Horse different since we moved

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UKa

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Hello!

I am just posting to let off some observations on my horse lately, maybe there are some views on it but my girl seems quite a different horse since we moved yards in June... Ok, I took her from a stable twosome over the last 4 years to a new setting due to myself moving house to a new town. In addition, horse was sent to hospital in early June for some scans so then had 6 weeks of field rest (most if it at new place where she is out 24/7 in the summer). I have a fine built TB who used to be very laid back (even after periods of rest!) but since we moved she is a bit fidgety and excited whenever she comes in to the yard to be groomed or tacked up. And having not ridden her much as she had time off and now bringing back into work slowly I have come across a new thing: She has a couple of times stopped out on my short hacks each time when I turned back towards the yard, not wanting to go forward in a way that seemed as if she was a bit confused she was happy to canter away in another direction and today I had to get off to lead her home...Is she utterly confused and a bit messed up by the move? what shall I do to help her settle better or what do you think?
 
Hi, no, in fact new yard is smaller than other yard. She was just turned out with one other gelding as it was small group turnout. they were very close though. Now she is out with 4 mares and seems happy in the field, think she is just a bit confused when outside her comfort zone the field so maybe you are right she needs more time.
 
A lot of horses are calmer in a bigger yard as there are generally other horses present when you bring yours in/out etc and they are content in the knowledge that there are other horses in the vicinity whereas at smaller yards you can find that they become much more 'aware' of where the other horses are - this can make them much more alert/twitchy because they are having to rely on their own judgements of their environment rather than relaxing in the knowledge that the 'herd' is dotted around them and everybody is calm/safe. It just heightens their self preservation instinct.

I don't know how big your last yard was and how small the new one is - so its not necessarily the reason behind your horses change in behaviour but it is a scenario I know well as my mare was a dream in a larger yard but constantly on 'red alert' in a very small one and it was a real pain in the neck!!
 
Echo Bravo said:
Have you gone from a small quite yard to a bigger busy one?
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I was going to say this but the other way round. My TB only feels relaxed in the presence of lots of other horses. Very sadly for me this means large yards and group turnout, which I wouldn't necessarily choose if it were entirely down to me. On the few occasions when we have tried smaller yards he gets very stressed out and does the sorts of things that you are describing albeit that he reacts in a more extreme way. When you bring your horse onto the yard is it because all the other horses are out in the field and away from the yard. This is what my horse will do, as he can't cope with being seperated from the others.
 
Hello! THanks, yes, part of her being excitable at the yard is when no-one else is up there (no other horses) - she has got calmer now when I bring her up and there are others there, at first she was excitable all the way - think we are getting better. Also have tried today a sheltered bridleway as opposed to the ones going past open fields and she was much better there I think until we are more confident again this is where we head more and gradually she will learn that not all fields mean gallop :) I also think that a winter routine may help her in that they will all come in and out around the same time whereas now all she knows is the field and short contact with the yard. Hope she will settle anyway at the moment it is hard to believe that this is the horse I felt safe on during both my pregnancies...
 
UKa said:
Hello! THanks, yes, part of her being excitable at the yard is when no-one else is up there (no other horses) - she has got calmer now when I bring her up and there are others there, at first she was excitable all the way - think we are getting better. Also have tried today a sheltered bridleway as opposed to the ones going past open fields and she was much better there I think until we are more confident again this is where we head more and gradually she will learn that not all fields mean gallop :) I also think that a winter routine may help her in that they will all come in and out around the same time whereas now all she knows is the field and short contact with the yard. Hope she will settle anyway at the moment it is hard to believe that this is the horse I felt safe on during both my pregnancies...
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Yes, she does sound very much like my horse. When he is happy and settled and feels secure due to the presence of other nedz he is like a donkey but quite frankly when I've been at yards where he hasn't felt this (yards that are too small etc) his behaviour could be described as very dangerous. I've got to be honest and say that usually when this has happened it has resulted in me moving him again as trying to manage him when he is completely stressed out like this is both dangerous and really unenjoyable for all involved. I always tried to see how it would work out but ended up bailing out after about 3 months as it was clear that things weren't improving. Your horses behaviour doesn't sound as extreme as mine so it may be that she settles down after a while, but just see how things go and see if things improve gradually over time.
 
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