I think my new horse is depressed!

[Freddorika]

He arrived on Friday. He's lovely and we've been out and about, to a show, a lesson and hacking. His owner said he thrives on work and to get cracking straight away. He's in at night and out in the day. Yesterday and today I've noticed that when he's out he just stands staring at the hedge. Like a statue. It's quite weird. I can go up to him and pat him and he looks at me briefly and then goes back to staring at the hedge! I have two others in the field (separated at the moment) so he's not alone. Is this normal??

Of course Stepping, I'm not suggesting she doesn't work him, but taking him to a competition within 48 hours is a bit much in my opinion.

I took him to a competition the day I picked him up

Tattychicken - why is it a bit much? It's what he is used to I assume. I've had people take mine to competitions when coming to view to buy. It's really not that big a deal honest :)

Freddorika - good for you!

My current BSJA horse came to me for the grand price of £2 - all because his previous owner lost her nerve and didnt dare go out of walk for 11 months. She gave him a few days to settle in, took him for a hack and he was on his toes (had been on quarantine due to yard rules so no turnout). Gave him a couple of weeks off to 'settle in' and never really ever did anything with him. The result - I got a £10k BSJA schoolmaster for £2 :)

If you had said TB x Welsh I could have told you what he is thinking.

The TB in him is plotting his own downfall. Never met a TB that didn't want to kill itself.

The welsh is thinking about how to stay alive and as fat as possible for as long as possible.

Your poor hoss is having an existential crisis bless him.

For a kids pony I would let it settle in a day or two. Just so I could lunge it first and get a feel for it. One for me (when I was brave) I would be riding the next day.

I've worked in eventing and racing yards. Have competed myself to a reasonable standard (Intermediate eventing/Foxhunter/Advanced medium). I would never and have never known a horse compete on its first day in a new yard.

Taking a horse from his established yard and competing with a different rider is entirely different. Taking a horse to eg a 3DE and expecting it to compete is entirely different. In these circumstances the personnel, routine, tack, food etc are the same. The majority of the horses' environment has stayed the same. And yes Stepping, if you're going to a 4* 3DE, you will get there a few days ahead of the competition. And there's a reason why riders lug their own hay/bedding/hard food to events. It's because all these changes add up to cause stress to the animal, and stress impacts on their performance and well being.

You were not prepared for a competition. You haven't trained together. You will not have established a relationship with the horse yet. Of course you work the horse from day one, but I fail to understand what you were trying to achieve by doing this. A rosette? You're cutting corners, and though I realise this is an unpopular view these days, in my opinion cutting corners with animals, particularly horses, does not work in the long run.

To be fair tatty he came to the competition from his own yard. We rode him and then took him home. I rode him and still ride him but he's really for my dd.

FWIW he was a bit more animated today and finally I've seen him drinking from the drinker!

frouby love the existential crisis idea

I picked my horse up on a Tuesday and hunted him on the Wednesday. That's what I bought him to do, and rather than hack out on my own I felt it would be better if he could have a few hours doing what he's used to and he worked fine. He was on his toes but very good and it was fine - I took him hacking a few days later and because he wasn't used to being out on his own was a complete nightmare but at least I had a feel for him. If I'd done that as our first outing I would have been very nervous!