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Do you consider how demanding it can be for a horse when it moves? It might be a horse you've had for a long time, or a new horse you've recently acquired. Behavior trainer Line Hummel from Hestekræfter has described some aspects worth remembering when you relocate your horse.
We are so excited to start with the new horse, and we have found a lovely place with arenas and forest. There is so much to experience with the horse. When we bought it, we tried it maybe once, twice, or three times, and the horse was so sweet and calm.
But now we find ourselves with a restless and worried horse. The instructor might tell you to simply ride the horse more, so it gets used to you. Or perhaps you're unlucky enough to hear your trainer say that the horse just needs to know who's in charge—and then things will get better.
READ ALSO: The stable is the place – where everyone is welcome
Just as when you move, it needs time to adjust to everything new. New sounds in the stable when the horse is supposed to sleep, new neighbors, possibly new feed that tastes strange, and even the water in the trough probably tastes different. There is new fencing and a whole new family with its own rules and language, with a dialect the horse doesn’t understand as well as the one it is used to. The horse also has a new partner in you, who brings experiences from riding a completely different horse with a different temperament and language.
So do yourself a favor and avoid thinking that it's about putting the horse in its place. If you try to discipline a nervous and confused horse, you will not get a more calm and confident horse. It's obvious, yet this is what I hear trainers telling their riders time and time again.
When you acquire a new horse or move your horse to a new stable, have all the patience in the world that you can muster. Be curious and observe how your horse eats, sleeps, plays, and otherwise interacts with you. Avoid conflicts, and don’t set too high expectations initially. Engage in simple cooperative exercises where both of you achieve success.
By spending time on conflict-free and calm handling, you lay a very good foundation.
Another misconception is giving the horse complete freedom. Here, you impose no demands, but instead leave your horse to figure everything out on its own.
If it's a new horse, listen carefully to what the previous owner has to say. But be open and curious about what kind of horse you've acquired, what signals it understands, and what it doesn't. If you need to buy new equipment, be aware that everything you put on your horse is new to it. New grooming tools are also new sensory experiences. My vet always tells me to imagine the horse has a plate. The more you put on it, the easier it is for a single item to cause an overflow.
Therefore, a horse that has moved will more quickly become scared of things it wasn't previously afraid of. With good patience, however, the horse will become comfortable again if you know how to help it.
When I moved my horse, Golden, from a boarding facility, I was convinced he had developed ulcers. He was a very stressed horse who couldn't stand still, but despite my concerns, he didn't have ulcers. I was unsure when he was truly relaxed or what calming signals he exhibited. It can be challenging to help a horse you don't understand. I spent a lot of time observing him in the field, where he eventually relaxed. Golden didn't lie down to sleep for several days. Consequently, we reduced our riding demands and handled him with much more care.
After two months, the herd developed a routine for sleeping. The first time I saw Golden lying down and sleeping was after a good training session with his favorite exercise on the platform. For many days, all I did was to loosen him up and simply stand with him. I sensed that despite his familiarity with the herd, he found the open fields overwhelming. So I just stood there, doing nothing other than being the calm "horse" that radiated the message that everything was fine and safe. During that week, he began lying down to sleep. Eventually, he relaxed completely and slept much longer than the others.
Now we have Golden back, and he's actually better than before. This shows how challenging it can be for a horse to adjust to a new environment. Golden didn't have new riders, equipment, feed, or friends—just a new place with more fields and outdoor time. Yet, I felt like I had a completely different horse. So, I understand how one might feel that the horse they tried isn't necessarily the horse they'll bring home. But give the horse time to settle in and spend quality time with it to get to know it. Personally, I'd wait to ride it until we could work together on the ground first and I knew the horse was flexible, strong, and trusting.
READ ALSO: 9 easy life hacks for the stable
Line Hummel is the founder and owner of the company Hestekræfter. She visits riders and their horses to help solve behavioral issues, develop training programs, and provide instruction. Line’s authentic and professional approach to both horse and rider is unique and is based on the APPEALmethod.
For more information about instruction and training, you can contact Line via email at line@hestekraefter.com, through Messenger, or visit her website.
