Are you a First Time Horse Owner?

As a first time horse owner, you may be feeling quite overwhelmed. We talk you through the best way of settling your new horse in once you bring him home.

It will all be very new and exciting and perhaps even a little nervewracking right?

Don't worry - we are here to help 24/7!

The best thing that you can do as a first time horse owner in the first few weeks, is give plenty of your time.

Settling your horse in safely and effectively should be your first priority.

By this we don't mean ride the guts out of him every day!

In fact it's much more straightforward. We would suggest that you don't actually ride the horse at all for at least a week possibly longer, especially if you are a first time horse owner.

Be Patient - Routine Is Everything!

This is what it's like being a horse - they often get moved on from one owner to another every few years. Horses do not have any say in this so it is up to you as a responsible horse owner to make it as painless as possible for them.

Horses are creatures of habit and like the familiarity of routine. Therefore, bear this in mind if your new horse seems a bit distant or even quite grumpy and withdrawn for a couple of days. Try to keep his routine as close to his previous home if possible. This will dramatically reduce the stress he is experiencing.

Providing the horse is not displaying signs of illness (and you should check with your vet if in doubt) it is more likely the horse is "homesick" for his previous human family or field companions.

Follow The Leader!

If he has an independent nature, let him come to you. Act like you aren't actually bothered if he comes over or not. In a herd environment, horses are quick to determine who is the leader namely someone they WANT to follow (not necessarily the one who shouts the loudest).

The key to settling your horse in effectively is his perception of you. You need to be the leader in your horse's world and someone that he wants to be with. You will accomplish so much more together if you both understand your respective roles.

As a first time horse owner, it is also vital to establish at the start what behaviour is unacceptable to you - as would the lead horse in a herd. For example, if he barges through the door every time you take him out to the field you need to deal with this straightaway. Habits become ingrained very quickly. Once the horse "cottons on" that you don't mind him walking all over you he will do it every time. We will cover more about this in the topic "Horse Behaviour".

The easiest way to get the most out of your relationship with your horse is to respect him and build his confidence in you. Of course, when he does pluck up the courage to investigate you - reward him profusely with a nice rub on his forehead.

Settling Your Horse - In The Field

Ideally when settling your horse in, have a couple of equine friends in an adjacent field so he won't be lonely and start to panic. He may well do several laps of the perimeter at flat out gallop just for the hell of it - on the other hand if he is the food-oriented type he may well just put his head down and scoff for all he's worth! As soon as he has settled down you can begin to introduce him to other horses. This should always be done with careful monitoring.

Never leave a new horse in a field with other horses for the first time without observing them closely for an hour or two. You should always be able to intervene if the new horse gets cornered or bullied and remove him from the situation to prevent unnecessary injury.

It is the irresponsible horse owner that "just leaves them to sort it out between themselves" as this often results in the new horse being bitten, kicked or trampled by more aggressive field mates. Aside from the trauma to your horse, this could result in expensive vet bills.

Settling Your Horse - In The Stable

Do your best to make the first time in his stable really special for your horse as this will encourage him to look forward to being caught from the field and come in each night.

Of course you should also check there are no hazards such as rusty door catches or loose electrical wiring that could present a danger to your horse.

Whether you are a first time horse owner or you have been brought up with them, never leave the horse tied up alone in a new stable, even if you are only going to prepare feed. Remember, the horse will not be used to the yard noises and may struggle to release himself.

Settling your horse in can be speeded up by your spending time every day Grooming him.

This is great therapy - your nerves at being around him will gradually ease as he becomes relaxed and accustomed to your voice and body language.

Not only will you have the cleanest horse on the yard but you will be building vital confidence in each other which is the very best foundation for a lasting successful relationship.

Take a look at our Horse Questions & Answers section if you have a particular question relating to Settling Your Horse In.

What About Riding?

As a first time horse owner, work at your own pace during these early days and take plenty of time when settling your horse into his new home.

Use this time to really get to know his personality - by the time you ride him he will already be more receptive to your instructions and will want to please you because he knows you well. Visit our Horse Care topic for more helpful Horse Information to get you started as a first time horse owner!

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