Advice re horses reaction to yard move

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Mrs G

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I recently moved my horse (11yr old TB) from a yard where we were both very happy for five months but a drastic change in my circumstances meant moving again made financial sense. New yard is busier than previous one with more horses and a busier environment. My previous yard was in the middle of nowhere with a handful of quiet horses but he settled there in a couple of days, even had a massive reduction in his cribbing (which he had done constantly for years) and no pacing at all in the field (which again he was very prone to do particularly at this time of year). We've been at the new yard for four days, second day of turnout he turned himself inside out and came in from the field dripping with sweat with a worryingly swollen lower leg. Next morning all four legs very warm and swollen. I thought a couple of hours out in his field would help with the swelling but he was running the fenceline immediately so I brought him in but I dont like him being stuck in a stable all the time! I know its early days and I should probably give it longer for him to get into a new routine and to settle but my gut feeling is its not the right type of yard for him and the longer I wait the more chance he'll do himself some serious damage (if he hasnt already). My previous yard would take us back and I am tempted to go back asap and accept the financial consequences. What would you do in my position; how long do I give it? TIA
 
I would imagine the busy atmosphere was quite exciting for the first couple of days but he is now finding it stressful.

Do you compete? If not or not due to compete immediately, I would look to give him something as a calmer just to ease through these early days where he will need to adjust. Either vet supplied or valerian based, but it may just help while he is settling.

Other things could be 1) asking to move to a quiet stable if there is one 2) if he isn't out with another and you are happy to turn out with one, finding a nice sensible old field mate may help. Also 3) if you are using new forage at the new yard (or he's on a field with a lot of grass but wasn't before) and he's sensitive that may have triggered a bit of a reaction.

I would be looking to try a bit longer myself while medicating if need be to reduce injury risk and make it as easy as possible for him; fundamentally you are there because you need to be, not because you necessarily want to be, but you know your horse best.
 
I have a small yard with just a few liveries and find everything settles pretty much immediately, I think that he may well get worse unless you can make some changes to his situation at this new yard, is he out alone? is there a lot going on all day? if you cannot change whatever it is that is upsetting him he may get to the stage where he is just unable to cope so if it is possible to move back I would, it may be more expensive but in the long run could be considerably cheaper than an injured horse or one that is costing a fortune to keep weight on or living on expensive calmers.
 
Tricky. I've just moved my two and whilst they've been a little unsettled, it's been nothing like what you describe. If you can swallow the finances, then I'd be tempted to go back if that was your only reason for moving, but you need to be sure that you can afford it. Valerian extract is quite effective if you haven't got a competition coming up whilst you have a think about it. I use Tranquil.
 
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I found it took a month for my two to settle and the mare still has her moments, but nothing like what you are describing. In their case they had each other but my friend who moved at the same time was able to pop her stressy horse in with another older horse who had been at the yard for years and he also settled pretty quickly.
 
I have never used a calmer so I hadnt even thought of that! Even if its just for the short term it could help and we dont compete so its not an issue. We're going to try him in a different field and see if that helps too. Thanks for the suggestions x
 
That's a very tricky situation. On the one hand i'm thinking leave him and he will settle in time, on the other hand i'm thinking if I were you i wouldn't want my horse to be stressed unnecessarily.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the yard and his field? Is he alone? In contact with anything he may not have been at his previous yard etc? Something has to be the trigger. It could just be the move in general, but i'm surprised he hasn't settled down after 2 days.
 
One of my horses is totally different in a big busy yard, his kept at home with my other horse now and his old owners said he is like different horse here compared to when they had him st a big yard.

Is he turned out with other horses at the new yard?
 
Single turnout, horses separated by electric rope, but they can groom/touch over the fence which is how the fields were set up in his previous yard, I chose one out of the way thinking it would be quieter. The horses near him are not as quiet as his previous field mates though and one is a mare whereas before he had geldings either side so this could be setting him off (which is why we're going to try a different field).
 
I moved my two to a new yard and neither of them settled to the point of being dangerous so I made the decision to leave within two weeks as I couldn't see any improvement in them. I took them back to the farm I was at originally when DP was a youngster and he physically sighed with relief as he stepped off the trailer. Financially I took a hit as I had to pay two lots of livery but it was the best decision for all of us.
 
Mrs G said:
I recently moved my horse (11yr old TB) from a yard where we were both very happy for five months but a drastic change in my circumstances meant moving again made financial sense. New yard is busier than previous one with more horses and a busier environment. My previous yard was in the middle of nowhere with a handful of quiet horses but he settled there in a couple of days, even had a massive reduction in his cribbing (which he had done constantly for years) and no pacing at all in the field (which again he was very prone to do particularly at this time of year). We've been at the new yard for four days, second day of turnout he turned himself inside out and came in from the field dripping with sweat with a worryingly swollen lower leg. Next morning all four legs very warm and swollen. I thought a couple of hours out in his field would help with the swelling but he was running the fenceline immediately so I brought him in but I dont like him being stuck in a stable all the time! I know its early days and I should probably give it longer for him to get into a new routine and to settle but my gut feeling is its not the right type of yard for him and the longer I wait the more chance he'll do himself some serious damage (if he hasnt already). My previous yard would take us back and I am tempted to go back asap and accept the financial consequences. What would you do in my position; how long do I give it? TIA
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1) you could ask for a quieter stable - putting on a horse walker prior to turning out, calmers, field with one horse ect.

2) If he were mine and it was ONLY a financial reason you moved and horse is so unhappy, albeit early days I would give him another week or so to see if he settled and if he did not or got worst I would move back to the other yard where he might have friends he did not want to leave. I would deal with the financial side at a later date, as you don't want him getting seriously hurt in fencing or stable making him stay in a busier yard which he hates and he has to live there.
 
It may be a little too soon but I have to say mine never really settled at my last yard was awful for a few months and about ok by a year but he settled immediately at current yard and has never looked back.
 
I think it may be a bit early to tell yet too but I feel your pain.
I moved my young horse last June, from a small yard to another small yard, so I thought she'd be ok. She was out 24/7 at the time and fine in the field but when I brought her in she was awful, spinning, not eating etc. I was lucky to be able to change stables and she settled much better, still not the horse she was but much better. There has been a bit of swapping and changing field wise to accomodate another livery and although shes not horrendous, shes just not the horse she used to be, shes quite clingy, never used to be and all this coupled with her not long being backed, so I want my calm horse back lol is making me seriously think about whether she will ever settle properly and if I need to move again. I really dont want to but its no fun having a stressy horse, especially when they never used to be like that before.
I hope your horse settles soon.
 
Single turnout is ok but when a horse moves to a new place I think it can take them so much longer to settle compared to the horse having a companion,
I remember a few years back a friend put her gelding on loan delivered him fine, they put him out on his own next to the ladies other horse, he literally ran himself into the ground for 5 days my friend was beside herself with worry, rang me up in tears saying she had to go and get him but her old yard wouldn't let her back, so I told her to bring him to mine and he could go out in the field with my gelding, she picked him up that evening got to mine at 8pm it was getting dark, we put him straight out with my horse they sniffed each other then he stuck his head down and grazed like he had been there all his life and was as happy as Larry.

I think sometimes some horses just don't like some places and they just never truly settle, only you can decide if it's time he needs or if you need to move somewhere else.
 
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