I'm terrified about moving yards - help!!

[Natassia]

I'm moving to a much bigger yard (where ParkRanger used to be in fact) on Tuesday this week and I'm so nervous, not for me I'm sure I'll cope but for my horse. He's moving from a field with 3 other geldings where he's pretty much at the top of the pecking order to a much bigger field with about 13 other geldings, and the YO just wants him to go in straight away with them all. I don't agree with this but I'm too nervous to question them, after all they've always introduced horses to each other like this and I assume there hasn't been any problems. My horse is quite good, he won't be too dominant at the beginning yet he won't take too much from the others so that he's bullied. He's fairly big (15.3hh) and only 7 so that should work in his favour. I've bought 2 sets of sport boots which will protect his legs and overreach boots, but I'm so scared of him getting hurt.
I haven't moved him before and only had him 7 months so this is a new experience for me, if anyone's got any advice I'd really appreciate it.
Nxx

 

[Maisy]

Why are you moving him??

If you are unhappy about him going straight out with all 13 boys at once, I think you should say something. Each horse is different, and it will be you stuck with a vets bill if something does happen!!

 

[frb]

Can i ask why you are moving to this yard, as you don't sound happy about it and the YO does not sound the sympathetic type!?!

 

[bungalowpickle]

What is the yard you are talking about i've also had my horse at a couple of the same yards as park ranger?

 

[Natassia]

I'm moving to Manor Farm in Claygate.
I'm moving because the facilities are much better than where I am now, there are more people around my age that ride their horses more (people at my yard hardly ride so I'm out on my own a lot) and I basically hope to be able to do more with my horse. I have had a few problems with people on my yard and I want to be somewhere bigger and more organised. I am nervous because I've heard things about the YO being quite a strict person and I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her, however to me she's always been really nice. In my area its got a good reputation and is always full so I'm looking forward to moving there, but I wish they'd introduce my boy gradually, surely that makes more sense??
I'm tempted to buy some electric fencing and do it myself!!

 

[bungalowpickle]

Did look at that yard can't quite remember why i didn't go there!
Anyway good luck i'm sure you;ll be fine. What yard are you at at the moment? Do you know why park ranger left there?

 

[Natassia]

I'm at a tiny DIY yard near Manor Farm. I can't remember why she left, I think she couldn't afford to have both boys there in the end but I might be wrong! I don't think there was anything wrong with the yard itself, I hope there wasn't, I'm getting cold feet at the moment but I think thats just because I'm packing everything away and getting emotional.
I want ParkRanger to reply to this!

 

[Saf]

Its a lovely yard, my mare was conceived in the indoor school

I'msure you will be fine and soon settle

 

[Gorgeous George]

I'm sure it will be fine, I moved George twice in the first 10mths I had him and paniced both times and he was just fine. At the very first yard he went out straight away with 8 other geldings and all was fine, George is quite dominant in the field and likes to be left alone and apart from a few little cuts and bites no damage was done. In fact the time he did get hurt in the field was at our current yard when he was being introduced to a new field mate and they had a bit of a stand off and George trod on his own leg!

 

[Natassia]

Poor George standing on his own leg and hurting himself - I hope it goes as well for my boy, will update you!
Thanks for the replies, I'm just going to put his boots on and hope for the best, it looks worse to us anyway and they have to know where they stand, I just don't want him to get seriously hurt, that would be my worst worst nightmare. He'll be coming in at night and I'll be there for basically the whole day so I'll be able to keep an eye on him, I've got a week off work so don't have to worry about that. Nxx

 

[Stoxx]

If you aren't happy about him going straight out into the herd then voice your concern to the YO and ask if you could put him out say in the afternoon when some have already been brought in. Give him a couple of days of just going out for a couple of hours with a smaller group to settle and then turn him out normally.

I can't see why the YO would object to that, but I can definitely imagine her objecting to you putting electric fencing out, so I wouldn't go about it that way!!

Good luck

 

[Natassia]

I wasn't being serious about doing the fencing myself!!
My friend who knows the YO is probably coming with me, I need the moral support to be honest and she might say something. Its not good that I am too nervous to say something for my horse's safety. I think he'll probably be ok but would much rather he was introduced gradually, I'm going to say something. If she still says no, he's going out for an hour when there are the least horses in the field and thats it.

 

[Parkranger]

Hi hun! I loved it there but it's VERY strict. The tape fencing is fine but I moved purely because I wanted part livery and I don't personally like the fact that the herd changes every few weeks as they have all the wimbledon horses up there on holidays. Not a problem but sometimes they can have quite dominant horses up there....which I think led to Oscar getting is hock kick.

They're great up there and don't take any cr+p which is a great thing if you're a good livery!

one thing I will say is that when I worked out the cost in the winter with bring in and turnout, my current yard worked out £50 a month dearer and it's an awesome yard!

 

[Parkranger]

PS - they won't turn your boy out on his own I'm afraid - they don't have the fields to do that...another eason why I moved my two as I had to separate them.

 

[Parkranger]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the yard you are talking about i've also had my horse at a couple of the same yards as park ranger?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hello n