Horse Home 2

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So having organised all the essentials you get your new horse home! And as I've already said …'You Never Get a 2nd Chance to Make a Good 1st Impression'. I appreciate that some or a lot of the suggestions I make may not be possible or practical in your own individual situation as none of us live in the ideal world. The more inexperienced or apprehensive you are--the more help you are likely to need so try and arrange the best you can. Others throw all caution to the wind and jump in at the deep end and usually get away with everything riding happily into the sunset! That's great--I wish it was always like that. :)

Ideally try to arrange for the horse to arrive in daylight hours and if possible no later than lunchtime so he has a chance to take in the new scenery and atmosphere, possibly meet a few friends and have you or others around him before supper time and settling down for the night. If your horse has travelled on a long journey and arrives fairly settled it is a good idea to turn him out for a short while in a paddock as he will appreciate a leg stretch and will probably be a bit stiff having stood in a lorry for several hours. If this is not possible then take him for a walk in hand and hand graze him. To be sensible lead him from a lunge line and wear gloves as he is in a strange place and you don't know him yet. If he seems unsettled then play safe and leave him in a stable for a few hours until he settles and then if possible turn him out, even it's for a leg stretch in a ménage.

Now your partnership has begun, I can't emphasis enough--start as you mean to go on! This is the best opportunity you have to set the goal posts and make them fair and achievable. Your horse does not know you, your rules or your routine. Don't make allowances on one day when you know you will not be happy to accept them a few days later as now is the time to set out the ground rules and let your horse know that you are his new pal in life--are not a scary monster but neither are you someone who he can call the shots with or push around. Say what you mean and mean what you say and as long as you don't expect the impossible, don't start making excuses because he doesn't know better or the classic one … he's only ? years old. A horse has an instinct of survival, he has no concept of time and doesn't know how old he is. If you are fair with him and tell him what is and isn't acceptable and what can and can't be done, you keep your signals clear and consistent--you are training him correctly and he will understand--no matter how old he is! Sounds simple doesn't it? In real life it rarely is that simple but the mistakes a handler or rider makes are often basic. I'm sure many of you have watched programmes on telly such as 'Dog Borstal' and from the outside looking in you have probably realised how some owners have just lost control or not been clear, positive, insistent and consistent with their training. The same usually applies to horses. You must be confident and assertive at all times--and that includes with the more nervous or wary horses as well. A common mistake is to treat a timid horse with kid gloves and like Dresden china. If you creep around him too much he will start to believe it and that the world is a scary place--you are just confirming that. You need to be calm and quiet around him and maybe give him a bit of time to take everything in but make your moves positive, fill him with confidence by being gentle but assertive tell him he really is a big brave boy! In other words--just get on with it. I have known really easy going horses without a care in the world turn into worried, nervous characters because they have changed owners and had a new Mum over protect them--usually because they are only a baby! You can sensitise or de-sensitise a horse--the control is with you!

I'm sure many of you will have heard yarns about the Irish who break their horses on a Monday to take them hunting on the Saturday and they are barely 3 yrs old! Yet it is to Ireland so many of us go to find sensible easy going chaps who have experienced a bit of life. To most old fashioned horsemen--and that includes a lot of the Irish--they are animals that are trained to do as they are told. Don't start putting human attributes into their mind and trying to see trouble which they have not even thought about. With a relaxed, confident, positive handler or rider, a horse will conquer all manner of things without a backward thought in the world. Start to doubt yourself or doubt them and their senses will pick up faster than you would imagine--remember they have survived as a species mainly on instinct.

I mentioned sensitise. This is often a necessity with the laid back, dope on a rope type. Some have manners to burn and move when you ask or do what they are supposed to do. But if they don't--be loud, clear and quick to bl**dy well get through to them that when you say 'jump' - they say 'how high'. It is possible to gain respect and obedience from all types but vital to insist from the beginning from any horse who is cheeky, numb, rude, naughty or is hard of hearing! Let these chaps get their feet under the table and start to test the boundaries and it is a hard road and long way to get them back. I am very quick to make it clear what the rules are when I meet one of these characters and a short sharp shock of a reminder of manners does them no harm and very soon gets respect. You usually get a sideways glance from them as if to say 'huh--you are one of those don't mess with folk'. But when they know the rules and their place, horses (like all animals and dare I say children?) are happy and secure. They also thrive on routine. Be quick to correct and quick to reward--stay firm and fair--clear and consistent. These animals are not toy poodles and they are too big, too powerful and too dangerous to mess with and you must obtain respect which will in turn grow to a happy partnership

