Making a yard move less stressful for a horse

[AntiPuck]

What are your tips for making a move less stressful?

Unfortunately, I am likely to need to move my horse in the near future due to an unexpected house move - when i first got her c.8 months ago she did not take the move very well at all and it took her a couple of months really to properly settle. She developed a lot of separation anxiety that led to 'panic attacks', rearing etc. on the ground which wasn't fun for either of us.

Wondering what I can do to make it easier on her this time.

 

[Abacus]

I’m a believer in keeping them working rather than giving them time off to settle. You don’t say anything about the yard you might go to but I’m sure you’ll pick the place that is likely to suit her best, perhaps one that is similar to where she is now.

 

[webble]

Can you visit the yard with her and hack out from it a couple of times first?

Are you likely to move at a time when the yard routine is about to change just after you eg they start coming in at night or move to winter fields. If so it might be worth thinking about timing so she has as little routine change as possible

 

[AntiPuck]

I’m a believer in keeping them working rather than giving them time off to settle. You don’t say anything about the yard you might go to but I’m sure you’ll pick the place that is likely to suit her best, perhaps one that is similar to where she is now.

Thank you, Abacus - That's an interesting point, she did have about a month of very little work when she arrived, as I didn't have a saddle, so perhaps that didn't help

The new yard is a mixed herd track system, which I think will really suit her once she is used to it, currently she has been living mostly out 24/7 with mares, with a month or so of overnight stabling at the beginning - I'm also hoping that going straight out and staying out (initially alone, next to herd, later in with them) will make it easier for her this time.

 

[Lady Jane]

I agree with @Abacus, keep them working and in their normal routine. Sometimes they take a move much better than expected. When I moved my boys many moons ago, the one I thought may be a bit tricky was fine and the one I thought would be fine was stressy. Its hard to judge and just because she was stressed last time doesn't mean she will be this time. Hope it goes well

 

[AntiPuck]

Can you visit the yard with her and hack out from it a couple of times first?

Are you likely to move at a time when the yard routine is about to change just after you eg they start coming in at night or move to winter fields. If so it might be worth thinking about timing so she has as little routine change as possible

The hacking is a really interesting idea - I'd have to hire transport, so would probably have to cut off at once or twice due to distance/cost but perhaps even that would be helpful, especially if we can hack with a horse who is already there - thank you

 

[Sossigpoker]

Straight into a routine , work her straight away and behave like nothing has happened.
If the horse is stabled, taking bedding from the old stable can help them feel more at home.

 

[Winters100]

When I read posts like this I wonder whether I am really hard on my horses. I have never even considered that they should not behave properly when moved, whether it is for a yard move or to compete. If they started any unwanted behavior in all honesty I would nip it in the bud with a sharp reprimand, rather than putting it down to a move and trying to figure out how to reduce stress. I would say keep a routine, if you see unwanted behavior correct it firmly. I don't know what you do with your horse, but there is always a possibility that you will need her to behave away from home, whether it is for serious competing or a weekend away hacking with friends, so she needs to learn that she has to behave even in strange situations.

 

[Fieldlife]

When I read posts like this I wonder whether I am really hard on my horses. I have never even considered that they should not behave properly when moved, whether it is for a yard move or to compete. If they started any unwanted behavior in all honesty I would nip it in the bud with a sharp reprimand, rather than putting it down to a move and trying to figure out how to reduce stress. I would say keep a routine, if you see unwanted behavior correct it firmly. I don't know what you do with your horse, but there is always a possibility that you will need her to behave away from home, whether it is for serious competing or a weekend away hacking with friends, so she needs to learn that she has to behave even in strange situations.

When a horse is truly anxious and unsettled they don’t really respond normally to corrections IME.

I agree regular trips away and continuing work routine help settle them.

 

[AntiPuck]

When I read posts like this I wonder whether I am really hard on my horses. I have never even considered that they should not behave properly when moved, whether it is for a yard move or to compete. If they started any unwanted behavior in all honesty I would nip it in the bud with a sharp reprimand, rather than putting it down to a move and trying to figure out how to reduce stress. I would say keep a routine, if you see unwanted behavior correct it firmly. I don't know what you do with your horse, but there is always a possibility that you will need her to behave away from home, whether it is for serious competing or a weekend away hacking with friends, so she needs to learn that she has to behave even in strange situations.

