How long to wait after arrival to start riding

Hi, sorry this is my very first time posting so if I am doing something wrong lemme know.

How long should a person wait before riding a new horse? I have heard some say to give them a week to settle in, others say 3 days, and recently people have been telling me you can ride them the day they arrive, right off the trailer. What's your opinion?
I just got my new horse delivered yesterday and I think I am going to start taking him for walks over the next couple of days, then a few days of ground work in the arena then may start riding next week. Does this seem suitable to you?

Welcome to the forum!
IMHO I think it really depends on the horse. If it was me, I wouldn't get on a new horse right off the trailer. When I got my gelding it was a few days after I bought him, and the same when I moved barns. My mare was a little different when I got her because she was barely broke. I'd start with your in hand work and see how relaxed the horse is first.

If hauled a long way, such as days, I'd give em a day or two rest. If only a few hours, lets ride! I don't see how moving barns, switching owners is any different then going to a show. I know there are exceptions, but a good healthy ridin horse should be rideable straight away.
Posted via Mobile Device

Hi guys, this is my first post on this forum. It looks cool! :) So what I usually do, is when a new horse comes in, I leave him/her for a day to let him/her get used to it's new surroundings, and just have time to settle in and rest, so he/she will be ready the next day.

Not so much worrying about horse, I am worrying about me. I like to get to know this 1000 lb animal before I climb on board. I pretty much do just like the OP, bit of getting to know, do some lead line walks, bit of ground work. Then I very politely ask them not to kill me. The climb on up. Afterwards I remember to thank them for their lack of homicidal tendencies.

Joe, you are on a roll today!!!!!!! Hahaha!
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, my daughter-in-law tried to ride Cowboy the morning after he arrived. She ended up stopping his bolt by running him into a fence. She asked me to try. This was taken part way thru the 10 minutes it took to convince him that stop meant, at a minimum, slow way down...

Fast forward 16 months. Cowboy hadn't been ridden in 3 months. My wife hasn't ridden in 6 months. My daughter & I were taking Trooper and Mia out for a short ride in the desert, and my wife wanted to ride along with us. That probably wasn't a good combination...but Cowboy walked alongside Mia like a perfect gentleman.

Sometimes it takes a horse a little while to settle in. Mia spent her first 4 months with us getting colic, and breaking into a heavy, foamy sweat just standing in the corral. Other horses can be ridden the first day, with less depressing results than Cowboy's...

What's the hurry? Get to know him. You and he will both know when it's time to ride. I've had a horse that I rode the afternoon he arrived, and another where I waited a couple of weeks. Listen to the signals your horse gives you. You'll know.

You know what, that's a really good idea. Spend time with your horse and get to know him! :)

I totally agree, I usually wait a week. Spend time with him/her and get to know them and get them to trust you. The last thing you want to do it start off on a bad foot...