Have I done the wrong thing in moving him?

K

Kate_13

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I moved my boy to a new yard on Friday. He has been having trouble settling, he grazes happily, but stresses when on the yard.

I have a gut instinct I've done the wrong thing.

The new yard has all year 24/7 turnout and is only £65 per month. No school. The old yard has limited turnout and is £130 per month plus extras for hay, shavings, which he goes though quite a lot of.

Should I keep him in new yard and see if he settles or see if I can move him back?

I am very worried and upset
 
If you only moved him on Friday I would give him a while to settle down.

If it has 24/7 turnout and is happy grazing I would turn him out for a few days to settle down and get used to his new surroundings.

Is him being unsettled the only reson you think you have done the wrong thing or is something else niggling you?

x
 
Two days isn't very long for some horses to settle. Give him a little more time before you panic
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I've been reading your posts with interest. Of course, I don't know your horse, but I think that he will love going from restricted turnout to unlimited turnout, and you say he is grazing happily. Maybe he's loving it so much that he is worried you are going to keep him in, which is in part why he is stressing on the yard? If he seems happy going out again, this could be true.
It will take him more than a few days to adjust to being somewhere new, so I really wouldn't be panicking yet. It's upsetting to see him stressed on the yard, but give him a routine so he knows he will be going out again, and keep calm yourself, and I am certain things will be fine. Stop worrying so much!
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no you haven't done the wrong thing. It takes some horses ages to settle down, ours went on holiday livery to a friends place when we went to Oz in January. Sunny (sis horse) settled in the same day, however Pidge didn't really settle the whole time he was there - 3 1/2 weeks
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It even took him a good week to settle once he came home!
Relax and breathe your horse will be fine once he's settled in
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Try not to worry to much and give him a week or two to settle before deciding. I have had my new horse for over a month now and he his still very wary of anything outside the field and has changed from a quiet laid-back boy to a complete nutter sometimes. I know your horse isn't new to you but a change of home can still have a big effect.
I hope he settles soon, good luck.
 
Thanks everyone, I am only concerned as he seems so stressed when on the yard. I think it is me panicking more than him.

He was stressed in his stable, so he has been living out.

I was thinking of trying a different stable to see if he settles there. I have changed his routine as he was so stressed in the stable, so he has been living out.

Was thinking of trying a different stable and stableing him at night and turnout during the day again so he gets back into his old routine.

What do you think?

I am such a worry person.
 
I don't think a different stable will make any difference tbh. If you do stable him it would be wise to make sure there is another horse he can see nearby. I would just leave him out 24/7 for now but bring him into the yard everyday to do something with him. If you are stressed he will sense it and won't relax in himself. Put a radio on if it's a quiet yard - I find that relaxes both me and my horse a little.
I worry and stress all the time but I know I'm not doing my horse any favours and am working on it!
 
If you're stressed then he will be picking up on this. Sis can get very stressed about things and then Sunny picks up on this and gets stressed too
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IMO I would leave him with the stable you have chosen, leave him out 24/7 if he is happy but bring him in to feed, groom etc so that he gradually gets used to the stable etc. He will soon get in the routine that you want him to.
Sue
 
I can take several weeks to settle.

Also if he senses you are feeling a bit twitchy that could be making him worse. (I know it is only because you are worried about having done the wrong thing).

Just chill out and that should help him to chill too.
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See how things go over the next month or so.
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Hi
I know exactly how you are feeling after I moved Ellie at the beginning of March. It took her a good four to six weeks to settle completely. SO patience is the key.

The best thing you can do for your horse at the moment is to keep their general routine as intact as possible. If you can feed, ride, groom etc at times as near as possible to their old routine then all the better. Stay as positive as you can yourself and your happiness will impact on your horse.

Moving stables again in my opinion would not be an answer. Afterall you are just 'moving' him again and upsetting the apple cart once again. He needs stability right now and he will soon chill out. Perhaps a stable mirror might help while he is in?

If you need a shoulder just PM me. I remember very clearly how worry it is!
Amanda
 
Why do you think you've done the wrong thing? If you think he's happier out then surely this is the right decision as he'll be out 24/7 now instead of the unhealthier option of limited.

Any horse will take a while to get settled, its inevitable. I would leave him out where he's happiest with lots of hay to try and take his mind off stressing. Id also just try and keep to his usual routine with regard to feeding times etc.
 
Hi Kudu

I understand your anxiety, having had similar thought myself after a move earlier in the year.

As other have said, it is early days. My horse went from being a leader in his herd to having to renegotiate his position in a new herd. This took its toll on him and I agonised about the decision to move to what is basically a much better yard IMO.

It took my horse about six weeks until I began to notice signs of him settling. He made friends and began to climb the ladder through the herd. I had a routine as other suggest plus made sure I approached him in the field and did nothing other than rub him where he likes to be rubbed. This was to offer him comfort and security which helped at times when he was getting picked on quite a lot.

Try not to worry too much. Over time your horse will start to relax and settle into being at the new yard.
 
Give him more time
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Horses dont have the reasoning to know that you've moved him to somewhere safe for good reasons. He just knows he's surrounded by new horses, in a new place, with new people and new smells.

I moved mine from the UK to Denmark 4 weeks ago and he's still not 100% settled. He's the opposite way to yours... he's completly fine when inside and being ridden, but doesnt like being out now.

2 days there really isn't much
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Dont worry he will settle. I always think it takes them a few weeks to really get used to a big change. I would bring him in daily even if its only to groom him (Not necessarily put him in the stable, just bring him in and tie him outside it so he is used to leaving the paddock each day). If you dont take them out regularly they get a bit panicy and clingy about leaving their new mates. But other than that would leave him out 24/7. I am sure he will be really happy there.
 
It took my boy a good few months to settle in his new home even though I moved him for his benefit, not mine. He is now sooo much happier and like a different horse a year and a half on. He is so quiet and happy. Bear with it and if it helps, try a calmer for a few weeks, I gave mine valerian which helped for the first few weeks.
 
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