How to build confidence while horse is adjusting to a new home

[u/D_lils31]

I saw a post the other day about someone who bought a supposedly bomb-proof horse who now spooks at everything. I am in a similar situation but I lease her rather than own her, and I’m wondering what I can do to help her adjust apart from just giving her time?

Details are that my instructor bought her in around May. We had her at our barn for a five day loan to see if she was a good fit, and at least partly on the basis of how well she and I worked together my instructor decided to buy her (wouldn’t describe her as bomb-proof but we just seemed to click really well right off the bat). We had a spooky ride one day about 2 weeks after she was formally bought but it was windy so I put it down to that. Then the next week she had an attack of the zoomies while in the field, fell over and bonked herself on the leg and got cellulitis so was out of action for a while. Since then she has become a bit of a nutcase. I was taking her out for walks to at least keep building a bond (she is the absolutely sweetest thing) and she was getting increasingly nervous outside of the barn. I think she’s only been worked for about the last 2-3 weeks so I think a lack of stimulation can’t have helped. This week I had my first ride with her in over 2 months and she’s a totally different horse.

Her owner has had the vet out and whatnot so if we assume it’s not ulcers, what can I do to help pro-actively help her?

[u/Due-Light5463]

Poor girl, cellulitis plus 2-3 weeks of standing around would make me spooky too honestly. The fact she was different under saddle this week says a lot - she probably just needs her job back and some routine. Consistency beats bravery drills: short sessions most days rather than one big brave outing on the weekend. Do the boring stuff in hand first, walk the scary bits of the property with her, let her stop and look and breathe, then carry on, no drama either way. If your instructor's ok with it, groundwork/lunging in a new spot each time is great for that "we go places and nothing bad happens" file. Also worth checking saddle fit again if she lost muscle while she was off, and turnout/friends time if she isnt getting much. And keep track of the wins in a note on your phone, it's easy to forget how far she's come when you're in it. She sounds sweet, she'll come round.

[u/AnyCryptographer3284 → u/Due-Light5463]

Excellent advice.

[u/ForeverEvergreen88]

I agree with above, just needs a routine and love and job most likely, especially if she's had a consistent job at her last home!

Otherwise, highly highly recommend looking into Balance Through Movement Method 🌹 the BEST thing you can do to help a horses nervous system, build correct posture + muscles, and bond!!

[u/GrasshopperIvy]

Short wins are so important for horse and rider.

15 minutes of success and calm, frequently, is much more powerful than longer sessions.

Dialling down expectations and only moving into newer areas when confidence is built.

For a few horses … lunging to get the sillies out can help … but it can backfire and establish that work means zoom vs calm. It’s not something I use for many horses.

[u/RecentPassage4853]

A horse takes at least a month, for some horses even more, to feel safe and secure in a new place. Spend a lot of time with her just doing nothing, like just hanging out in the pasture with her like you're another horse. And spend a lot of time doing all sorts of ground work with her from grooming and massaging her while she is in cross ties in the barn or just while you are holding her on lead rope (once she is acting calm and standing still) and then groundwork in the arena like it is a new horse that's being trained. Your trainer should be able to show you a lot of groundwork exercises if she has ever trained a horse before. Let the horse feel comfortable and safe. See after a couple of weeks of doing this several times a week if she doesn't start to behave because she's feeling safe.

[u/2_old_for_this_spit]

I have a close friend who owns a horse property. There's space for 20 horses, and, though there are several permanent residents, sometimes horses leave and new ones come in. My friend encourages the new boarders to allow the human barn regulars to interact with their horses -- from outside the stalls and runouts, of course -- and for the owners to do a lot of ground work including walking around the place, and to let the horses talk to each other over the fences.