Many clients ask me how long they should allow a horse to settle in to a new yard before riding them. As a general rule we give them one day before climbing on board and I would suggest the same although there are many steady cobs who are really laid back that happily hack out the following morning. If you are a confident rider then by all means--ride the following day. But whatever you decide--be sensible. If you want to hack out then arrange for fellow liveries to accompany you in a small group or just be with one other. Choose a quiet ride where you and your horse will get the chance to start to get to know each other and he start to learn about the new scenery and not test his metal as regards having scary obstacles or really heavy traffic to negotiate. Remember not only are you a new rider to him but so is the geography and everything else around him too. If you are a little apprehensive riding your new horse--how do you think he feels taking in everything around him as well as coping with a new Mum on his back who maybe feeling less than confident! If anyone should have a hand held--it's your horse and not you. So put yourself into the best situation whereby you can give him the confidence should the need arise. Ride with friends and give him company so even if you can't give him a lead--his equine friends can.

Alternatively you may feel happier riding in a ménage for the first time and maybe have someone on the ground to help your confidence. Keep the session simple and active--walking for a while on a hack is not a problem as a horse has scenery to look at but if you spend too long walking in a ménage a horse can get bored and switch off or start acting the fool. So work in in walk and trot and canter if you are confident. Keep the work varied and active and start to listen and learn from your horse as regards what he can and can't do and finds easy and difficult. Again--start as you mean to go on and don't allow lazy or bad habits to take control as this ride will set a president. Make sure what you ask is what you get to the best of your ability and don't let any sloppy habits creep in. Simple things matter and once is a habit if you let it. He must stand whilst you mount and dismount. Move forward and straight from the leg when asked. Stop and start as you request. These are simple but basic rules and from this your work can progress.

Each horse settles to a new life at different speeds and you have to monitor and judge how quickly they feel at home and are confident to progress. Use good management, routine, plenty of turnout and exercise to keep your horse happy and interested in everything he does. With your schooling none of us are ever too experienced or clever not to have regular lessons from a good and experienced trainer or instructor. Keep work varied and progressive and listen and learn from your horse. Every horse will teach you a lot and a partnership takes time to develop and grow--it certainly won't happen overnight. If something goes wrong, question who was at fault and remember--your horse has never read a dressage or jumping manual. We've made the rules--it's up to you to teach them to him. Every action from you will have a reaction from him and these animals are trained by conditioned reflex. Don't blame him if the mistake your horse is making is coming from you!

It all sounds common sense, ABC and pretty basic. Yet so often things go a bit wonky! The fact that no two horses are the same and no one rule can be applied in the same way to all of them makes life a bit more difficult. But then no two people are the same and many horse owners are not blessed with the natural skills of horsemanship and, as in all walks of life--some of us are better at some things than others. I think one trick is knowing your limits and that of your horse. So often if someone gives us the help, encouragement and confidence we can go beyond these limits and this also applies to your horse. But just because you are not a brilliant rider or natural horseman doesn't mean you can't give a horse a happy life and enjoy a friendship with understanding. You may have to work harder at it but throughout be practical, think methodically and try and look at whatever problems you may encounter from all angles and consider all causes.

With your new horse you are developing a new partnership, a new routine and introducing him to new surroundings. Remember times when you have moved house into a new area without knowing anyone, started a new job or in a new school--you are lost. Horses from Stubley very often have travelled from Ireland, most previously owned by farmers and breeders who have treated them much more as 'livestock' and they have often not had the individual treatment they start to get here. So imagine how hard it is to start to settle and get used to rules and a routine at this yard, only to be uprooted and moved to another only months later. You may have bought a horse who has been at the same home for years and is older, wiser and more settled in life. Changes to this sort of horse can be equally or even more distressing as they are likely to be even more used to a certain routine, different rules and another Mum. Teaching an old dog new tricks can be harder! But on the plus side, horses do adapt really quickly--if you are confident and consistent with your riding and handling and routine with your management you will find your new friend will feel secure, content, happy and settle really well.

