Guidelines on managing your new horse

Your Responsibility

We produce horses that are suited to the leisure rider. They have been trained to hack out alone and in company with confidence. It is your responsibility to continue your horses training and only put them in new situations when they have been correctly trained and are ready. We are here to give advice and help at any time. Horses are creatures of habit and whether a horse is 5 years old or 10 years old the training needs to be continuous so the horse remains happy and secure. If a horse has been out of work for any reason and you are unsure how to bring him back into work please call us. Young horses can be more impressionable so it is vitally important that you are able to manage this.

Arrival and Settling in

Please be aware that new surroundings can often unsettle an otherwise very settled horse. It is very important to keep your new horse's routine as close as possible to the routine he has been used to. Please speak to us at length about your horses’ routine so you can make the relevant arrangements for your new horse. Do not attempt to take your new horse into stressful environments i.e. Sponsored rides, hunting, large groups etc. when you’re still bonding and understanding your new horse.

Feeding

Do not change your horse's feeding regime for at least the initial settling in period and talk to us at depth about his feeding regime and stick to it unless otherwise agreed. Any changes to a horses feeding regime should be made slowly. Any sudden changes will have an effect on your horse's temperament and can lead to behavioral problems. We are here to help and advise you. Generally speaking ad-lib good quality hay and grass is all that is necessary for a horse that is hacking daily.

Turning out

Accidents and injury can very easily occur when turning you new horse out for the first time so if you are unsure how to manage this please ask what precautions should be taken. Every horse is different and will react differently when introduced to new turnout and new horses. Every care and precaution should be taken.

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You should be aware how your new horse reacts to new surroundings and turnout. Find out how he behaves with mares and geldings and whether your new horse is happy turned out on his own or if he might fret which can lead to injury. It is advisable to leave a head collar on for the first few days and check him at regular intervals to make sure that he is settled and happy in his new environment.

Ridden Work

It is always advisable to have supervision when riding your new horse. Make sure you only do what you feel totally comfortable with; even if this means staying in walk in a school. Also, be aware that Indoor Schools are a very spooky environment and can unsettle your horse. Hacking out for the first time can be quite a nervous experience and this can be relayed to the horse and we would advise going out with a friend that is trustworthy and sensible. Do not go out in large groups until you have formed a partnership with you new horse. Large groups can cause stress and excitement for the horse. I cannot stress enough the importance of not over facing yourself or your horse in the first weeks/months. Do not be tempted to ask anything of yourself or your horse that neither of you are ready for. This can very easily lead to a loss of confidence both for the rider and the horse.

Tack and Accessories

We would advise arranging for a qualified saddler to come down and fit your horse's tack or check the tack you are intending to use for your horse. We are more than happy to advise on what tack is required. Badly fitted tack will make your horse uncomfortable and can lead to sores and other injuries which in turn can lead to behavioral problems. All of this can be avoided with professional help and advice.

Time Factor

Getting to know your horse will take time. It is a huge responsibility owning a horse and it takes commitment and responsibility. Keep a close eye on any behavioral changes and ask for help and advice as soon as you see any changes. Horses are not machines and they react to change. It is important that they feel safe and secure in their environment.

PLEASE CALL US IMMEDIATELY YOU HAVE A CONCERN FOR ANY REASON.