New Horse HELP!?

Question

ive just got a new horse i am keeping her in a field for two weeks before i move her to a livery yard but i am worried about her getting unfit there is only enough room to lunge her but is there any thing eles i can do with her to keep her fit and to help us bound?????

Answer 1

Parreli would be a great thing to help you two to bond! Take a long lunge whip into the field with you, and just run it over her back until she is relaxed. Then gently stoke her all over, under her belly and along her back so she can get used to you!

Lunging is great, and also a bit of free schooling in the field! Chase her around and play games with her!

Also, when i was bonding with my horse, I taught her some voice commands. I taught her to move back on command, and to wait for a treat when it was right under her nose! It was some learning for her, and she got used to my voice too!

Hope this helps, good luck with her!

Answer 2

ride her everyday 4 about 20 or 30 minutes

Answer 3

DO NOT FEED HORSES TREATS TO 'BOND'. Oh nonononono, this will make it bad. To bond with your horse you must be there and ride it. That is pretty much it. Get used to it, and let them grow onto you. You must ALWAYS groom your horse, this isn't just to 'groom' it, it's also bonding. I'd also reccomend teaching it things it doesn't know yet--if it's a trail kinda horse. Teaching and rewarding with pets is a very good bonding lesson for a horse. It lets them understand you more and bond with you. But again with treats, I only feed my working ranch horse treats and thats AFTER a long day of work, and usually just a bit of hay [not including dinner]. And---never forget your authority. Having a strong and confident attitude with your horse--yet a nurturing sweet attitude always is good for bonding.

:) enjoy your new horse and happy trails.

Answer 4

try putting some small toys in the feild lk a ball or a salt l**k and spend time with it ride it or just lead it

Answer 5

cant you ride her out anywhere? even just a walk around the roads or something?

bond by grooming her and just being there for her.

Answer 6

If the horse is already fit she will lose very little fitness in two weeks and even lungeing her every other day for 20 minutes will keep her as she is now. And the time you spend lungeing her and grooming etc will give you plenty of time and opportunity to get to know each other.

Answer 7

Just spend quality time with her.

Groom her, lunge her, talk to her etc etc, genreally spend time with her so she gets to know you an you get to know her.

I got my first horse just over a year ago now, and that's what i did  with him. I spent as much time as possible with him in the field.

Also, try to lead her out of the field now and again, you don't want her to get uncomfortable with being taken out of familiar surroundings......this is the one thing i didnt do with my boy, and the first time i tried to take him out of the field, all h**l broke loose.  Believe me, i was kicking myself for being so stupid and not thinking about doing this.

Thankfully we managed to get over that one and he's fine about leaving the field now.

And as for fitness, if she's in good condition just now, then a couple of weeks in the field simply being a horse will do her no harm at all.

All the best with your new horse and i hope you have many many happy years together x

Answer 8

Go for a walk together lead her round do some exercises on the floor with her.

Answer 9

I know it might sound mean but if you feed the horse too many treats he will become sour so to bond ride alot with him and do SLOW exercizes so both of you can get to know each other and figure out your strengths and weeknesses together.When it is grooming time take your time and go slow and talk to him. When you talk to him he will figure out your voice and become soothed by it. When you are brushing and you see he is relaxed do not brush the face or pick the hoofs because that would just disrupt the relaxation of the horse. But dont worry just spend time with him and get to know your horse and you both will become great partners i promise good luck!! :)

Answer 10

Lunging is actually very good excercise, albeit a little boring for the horse.

Minimum 20 minutes twice a day is good to build/maintain the muscles and if you do it right, you build rapport with the animal during that time.

Practice changing directions and gait transitions.

Most foundation work is built on the ground.  Are you familiar with Parelli's groundwork?  If so, work on those things with her - it's always good to go back to basics once in a while, so even if she works well already, she must get used to working with YOU.

If you're not familair with parelli's work, here's a few basics,

Practice moving the horse's hind and forequarters iwth the proper touches to the hip, shoulder and at the halter.  Start with 2 ounces of pressure only increasing if necessary.

Your goal is to get to the point where only slight touches, nudges and quiet presence create "pressure" which prompts activity in the horse you desire.  I less movement or force required by you to create the desired outcome, the lighter and more responsive your horse.

Whatever you do, keep it fun for the horse.  Do not go to the area where she currently is ONLY to work with her and lunge her.  Go there sometimes and put the halter and lead on her and allow her to eat while you brush her or comb through her tail and mane.  Spend time with her finding out where she likes to be scratched and getting used to all her little movements.

Two weeks isn't much time if the horse is not in your own yard - that's really not a lot of time to properly bond without good, long visits every day.

Use your limited time wisely to build a trust in her of you as her trusted friend and leader.

Ahead of you, if boarding her (If I'm interpreting "Livery" correctly), you and she have much ahead in a new place and your new relationship as well as her relationship with her new caregivers, new equine friends and surroundings.  If you can get a good trustful relationship started, she'll benefit from that when she's moved and needs a trusted friend to help her through that move.

You've got a great opportunity ahead of you, make the most of it.

Answer 11

if you like horses: check out this great horse game:

gaia.equideo.com/joueur/366876

Answer 12

If she's already fit, two weeks shouldn't do her too much damage.  I'd just lunge her a bit and otherwise let her enjoy her break.  Might be good for her brain to just "be a horse" for two weeks.

Answer 13

Stick to a regular routine and when she comes to you in the field reward her with grooming and cuddles.  Take her out and about.  Why can you not ride her and should you not have got the livery sorted out before you accepted the horse?

Answer 14

Grooming, walking around on a lead line, working on ground commands, working on Whoas, back, side, give of the head, things like that.  That's all needed and will help her bond and or respect you.  Best of luck and enjoy:)

Answer 15

feed the horse treats but no to many otherwise it will get sick. spend some time just touching the horse let it get to know you well.  and before you know it you and your horse will be closer than ever!

Answer 16

i free-school mine in the field, she goes round like shes lunging but all i have is a lead-rope in my hand to encourage her forward and she wears nothing, no saddle bridle or head collar.

look up Join-up on the Internet, this will really help with the bonding, and earning your horses respect.

Answer 17

2 weeks shouldnt make her badly unfit- just lunge her for a while or if there are any quiet roads you could go for a hack- let her enjoy herself! spend lots of time grooming her and go see her whenever you can!