Youngster coming home, what to do?

[brown tack]

Ok I've got a new youngster coming home next week and trying to be ahead of myself and sort out a plan of action.

The horse is 3yrs and 15.1hh appyx he was handled regular as foal and yearling, stabled, rugged etc. Then he has been out in a small herd of other babies since then, and pretty much left to his own devices.

So leading and general handling needs a bit of work.

Now my problem is what do I do when he comes home?

Do I stable him straight away and leave him in on his own during the day while building trust for a few days?

Do I turn him out and leave him out? Hoping that if anything happens I'll be able to catch him (ATM he does come to call at the gate)

Bring him in at night, turnout during the day? Which I'd prefer, but it's a big yard and some of the fields are a fair walk from the stables, and being the newest I'm sure I'd have the furthest to walk, so not ideal, with something that is going to be very jumpy and doesn't lead.

I could stick him in the school and have a quick lesson before taking him to field.

The thing which I have been doing is going up to see him every day and trying to build up some bond before he comes home, my next step is to put a head collar on him and do stop starting before he comes home, but again not easy as there are other horses in the field.

I'm also new to the yard as well, which doesnt help.

Any tips advice please!

 

[loverly]

I was in the exact same situation last week with a 2 year old I had bought. He'd been handled as a foal as had to be bottle fed but since then been living with a herd on a lot of land.

Yard policy is any new horse has to be stabled 24hours when they firs arrive because they have to be wormed. I did manae to put him in a small area during that day.

After this was over he went straight out with my other horse as he'd obviously been used to being with others. He is out during the day and in at night. I bring my other horse in first as it seems to help persuade him that he wants to come in!
(Also I found out it's best to leave a headcollar on!!!)

So far I've had no problems at all...

Hope your new one settles in and let us know how it all goes - with photos

 

[Ibblebibble]

as he's been out with others up until now i would be more inclined to turn him out in a small paddock to start with rather than stabling. If he's within sight of others he'll be happier than if he's stuck in a stable on his own. i tend to leave a headcollar on any new one for a day or 2 until i know what they're like to catch. My friend has just got a lightly handled 2 yr old and it took 2 days for us to be able to just walk up and catch him , first 2 days involved shadowing him around the paddock until he gave in lol. she has 3 of us doing stuff with him so that he gets used to different people, most of it we do in the paddock at the moment, we'll start taking him onto the yard soon but nothing is being rushed

 

[Zimzim]

Hi I have recently purchased a 3 year old who had a similar background to yours. I left him in for 24 hours and just did a lead about in hand, spent time with him, then after that I bit the bullet and put him out with the rest of the geldings - and let them get on with it and sort themselves out - I left his headcollar on though so I could catch him later on. There a good bunch of geldings and after 10 mins of galloping around they were all fine. I bring him in at night and out during the day so hes in a routine and gets you'st to everyday life and handling and its going very well. He's a sucker for a good grooming and happily stands there as good as gold and falls asleep. Totally depends on an individual though.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Do you have a kind, gentle, non-agressive horse/pony that you can turn him out with? I have found that this works well because they make a friend and settle much more quickly.