Is moving yards very stressful for horses?

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twdonton

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Hi all, I'm considering moving yards. I got my boy at the beginning of the year and have kept him at the same yard since. However, I feel that the yard is badly managed. Among many things, the worst is that they always run out of hay and hard feed. My boy is mostly stabled as turnout is often very limited due to poorly maintained fields and high numbers of horses. The issue that I face is that he has been at this yard for only slightly more than half a year. I am not sure if I should move him to a new yard with the knowledge that I would have to move to a different country in 2-5 months time as I have just received a job offer, and I am certainly bringing him with me! I cannot move there any sooner but I am certainly very unhappy with the current yard. I have tried to resolve the issues with the YO but the YO doesn't seem to care. If I do move him now, he may have to move again in 2 months (worst case scenario, best case is I have to move him again in 5 months) and I don't know if that is too stressful for him to move once more after such a short period of time. Much appreciated!
 
Some horses seem completely unconcerned about moving yards, while others show obvious signs of stress. It very much depends on the horse. If you think it is better for your horse to be somewhere else, I wouldn't think twice about moving. I'm sure limited turnout is also stressful for horses, so I'd certainly want to move if I were you!
 
I think it will be less stressful to move to somewhere that has proper turnout, does not scrimp on hay and takes care of the horses than to stay where he is, if the YO does not care and is not prepared to make changes then moving will be better than staying put, most horses settle in the right yard very quickly, you may find he is much happier even if he does have to move again fairly soon.
 
Our horses have always been very settled moving yards, but they know us - so we are part of their herd, and we come with them, as it were. I think he's more likely to be unsettled somewhere that you are unhappy, to be honest, than care too much about his surroundings otherwise.
 
Its a no brainer really, I would rather my horse was moved every other week than stuck in a stable with very little turnout.
 
IN my experience no. I never forget going to a three day event at Milton Keynes. When we arrived it was in the middle of a torrential storm and the canvas roof of the temporary stables were flapping around like crazy. There were a lot of very worried and panicked horses that day but my horse just walked into his stable behind me and munched his net happily. He knew I wouldn't put him in a dangerous position.

He's been like at his yard moves too. He's at yard four now (none of the moves were my fault just circumstances meant we had to move on). The one he'd been at for four years. He settled down within about four seconds!

I always joke that he could live on the moon quite happily (so long as he had a haynet!)

I think like others have said its very dependent on your horses temperament.
 
applecart14 said:
IN my experience no. I never forget going to a three day event at Milton Keynes. When we arrived it was in the middle of a torrential storm and the canvas roof of the temporary stables were flapping around like crazy. There were a lot of very worried and panicked horses that day but my horse just walked into his stable behind me and munched his net happily. He knew I wouldn't put him in a dangerous position.

He's been like at his yard moves too. He's at yard four now (none of the moves were my fault just circumstances meant we had to move on). The one he'd been at for four years. He settled down within about four seconds!

I always joke that he could live on the moon quite happily (so long as he had a haynet!)

I think like others have said its very dependent on your horses temperament.
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Thank you for sharing that! That actually sounds like my boy! As long as he has hay, he is a happy chap! He definitely knows who I am and I plan to spend a number of full days with him to make sure he knows I'm there (with plenty of hay of course!)
 
twdonton said:
Thank you for sharing that! That actually sounds like my boy! As long as he has hay, he is a happy chap! He definitely knows who I am and I plan to spend a number of full days with him to make sure he knows I'm there (with plenty of hay of course!)
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Good luck with your yard move. I am sure you will both be fine x
 
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