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Horse & Rider

NEW HORSE; NEW PROBLEMS

(PHOTOS BY TERRI CAGE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM)

The day has finally come, and the search has paid off. Now there are no more ads to read, no more drives to arenas to see if your high hopes will be dashed, no more anxiously awaiting the results of a pre-purchase exam. You’ve found the perfect horse for you, the paperwork is signed, the money has exchanged hands, and today you bring him home. It’s all sunshine from here … right?

Whether he’s a show horse that will take you to the next level, a dependable trail mount that can carry you to new country, or just the sweet, solid horse that will give you back your confidence, a new horse brings new energy to the barn. However, a new horse can also bring new problems.

Introducing a new horse to the barn brings its own set of challenges and has an adjustment period. Don’t panic if you notice behaviors in your new horse that you didn’t pick up on when you tried him out.

This Isn’t the Horse I Bought!

After your new horse steps off your trailer and finds his way into your barn, the excitement has just begun. You might find yourself hanging around the barn more, spending time with him, making plans in your head for all

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