I am about to get my first own horse, an 11y old friesian mare, on august, 1st, so she isn't mine yet. However i have a really god contact with the current owner and can therefore visit her in the meantime :)
A few days ago, i went to visit her again with plans for grooming, cuddling, a long walk - just the two of us. When we got back, we passed the roundpen and i thought i should let her walk and run a little bit.... But something took over and before i knew it, i was showing her the roundpen and started with the join-up-procedure... I have joined mr-uni only some months ago to check it out and got a membership a few weeks ago. I have watched the join-up-routines many, many times but i didn't feel ready to try it with the horse i currently ride so it was really a surprise that i just went for it with my girl.
Everything went just perfect even though i know that i haven't done everthing perfectly right. She showed every sign and when i turned away, she came with no hesitation and stopped right behind me so i could feel her breath at my neck :) i turned around, rewarded her and started follow-up which couldn't worked better :) she followed me whatever direction i went to and didn't even care for the green gras right by (usually she doesn't even try to resist).
It was really hot outside that day but i had goosebumps during the whole join-up and follow-up and tears were running like a waterfall after achieving both :))
What an expierience!!!! I was already in love with her before but after that: i can't wait to get her home!!!!
Any suggestions on how i can make her transition as smooth as possible for her?
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My first join-up ever - i didn't do it perfectly but it was perfect anyways :)
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Wow, what a great experience and a lovely moment for you both. Give her plenty of time to settle in - many people rush this bit, I would say at least a month; just make friends, hang out in the field, take her for walks, let her see and experience everything in her new environment - show her from day 1 that she can trust your judgement and you will keep her safe and never ask more from her than she is able to give. Really looking forward to hearing about her progress. Enjoy!
That is lovely, jb! Congratulations to such a good start with your new horse.
In addition to vicci's excellent advice, I would say give her the same food she is used to from her old home for at least a couple of weeks. Ask to buy from the seller if you can't get hold of it easily, esp the hay/forage is she isn't just on grass.
Use the first month to do lots of stuff with her while she isn't settled in enough to start playing "who's the boss here?"-games, but will lean on you for guidance.
Also, set the routines you want to have and be extra consitent so they are firmly in place. That way you both know what is the norm and where to go back to when things get "complicated".
Wishing you best of luck and tons of fun with your new friend!
Magic jb, thats fantastic, well done!
above advice is all good, love & enjoy her.X
Good job!
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> Any suggestions on how i can make her transition
> as smooth as possible for her?
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Leaving the current yard will cause an amount of separation anxiety, as she is parted from her old herd. You have already made a wonderful start with your Join-Up work. Build on that by walking her out on the lead, strengthening your bond and becoming the totality of a new 'herd-of-two'.
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In that way, she has a place of safety to keep her comfortable as she settles in to your yard with it's new sights, sounds and ambience.
Thank you so much, Ladies!! :)
The suggestions you make, are exactly what i have been planning. I bought the same food and she is going to get the same type of hay, just how she is used to. We planned on getting home by late afternoon so she can stretch her legs a bit, meet the other horses from a little distance and they are spending the night inside though it's summer, so they can get to know each other slowly. I am staying over that first night to be around her the whole first weekend. I was planning on leading her etc but was wondering if a tiny tour after a few days (only if she seems calm) would be a stretch...? I have ridden her before and she is a really calm horse... Was just wondering what exactly all of you ment by "no work".
Thanks again for your answers - much appreciated! :))
Well, she isn't a young horse, and if she is in good riding condition and seems fine other wise with things, then it is just up to your judgement and gut feeling what will work for you. :)
Just keep in mind that "fast is slow and slow is fast" - and while I'm sure you can barely wait to get up on her for a lovely ride, there are plenty of those in the future, so just make sure you don't rush things and "open gifts before Christmas just because you cant wait for Santa.". ;);)
Nooooot what i wanted to hear, kikki :D :D no, i know you're right! I won't rush it! Promised myself to be patient and really only get up for a ride if she is really comfortable (and down right away if i see she gets nervous)!
Am sooooooo looking forward to the day i finally can pick her up and bring her home <3
How exciting JB. I bet you can't wait until 1st of August. Still remember how excited I was when I bought my first horse as a share horse with my 13 year old daughter after having an animal drought for 20 years. Previously a full time working Mum but that beautiful 12 year old QH x standard bred made a total difference to my life and took me back to my childhood and love of animals. A few years after buying him we moved out here to our 5 acre so he could have his own safe paddock. Didn't know about Monty at the time and had no float so road him about 15 kilometres along a busy road to the planned agistment centre near our suburban home. Fortunately he was very good but not a recommended thing to do. As your horse is 11 and presumably trained, in recent work and doesn't need to be transported for hours then I can't see any harm can be done by a couple of short quiet rides within the first few weeks of owning him. Certainly give him a couple of days to settle in while you just spend time with him and he gets used to his new environment and the other horses but then if he seems calm and settled I would start riding him. Initially just a couple of 10 minute rides in the ménage at walk for a few days then progress to all gaits. Once you are confident that he is settled and relaxed and responsive to you then I would lead him out on the dually along the prospective path you intend to ride him. If he is fine while being led out then on the next day or so I would ride him out along the same path - only at walk and only for about 20 minutes. If you have someone who could ride out with you that would be preferable. The above advice is all fantastic and in keeping with Monty's teaching but in my mind it applies more to young horses, horses in training, horses that have not been ridden for some time, remedial or problem horses or horses that have travelled for numerous hours between destinations. If your horse is relaxed, middle aged, well trained, close by and already joined up and familiar with you then as long as you feel you are both ready there should be no problem in short rides after a couple of days of settling in. In fact desirable for you both as some horses could become more challenging if they are used to being ridden regularly but then rested for so month. Good luck to you both. You are off to a good start and your join up experience almost brought tears to my eyes too. Sooo special.
Yes, maggie, guess if i'm counting days and hours :-P
I think you have a point that it could be good for her not to get to much out of her routines... ;)
I really think that i am going to carefully wait and see how she is setteling in to her new home and how she is acting and reacting when we are outside and i am leading her! Good thing about friesians is that their neck and head goes reeeeally high up when scared, nervous etc - impossible not to notice :D at least she is really easy to read so i will take it as easy as she needs it and only take the next step when she is ready! Like i said she is easy to read :)
Thank you for reflecting and good advice! And you are right: i think the join-up was a really good start, too. Still getting goosebumps when i think about it. Those moments with our fourlegged friends are truly special, i wish everybody could expierience that :) reading your story about how you found back that feeling leaves me smiling (very close to my own story) :))
All the very best JB. You will know when you are both ready. Really feeling for you as it is such an exciting experience - especially when it comes a little later in life for us. First horse as an adult when we can appreciate the pros and cons better somehow seems incredible. It maybe because we have waited so long and therefore very sure of our decision. Looking forward to future posts.
I couldn't agere more!!!! Thats exactly how i feel about it! :)) when all the pieces came together (like starting to ride again, found my now best friend were i now have the stable-opportunity and a husband who, after seeing how happy horses make me, is completly fine with the whole thing), i cried happy-tears a whole weekend (even tearing up while writing) and thats not quite me :D
It would be soooooo nice if the forum here was a "real" forum where you actually can stay in touch....:-/
All the best to you, too!! :)