On another part of the website I have suggested that first time horse owners should consider keeping their first horse at a well supervised livery yard run or owned by experienced and knowledgeable people. You will more than likely need help, support and back-up with at least the first few months of horse ownership on a day to day basis so make sure you have it to hand before you start. A one horse owning friend may not be able to give you the time and support you may need if and when you hit a problem or need good advice. I know many of us dream of getting a home with a bit of land and a stable and then finding our dream horse to put in it. But the dreams don't always go to plan and you may well find that a local livery yard or equestrian centre would be a better place to start and well worth having to make the drive to and from each day. It may also be sensible to arrange for extra lessons when you first start schooling your new horse--just to make sure you are starting off on the right foot and you are not over-looking silly errors, mistakes or allowing bad habits to start.

It is so important to find a good and truly knowledgeable instructress or trainer to help. Qualifications are not always the key as little replaces experience. I have taught most of my life in various capacities including Pony Club and Riding Club and at 18 years old obtained my first qualification as an instructress. I cringe now when I think back to my lack of knowledge and although I may have been eventing and winning prizes--I dread to think of some of the things I thought I could do although I knew what the end result should look like--I now know I had little idea of how to achieve it properly. We can all paint over the cracks but sooner or later the cracks reappear and correct foundations--like most things in life--are essential. I now realise that as far as understanding horses are concerned, I have only scratched the surface and they are still my greatest teacher. It is with sadness I too often hear of stories of problems being hit which should not have happened. For example demanding too much too soon and blowing a horse's brain. Not all horses can cope with the same intensity of training and just because he can't doesn't mean he is a bad horse. Conversely doing too little-- and this can be just as simple as not having access to sufficient turnout, correct work or exercise. Although there are many performance horses who have become accustomed to living their lives in stables or working--the average Riding Club or pleasure horse has not. All the horses at Stubley are turned out everyday and they enjoy it. If you can't offer this then you have to work really hard to entertain them in another way. Could you spend over 23 hrs in one room with nothing else to occupy you than a bit of grub? You may find your problems have started through something as simple as boredom, frustration or lack of exercise. Or has the problem been misunderstood? For example how many times is imbalance corrected with a stronger bit? A horse will lean if he can't carry himself and is unbalanced. One of the most frequent answers to this problem is to work on turns, circles and transitions to help engagement and improve balance. I remember giving this answer in my Pony Club 'B' Test. True--but only if they are performed correctly, at the level the horse is physically capable of achieving AND with the rider applying the correct aids whilst sitting in a balanced and correct position with a soft and sympathetic contact. Otherwise you could just be making the problem worse!

I suppose one of the hardest things of all as regards training your new horse to a relatively inexperienced horseman is--to put it bluntly--whether he is in need of carrot or stick? I may sound like I think all horses are the kind and willing friend who is often misunderstood and who's biddable nature is often abused. I think this is true in many cases but there is always the horse who takes the mickey and is cunning enough to let you think he needs gentle persuasion to correct him. This is where only experience and assessment of an individual horse's character can help. There is no excuse for plain bad manners but if there are problems in only certain areas then ask yourself what maybe the cause when dealing with them.

It is so easy to blame the horse or for that matter--anything or anyone else you can associate with him. It is also tempting to listen to a lot of well meaning advice that maybe freely given but sadly much with little depth of knowledge or experience. For whatever reason we (and I use that 'we' to mean us Brits as a nation) seem too often to revel in drama or a bit of dirt! Without turning this into a lesson of philosophy--see the pluses first and work on the minuses. It's that glass half full rather than half empty story. Use your own common sense and only listen to the advise of people you really know have the knowledge and understanding and who you can trust. Enjoy the journey as horses--no matter how long you have been associated with them--are a tremendous learning curve and it's a very satisfying one when you get it right. In my opinion horses are one of the most amazing species--for someone so powerful to be so trainable and biddable just underlines the nature of the beast. Please don't abuse that and try hard to understand what we are privileged to have. And don't be afraid to give it a go! We all have to learn and we all make mistakes. If none of us ever started then there would be no experts in the world! Enjoy your new friend--you will likely find he is one of the best friends you will ever have. :)