Welcoming a New Horse

What an exciting time! Buying a new horse is definitely memorable. You might be experiencing a mix of emotions from anxiety to happiness. In order to make the process smooth and stress-free, you’ll need to get properly prepared. A checklist for your new horse’s arrival can be extra helpful! 

At this point, you’ve found the perfect horse and have informed the sellers you’ll take him or her. It’s time to create a game plan for their arrival. Things may look slightly different depending on if you board or have your own facility. Either way, you’ll want to set this new horse up for success.

Checklist for New Horse’s Arrival:

1. Prepare them a safe and comfortable space. Don’t wait till the horse trailer is pulling in to set their stall up. Instead, make sure it’s filled with hay, fresh water, and clean sawdust. If you’re turning them directly out into a paddock, it should have safe fencing and some sort of shelter. Always walk your horse around the perimeter of the field, as this allows them to see their boundaries ahead of time.
2.  Additionally, you should buy their grain and supplements ahead of time. Even if you plan to switch them over to something new, you’ll need some of their old grain to transition them. Some sellers provide a few days’ worth of grain, but not all.
3. Always be careful with dietary changes. You’ll want to get a detailed list of what they were on and the amounts before they arrive. Changes should be done gradually. Keep a lookout for diarrhea, weight loss or gain, and refusal to eat.
4. Now that they’re here, give them a chance to settle in. It may be tempting to want to ride them right away, but they need to get accustomed to their new home. You should also be quarantining them. Keep them in their own space for 2 to 4 weeks. You should avoid sharing water and feed buckets, during this time.
5. Once your horse’s quarantine is up, you can introduce a new friend to them. If your plan is to integrate them into the herd, then put one of those horses in with them. You can also stall them near some of their future herdmates and keep them pastured in an adjoining field. This will give the horses an opportunity to sniff noses.
6. When putting the new horse in with a herd of horses, start slowly and introduce one at a time. Start by putting them with the lowest horse on the pecking order, then introduce a new one once things settle and calm down. There will be some squealing, so don’t be alarmed. Keep an eye on the horses and watch for dangerous or aggressive behavior that’s out of the norm.
7. It’s also equally important that you take time to connect with your new horse. They need to be respectful. In time, they’ll learn to trust and have confidence in you. Use this time to bond with them through grooming, hand walking, hanging out in the paddock with them, and groundwork.
8. Over the next few weeks, your horse will learn their new routine and adjust to life at your barn. Be kind and patient with them. Try to remember that their whole world has changed. They have lost their old friends and familiar surroundings. Everything is new and different. Some will act out and others will settle in a lot quicker. You should still establish acceptable behavior from the beginning, but do be more understanding.

Congratulations! Whether this is your first horse or fifth, it’s an exciting time filled with lots of new changes. Don’t be afraid to get help if you need it or reach out to their previous owner. You can’t always predict how things will go, but you can try to set them up for success!

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