can't remember if I said this outloud or just thought it - "hey, look, it's ok to come into my space") - next thing I knew, he'd boofed me in my stomach, lifted me up in the air and chucked me about 2 feet across the stable - "Ok, you've got the idea, but that's a bit much..." I said...
 
Waffles said:
There was quite a funny incident a few months back - he wouldn't let me in his space at all and didn't want to come into mine either. If you touched his chest, he'd back away and not let you scratch/stroke him. I was feeding him carrot bits from the opposite side of me so he'd stretch his head round me to get them, but he was still reluctant to do that, so I took on a sort of humble, submissive stance and walked across the front of the stable (and I can't remember if I said this outloud or just thought it - "hey, look, it's ok to come into my space") - next thing I knew, he'd boofed me in my stomach, lifted me up in the air and chucked me about 2 feet across the stable - "Ok, you've got the idea, but that's a bit much..." I said...
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Definitely got the idea then :p!

I've found it really odd after always having horses that settle in within minutes of arriving. But it's interesting. A new learning curve to add to the books I guess. I do hope we're out hacking soon though. I got him for showing, hunting and dressage, maybe a bit of showjumping. But hacking is a must too, so fingers crossed for time to come.
 
Really good luck to you anyway!! Just take it day by day! My boy was basically a redundant stallion (now gelded) so it really was a massive lifestyle change for him to be fussed, cuddled, given titbits, live in a herd, go out hacking etc. Poor thing - no wonder it took him a long time to settle! To be honest, if someone had told me I'd be dealing with all that this time last year, I wouldn't have believed them!
 
Just a quick update of today and excuse to post pointless photo's (hope not too big, no idea how to resize)...

Managed to catch the little man today and he groomed me whilst I stood fussing him for a bit before turning him back out with his pals. Also got someone coming out tomorrow to give a lesson. Not sure if it will all be groundwork or ridden yet but fingers crossed we make progress.

Lastly, couldn't resist posting a picture of the even smaller little man posing in a headcollar that finally fits his tiny head, really need to back him and find him a home this summer as I've got too many, but don't think I can face not having him follow me around the field.

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Hi,

My lad came in to a new yard with more horses than he's used to - we've had a few problems (dominance issues mostly) - but with time he's settled okay and has settled nicely into the herd. :D

P.S. Beautiful Horse ^^^^^^^^
 
If you can get near him, reach out a hand for him to sniff. If he let's you closer breathe into his nostrils like another horse would say hello.

I'm not mad, well not completely, but I've used this on a few horses who must have either appreciated it or are so confused by a human snuffling at them that they forgot to run away. They usually give a huff back before allowing me to scratch their withers or stroke their neck. Slowly catchy monkey!
 
This is exactly what a young welsh cob (who arrived at mine on Saturday) is like. He's very wary of being caught. I did join up with him, its the only natural horsemanship thing I do but works wonders!
 
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