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  Discussion on A fundamental question
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Member:
Paulaloo

Posted on Sunday, Mar 6, 2005 - 8:14 pm:

We've just acquired a 7-year-old gelding to join our 20-year-old mare. We're now going through a getting-adjusted period which can include quite a variety of options. We can turn them out into the pasture during the day, but keep them in their stalls at night. Or bring them in to feed, then let them back out into the pasture all night. We can bring them in at different times during the day to groom them. Or we can do the grooming right after they have breakfast. We can trailer them to a nearby arena together or take each one separately. In the first two weeks since the gelding arrived, whatever we decide to do always seems to result in a lot of calling back and forth, running around and other forms of agitation and/or excitment. And now the situation has been complicated by the sudden appearance of three other horses in the neighbor's pasture adjacent to ours. So, as a general rule, which is the better approach: (1) Should we constantly vary their routine so they become accustomed to dealing with different situations, or (2) should we establish and follow a set routine every day?

Many thanks.

Jim and Paula Loomis
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Sunday, Mar 6, 2005 - 10:23 pm:

Hi, Jim and Paula,

Horses love consistency . . . it gives them a feeling of safety, just as it does for many of us.

When you work with your horses, always use the same cues and praise responses . . . The more consistent you are in your cues and in your expectations of your horse, the more consistent (translate: better trained) your horse will be with his responses, BUT I would continue to vary the work schedule and the location of work for your horses. The horses' security should not come from a consistent schedule but should come from their trust in their owner/handler. Then the horses are more able to be secure in any situation.

I do believe in a relatively routine schedule and place for feeding, but that has more to do with the horse's digestive system and with the ease of doing chores.
Member:
Alden

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2005 - 9:36 am:

Dittos what Holly Wood said, I tried to find something else to add; but she said it too well.

Good day,
Alden
New Member:
Gillef

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2005 - 1:00 pm:

When you say "just acquired" your new gelding what is the timescale?
What you describe -the calling, running around- is, in my experience, Horses who are still insecure in their relationship with each other and their surroundings. What can be added to the above posts is TIME. I am afraid it all takes time. I have owned and been observing my horses for over twenty years now and have been through this very experience on a number of occasions. At this moment I have with me a gelding who must be 26-30 years old who has lived with me for 14 years, A mare of 14 years who has lived with Flynn and me for ten years and a seven year old gelding who I am still telling everyone is new to me and the other two horses. Dood has only lived here for 8 short months and I would say he is only now really settling in, not because there is a problem but because it all takes time.
When I buy a new horse I do not ride it or expect it to "perform" for the first month.
Imagine how you would feel torn from your friends and family and transported to a strange place with strange people,different routine with no explanation and you probably can't speak the language of those around you. How are you to know this new situation is a settled thing or will you be carted off somewhere else tomorrow or maybe even later today? This is what it must be like for a "new" horse.
Be consistent -most definately- but you must also be PATIENT . In 6-8 months you will see a big difference .
I suppose getting older does have its upside
Best wishes
Gillian
Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2005 - 2:19 pm:

I completely agree with everything above...and was having this exact conversation with a friend yesterday. We transported a mare we had owned for five years to her new home yesterday, and also brought home a new 3-yo gelding. It is always so intriguing to watch a horse begin adjusting to a new place, and heartbreaking to see how long-time pasturemates handle separation....our 8 year old pony was very bonded to the mare who left yesterday and he spent all day watching the driveway waiting for her return. When a strange horse got out of the trailer yesterday, not the mare, he was utterly confused. It definitely takes time....for the new horses and the ones left behind.

I agree very strongly with Gillian that you don't see the "real" horse for 6-8 months following his or her arrival, though some settle more quickly than others. And ditto on not riding them for a month. We give them that long to adjust to routine, new pasture mates, new EVERYTHING...I feel like it's the kind thing to do. Good luck, Paula, with your new boy. Patience and routine are the key!
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