Horses arriving from overseas.....

Chestnutmare

Chestnutmare

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How do you deal with them once they arrive?

Would you put them straight out into a paddock to stretch their legs?

Or would you put them striaght into the stable?

I have a horse coming over from Ireland so will have his sea legs on bless him.
No idea at the moment of his arrival date or time, but if it's really late or early hours I would think to put him into his new bed? and then get him out 1st thing for a good run and roll.

Suggestions welcome please, I want the very best for this boy and I've not had a horse from over seas before.... although most of it is common knowledge.

Thanks
 
If daylight, then we used to hand walk them (in bridle, wearing hat & gloves etc) for 10 mins to leg stretch & then have a pick of grass in hand.

Depending on light left, if morning - they used to be turned out for relax & roll in a secure paddock for an hour or so then brought in, tacked up & ridden for a 20 min stroll round school or up lane.

If dark, then obviously pop into a good sized stable with plenty of hay/haylage overnight. Then ride & turnout the next morning.

Ireland isn't that far, so trip shouldn't be too bad at this time of the year.

Hope it works out for you :)
 
I would think after travelling a good buck, snort and roll would do him the world of good as he may be very fresh. I would be inclined to let him out for say 20 mins and then put him in the stable to settle, worm and to have a good dinner :)
 
When I brought my horse over from Ireland I put her straight into her stable with adlib hay. However this was because she was unhandled. If she was handled Id probably put her straight out (on her own or with a small unshod companion!). I was afraid shed try to jump out as she had never been in a stable before and the other horses were all in their fields(out of sight). But no - she was perfect and settled in with her hay.

I would think the ideal would be to leave him in for an hour or two with hay and water to chill out then turn out after a few hours if hes looking bright. Its not too long a trip from ireland anyway.Mine had a vry rough journey though as the transporters were dreadful.
 
Assuming horse is not a baby with little handling then I would usually bring them for a good walk around/leg stretch and then pop them into a stable with a fresh bed so they can pee. Then if daylight let them out in secure paddock/arena for a roll and mooch around followed by a small feed and hay. If night-time then small feed and hay and always make feed wet & sloppy and add salt to ensure they get drinking.
 
I think it completely depends on the horse and how they are behaving when they arrive.

If the horse is in an agitated state then i tend to like to put them in a box where they can see other horses, make sure they have hay and then hand walk them, or turn out in a small paddock, when they are more chilled (if they are travelling in boots i tend to leave them on untill they have finished rolling etc).

If they come off the lorry nice and relaxed i like to pop them in a securely fenced field, booted up, to stretch their legs and get the kinks out!!

If the horse turns up in the middle of the night then if its relaxed enough i would take it for a walk and pop it in its box and get up extra early the next day to turn it out.

Good luck and remember to post some pics when he arrives!! :)
 
I have had two arrive from Finland in the last year. Both were quite tired on arrival, but in fab condition considering 3000 mile journey. They didn't arrive until it was dark so both went into their stable (after a short leg stretch in hand) with a horse they knew opposite them. Both only seemed to want to eat and sleep. I checked both several times that night and they were mostly asleep! I turned them out the next morning.
 
brilliant thanks for the advice, I am hoping he will be arriving during daylight hours he is a teenager and very laid back type of chap anyway so should be good as gold when he gets here.

I have ordered in some electrolytes sachets for when he arrives just incase he's sweated lots.

he sure will have a clean deep bed and always plenty of fresh water for him... just can't wait to get him here now though... soo excited :D :D :D :D
 
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