All due respect, of course, Winters, but this horse was brand new to me and was rearing within a short time of arriving in response to the "reprimands" she was being given (by someone else who was doing their best to help) for being very bargy. It's all well and good to say that you should expect good behaviour but you also need to start from where you are. I hadn't "considered" that I'd have a horse doing what she was doing 15 mins after arriving, but that didn't stop it happening!

I didn't get improvements by reprimanding either, it needed to be trained once she was no longer highly stressed, given a stressed animal doesn't really learn all that well. She is now a sweet, happy horse, so I don't think it's all that weird that I'm concerned about pushing her over threshold again with a move after the previous experience. It wasn't fun for her nor anyone else.

We have been regularly boxing up for hacks, fun rides etc to try and help her deal with change better, and have had a lot of improvement already, but obviously I hadn't expected to fully move her again nearly so soon, so that was the reason for posting asking for tips.

It sounds like from everyone's replies that keeping up the routine and workload are key, so I will make sure I do that this time, and potentially try to get another trip in before we move.

 

[Trouper]

The difference this time is that she knows you. Last time both you and the yard were new so if I were a betting person I would bet that this time would be easier. Just spend as much time with her as you can and keep her to the same routine, food etc. The imponderables are the new horses and pasture but you can only do the best you can with introducing her to those.

I have used a couple of drops of Walnut homeopathic remedy (for separation and loss) in water for introducing horses and dogs to new surroundings.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I believe in giving them time to settle to a new yard IF you are the new owner and the horse is new to you, but not if shes now settled with you and happy, she should find it easier this time around ? I gave BB a day off when I moved , more cause I was knackered humphing stuff lol.

 

[ycbm]

I always feed aloe vera over any stressful events, to try to prevent ulcers from starting.
.

 

[AntiPuck]

I always feed aloe vera over any stressful events, to try to prevent ulcers from starting.
.

Thank you, ycbm - funnily enough I had read one of your old posts talking about this so had already ordered a bottle! Can I ask, how soon do you usually start to feed it before the event?

 

[ycbm]

I start it a week early, or as soon as you begin to make preparations yourself if thats sooner, (because they know!) and carry it on until at least a week after the horse is completely normal. Ludo is back on it, he's moving to a new barn for a bigger stable with a window tomorrow.
.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

What are your tips for making a move less stressful?

Unfortunately, I am likely to need to move my horse in the near future due to an unexpected house move - when i first got her c.8 months ago she did not take the move very well at all and it took her a couple of months really to properly settle. She developed a lot of separation anxiety that led to 'panic attacks', rearing etc. on the ground which wasn't fun for either of us.

Wondering what I can do to make it easier on her this time.

I would:

1. put some of the rugs in new stable a few weeks before the move so his or her sent makes it more welcoming
2. put them on a calmer or herbal supplement for stress prior to the move
3. can you box up or hack up to new yard a few times before the move so they get used to the yard?
4. maybe don't turn them out before the move, then once you arrive turn them out and maybe lunge them later.

 

[YorkshireLady]

So I have just moved. To get into a routine I arrived just before night feeds....so he was fed with all the others. He had been out all am then worked prior to move. Then the next morning he could go straight into new routine. I didn't ride day 1 but did do day two and onwards. He has done lots of stay away camps holidays etc so usually settles fairly quickly, but I agree on routine as quickly as you can

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Similar to YCBM, I put mine on gut balancer before the move as a bit of protection for change of grass/ hay / haylage.

Also expect some testing of boundaries in the first few days so I prepare by leaving time to reestablish the ground work if necessary.

