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Discussion on Any help to get horse to settle in new arena would be appreciated
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Member:
anta
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 - 2:08 pm:
Hi everyone,
At last and after a lot of saving up and hard work I have my new riding arena at home. I really thought that this would be a new begining for myself and my two horses. I took each one in, in turn and walked them around to let them see there new workplace. Neither of them were very impressed, snorting and generally getting themselves worked up. One even got on the floor and rolled, even though he was on a lunge line and then was charging around like a baby almost falling to the ground.
Has anyone got any tips on what I can do to make this safer???????? the arena floor is wood fibre........any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks
Anita
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 - 2:27 pm:
It is quite normal for horses to roll in soft dirt or sand. I have had them go down on the longe line or even when I'm working on "give to the bit."
There is no substitute for time. Give them time to get used to the new feel and smells. Let them mess it up a bit with their own scents. Even turn them out in it with a bit of hay once in awhile and let them get acclimated.
It's quite a blessing to have a good riding place at home. Good for you. You will be enjoying it for training very soon.
If you are able to keep your horses' attention on you, then you won't have any trouble with them in the arena or anywhere else.
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Member:
lilo
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 - 3:30 pm:
My friend put in a new riding arena about 6 months ago. It is in her general turn-out area, so the horses were free to check it out on their own. It did not take long for them to become comfortable with it. I do not know if you have a set-up like that, but I like Holly's idea.
Lilo
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Member:
anta
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Posted on Friday, Aug 31, 2007 - 11:51 am:
Hi and thanks to Holly and Lilo, I am going to try and turn them out as you suggested, it does make sense and for them to put their own smell in there. I think as they have been in many arenas without incident and I was so looking forward to mine being finished that I overlooked the obvious.
Again many thanks
Anita
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Member:
dtranch
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Posted on Friday, Aug 31, 2007 - 12:11 pm:
I always turn a new horse loose in the arena and let them investigate. Once they seem to be comfortable, I do a lot of bonding, and just fooling around with them in the arena before the actual work starts. They all seem to settle in pretty quickly on their own. Actually, the rolling is a good thing .. they wouldn't get down and roll it they weren't learning to accept it. If you can, I would even bond a bit while they are on the ground, if you feel you can do it safely, and stay away from the feet.I don't think you have much to worry about at this time.
DT
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