2 Horse Yard

yaffsimone1

yaffsimone1

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2011
Messages
331
Location
Herts
Visit site
Tomorrow i'm moving my 7yr mare to a new 2 horse yard. She isn't moving out of the area and will be accompanied by a horse she knows.

Up until May this year she used to live separately from other horses but could see them over the fence and lived like this quite happily. This changed when i took her on, she was turned out with 10 other horses and became quite attached. Since the decision to move yards i have been reducing her time with the others and all has gone well.

I have been keeping her with the other horse that she will move with, but also increasing her time spent alone (for she will be alone for about for up to two hours when other horse goes for a hack).

I have been surprised at how well she coped at being alone, she managed 4 hours the other day before i even heard a whinny out of her, and then i think it was possibly more boredom. When she does pace she still continues eating grass and doesn't get sweaty and stressed, so at this stage i'm not too worried.

What does concern me is this separation is going well on her current yard that she knows, it may be a different matter at the new place. I appreciate it will take a couple of weeks for her to properly settle at the new place anyway.

Given she has coped with separation ok so far what would you do at the new yard:-

Pussy foot around her for the first few weeks and when she is to be alone bring her into the stable because she will most likely be more settled...

Or start as you mean to go on, be a bit tough and leave her in the field? She is not of the mindset to start jumping out of fields or over gates

What tips can you suggest for making separation more enjoyable?

I don't think it will be a massive deal for her, but i'm trying to think of ways to keep her occupied in the field for a couple of hours whilst the other is on a hack.


x
 
I forgot to add, this yard is within a private dwelling so there are people around most of the day, the horses are not completely alone.
 
Personally I would start as you mean to go on - it is a lot easier to do it now whilst the ground is still dry and the grass can help as a distraction.

If there are people floating about as you say, I am sure they can keep an eye on the horses too.

Hope the move goes well!
 
It will happen how its going to happen however you start things off, if you know what I mean! I have my two on my own yard. When I first moved my mare home she was alone for couple of weeks while I found a companion, and was fine. Over the six months with her companion she got clingy. We added a couple of liveries and then got a couple more of our own and she was better. Now we are down to two and they are both a bit clingy. Strangely they don't mind being alone if on a tiny paddock (if the grass is lush there they don't evn notice that they're alone) that joins onto the yard, or on the hardcore turnout area.
 
Honey08 said:
It will happen how its going to happen however you start things off, if you know what I mean! I have my two on my own yard. When I first moved my mare home she was alone for couple of weeks while I found a companion, and was fine. Over the six months with her companion she got clingy. We added a couple of liveries and then got a couple more of our own and she was better. Now we are down to two and they are both a bit clingy. Strangely they don't mind being alone if on a tiny paddock (if the grass is lush there they don't evn notice that they're alone) that joins onto the yard, or on the hardcore turnout area.
Click to expand...

I have found this with mine. In the last week she has got very clingy with the other mare that she is going to move with and can get very vocal when i take the other horse from the field, but then soon forgets that she is alone.

I'm probably being over concerned, i do have a habit of sometimes wrapping her up in cotton wool, like you said it will happen the way it happens. I just want to make the move as stress free as possible
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top