Does your horse seem happier on a big or a small yard?

arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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Or does it not make a difference? I had a gelding once who was really unhappy on a small yard - moved to a bigger one, lots more going on and he seemed happy as larry... but he was an exracer....
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Ginga and Pip are much happier in our small quite yard than they were at a livery. The other boys have always had quite yards
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We moved my daughter's mare to a small yard with plenty of turn out, really quiet, and she hated it, becoming really stressy and grumpy. She's done s'jing etc in her younger days, and my daughter does quite a bit of everything with her. We moved her to her present yard, which is a busy yard, and she just walked in to her box and settled straight away. She loves supervising all the goings on on the yard, and is back to her cheeky self, even though the t/o is not that good.
 
One of mine hated being on a large yard, he just fretted and dropped weight really badly. Mine all live at home now and seem to like being on a small yard with only themselves for company.
 
I rented a small yard there was only May and three others, she was awful! Even took herself off to visit the horses across the road one day!!

Moved back onto a bigger livery yard with she was out with a group of mares and loads going on and she loves it!
 
Have you moved now then L? Goddy likes turn out, and if he has that is happy, but does like to know what is going on and gets stressed if he can hear things but not see them.
 
I moved my boys from a 20+ yard with lots going on ie tractors etc to a yard with only 5 stables and they went mad. As soon as I moved them back to a large yard again, they both settled really well. I think its because they get lots of attention and like to be made a fuss off by lots of people, plus they had always been used to being part of a herd and then only had each others company
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Mine are happy most places as long as T had a solid wall between him and his neighbour and the neighbours door wasn't too close I think he would be fine. Ours are all quite happy on a yard of 4. 3 are retired so don't leave the yard - so no one gets left on own. I like the small yard as there is less chance for people nastyness than
my old yard.
 
Mines gone from a small yard with lots of turnout to a rather large yard with hardly any turnout and he seems much happier.

Hes a very sociable horse to begin with and because hes so friendly, hes become quite popular with both the staff and people visiting the yard and now, he seems to be loving it!

When he first arrived there, they put him in one of the back stalls away from the doors (its an american barn setup) and he was happy enough.... but they've since moved him to a box close to the entrance and he's in his elements as everyone has to walk past him and the result is he's got fans.

I was really impressed with the yard manager as it was his idea to move Jack since he thought he'd be happier where he could see more. It honestly wouldnt have crossed my mind but its certainly worked out for the best. He'll be super happy this weekend because there is a show on both days and he''ll get loads of attention ;p
 
I bought Sullivan from a busy trekking centre that had at least 50 horses. When he arrived he was put in a paddock with 1 tiny ancient pony to settle in while all the riding school life went on about him. He hated it, didn't think the pony even qualified as a horse! He just wanted to be out standing and working with all the other 25+ horses he could see. Day 2, he went on his 1st hack with about 15 horses totally unkown to him and his MOTHER was nervous but HE was best behaved there! My current boy is also an ex-riding school and he is most definitely happier when there are plenty of other horses about. x
 
My horse is not particularly insecure about being on his own, but he definitely gets into more trouble on a smaller yard. I think all the comings and goings of a busier yard really suit him as it keeps him interested.
 
In the past, we've had Ellie at home with 3 others, we've also had her on another yard with up to 6 others, and now she is completely on her own. She is far happier now being alone than she ever was on a yard! Completely chilled out and unstressed, and far more 'lovey' towards me now she is independent of other horses. but i think it would differ from one horse to another; I can think of several we have had who could never have been kept alone!
 
My ex-racer TB much prefers a small yard. We moved him to a busier yard (still only around 6-8 horses, but lots more people coming and going) and he hated it. He hated the unpredictability of his routine, horses leaving the field when he wasn't and the yard owner's kids were a menace, riding bikes through the american barns, hitting the backs of the stables with sticks.

Now we've got him in our own yard with just our 3 horses and he's much happier.
 
Ive only ever had my mare on a small yard and it seems to suit her. I think a bigger yard would blow her brains. I also prefer the atmosphere on smaller yards, its much more relaxed.
 
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