 

[paddi22]

I find it handy to bring whatever Haylage/hay I was using and gradually transition from one to the other. nothing worse than arriving a yard and finding they feed wet Haylage when you are used to dry hay, or vice versa

 

[throwawayaccount]

i moved yards recently-ish, spent 2 weeks or so taking things up and getting the new stables ready. made me realise i have a lot of stuff!

i moved them 1 at a time with a good transporter- moved my gelding first as hes super chill, then my mare so she'd be more reassured seeing a 'familiar' face. (if i'd done it the other way round i imagine she would have been quite stressed). she was stressed in the box but my transporter was fantastic making sure she was as comfortable and relaxed as possible, taking their time.

make sure you have their beds ready for them when they arrive and try to keep to a similar a routine as possible.

 

[Polos Mum]

If she's used to boxing up to got out for fun rides now then treat the 'move' as one of those. Box her up as normal and then when you arrive tack up and hack out - maybe see if the YO will come with you if you don't know the area - maybe just 30 min walk loop or more if she's used to faster work.
If that's what she's done before she shouldn't find it too odd. She won't know you aren't going to be going home again afterwards.

Then untack and do your usual routine just in a new place. After a hack out she'll be less on her toes coming into a new place and you'll already have done your first ride out.

 

[AntiPuck]

If she's used to boxing up to got out for fun rides now then treat the 'move' as one of those. Box her up as normal and then when you arrive tack up and hack out - maybe see if the YO will come with you if you don't know the area - maybe just 30 min walk loop or more if she's used to faster work.
If that's what she's done before she shouldn't find it too odd. She won't know you aren't going to be going home again afterwards.

Then untack and do your usual routine just in a new place. After a hack out she'll be less on her toes coming into a new place and you'll already have done your first ride out.

Thank you, this is a great idea - will definitely see if I can rope someone into hacking out with us on arrival!

 

[Annagain]

I'm willing to bet this move will be much easier than last one as you'll be with her - it was probably a combination of new owner and new home last time, this time you only have one of those things to deal with. Spend time with her to reassure her you're still around, keep her to as much routine as you can (although I'm a big believer in not too much of a routine so that breaking it doesn't upset them too much.) Lots of hacking and if you have transport (it sounds like you don't so I wouldn't worry too much about that) lots of short trips to reinforce this is home.

 

[Winters100]

I would:

1. put some of the rugs in new stable a few weeks before the move so his or her sent makes it more welcoming

Would there not be a danger of the new YO thinking that either the horse was a lunatic or the owner was crackers if you asked for use of the box a few weeks prior to place rugs inside for the scent?

 

[Cortez]

How on earth will any of these horses cope with going away to a show or a clinic? How do you think the average common or garden, everyday horse or pony gets on going on a horse box or trailer ride? For goodness sake, they’re not wild animals, they can cope with a change of scenery without needing therapy!

If your horse starts rearing or otherwise tilting about, tell it get some manners and knock it off. Honestly, has all horsemanship been lost?

 

[ycbm]

I always feed aloe vera over any stressful events, to try to prevent ulcers from starting.
.

I should also add that mine are on the ingredient that's in practically every gut balancer because of its effectiveness, all the time. That's yeasacc.
.

 

[ycbm]

When a horse is truly anxious and unsettled they don’t really respond normally to corrections IME.

I agree regular trips away and continuing work routine help settle them.

It's a balance. What they respond to is leadership, and in the right circumstances a bit of the right firmness is taken as leadership and you can sometimes see the sigh of relief as they realise that some else is in charge.
.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Try to stop overthinking and just do it..calmly and matter of fact ly…have some calming cookies for horse if you really feel it necessary and a stiff drink ready for you when you get home again.

 

[AntiPuck]

How on earth will any of these horses cope with going away to a show or a clinic? How do you think the average common or garden, everyday horse or pony gets on going on a horse box or trailer ride? For goodness sake, they’re not wild animals, they can cope with a change of scenery without needing therapy!

If your horse starts rearing or otherwise tilting about, tell it get some manners and knock it off. Honestly, has all horsemanship been lost?

Thank you, Cortez, I will meditate on that.

 

[AntiPuck]

Try to stop overthinking and just do it..calmly and matter of fact ly…have some calming cookies for horse if you really feel it necessary and a stiff drink ready for you when you get home again.

Thank you - the stiff drink is also a great idea!