Ideas for stressed horse following yard move.

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Louby

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Hi, I moved my horse nearly 4 weeks ago after 9 years from a yard with individual turnout to being with a small herd on a friendly small yard. He used to be a spooky quirky boy but was happy in his stable and appeared happy in the field. He is now much better as far as being spooky, is a very happy boy in the field with his friends but is very stressed in the stable. I realise he wants to be with his new herd but I need to know I can bring him in to ride etc and a few come in at night if the weather is vile, him included. He has now begun to drop condition. I think the fact that horses are coming and going all the time is doing his head in! Where I was before was a private yard which was very quiet and the owner owned all the horses so there wasnt much coming and going. I moved to let my horse be a horse and have company but its back firing a bit.
I have started to feed him a calmer tonight but they have never worked before so I dont expect them to make a difference now but I can only try.
Any ideas how to help him calm down a bit.
Thanks for reading
 
Time and routine will help.

Or you could try him out 24/7 and rug as needed.

I would bring him in to feed him (even if it's only a token feed) and then turn him out again. He'll soon learn that he will be going back out again. You can then extend the time that he's in the yard/stable. You may need to take it slowly and don't expect it to be a smooth road. My chestnut mare once took six months to settle in a new yard, but she was then happier than ever so it was well worth it.

I would also ride as normal and then turn him back out.
 
Thanks, he seemed to be settling really well and I was doing as you suggested, bringing in to feed, ride etc, then turning him back out but I decided to keep him in for a couple of nights (not good routine I know) as we changed field this weekend from a bareish field to one full of grass, so I wanted to introduce it slowly as in half a day yesterdsy, full day today and back out again tomorrow 24/7. Im sure he will settle, its just horrible to see him stressing.
Thanks again.
 
Thank you.
I have felt so bad for a long time as he has been alone in the field, so I suppose he is going to feel anxious about being seperated again. It upsets me to see him so stressed when Ive moved to hopefully make life better for him :(
 
Its a nightmare isn't it - you want to do best by them :(

Hopefully he'll soon realise that his friends will be waiting for him.

You could try feeding a magnesium based calmer (magnitude is quite cheap), and that will help with the richer grass too.
 
Thanks again :)
I know, they can be a nightmare.... I spend more time worrying if hes ok, left him tonight, wide eyed staring anxiously out of the stable door. He was a bit of a chunker but hes losing topline and Ive got a saddle fitting later this week... not good.
He is a stressy type and was on So calm for a while last year but I had some Steady Up advance so have started that tonight but will try the Magnitude if he continues.
I think once they all come in for winter, he will settle as they will all be in a routine, its just trying to maintain his weight in the mean time.
 
bach Flower Remedy "WALNUT" is brilliant for changes, moves and stress caused by them - try dropping some on the tongue, or even in feed. You should be able to get it at Holland and Barrett, and it does work. x

or Rescue Remedy spray is worth a try too xx
 
When my horse was like that I nailed photos of the old stables in the his own one and nailed in a top of my own that smelt like me so he felt secure give that a shot you never know x
 
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