Will my horse ever settle!

[Sassenach_1234]

My horse of (5 months) has really not settled to her new home. She came from a fairly big yard to a very small quiet private one. In her old home she was straightforward, chilled and NOT nappy. Now she naps (plants when being led and sometimes ridden) and regularly pulls away when tied up and canters back up to the other horse in the field. She may just need more time but it seems her behaviour is getting worse instead of better so I’m wondering if perhaps she just doesn’t like it there… (NB: she’s fit and healthy).

 

[Identityincrisis]

It took my horse a good 12 months to fully settle into the new yard, it was quite a bit busier than the previous yard and he is highly strung so found it quite a lot to deal with. He completely changed personality wise but now has definitely relaxed into the yard and is now back to his former self

 

[stangs]

How small is this yard? If it's just her and her fieldmate, then she’ll have developed some separation anxiety from the move combined with being alone when the fieldmate's ridden.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

It’s just her and one other. There were meant to be 4 of them all together but for various reasons the other two moved just before she arrived which wasn’t ideal.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It’s just her and one other. There were meant to be 4 of them all together but for various reasons the other two moved just before she arrived which wasn’t ideal.

And therein lies your problem, I'm afraid. Ideally she needs more field companions but if that's not possible, you will need to work on her separation anxiety.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

And therein lies your problem, I'm afraid. Ideally she needs more field companions but if that's not possible, you will need to work on her separation anxiety.

I know lots of horses that are fine with one companion but clearly she’s not ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I know lots of horses that are fine with one companion but clearly she’s not ?

Quite- and she is used to having more companions, by the sound of it

 

[Nari]

Some yards just don't work for some horses. I got my lad early June and like yours rather than settling he was getting worse at the yard I had him on. I moved yards and he's so much happier and more relaxed, I don't know what his problem was with that yard (maybe a bit too busy?) but it clearly didn't suit him.

 

[Wishfilly]

FWIW, I think it took mine nearly a year to really settle as well- but he would not be happy with just one companion and being left completely alone when the other is ridden either.

Is there any way of finding a yard more like her previous home?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Some yards just don't work for some horses. I got my lad early June and like yours rather than settling he was getting worse at the yard I had him on. I moved yards and he's so much happier and more relaxed, I don't know what his problem was with that yard (maybe a bit too busy?) but it clearly didn't suit him.

Yes, our first appaloosa didn't settle at the first yard we had her on, she got out of her field, leaving her companions behind, and was herded down a road by a passing farmer in his milk van. We moved her after this toa yard which on paper was very similar but she was like a different horse at the new yard.

 

[AmyMay]

My last horse was much more settled at a larger yard than where I liveried when I first got him.