Moving Horse(s) from West Mids to Lincolnshire - Advice please!!!!

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Lizzie0682

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Hello everyone,

I'd really like a bit of advice, and shared experience please! It's a bit of a long one...

I have a horse at the moment, 15h, cob type. She is 16, I’ve owned her for nearly 14 years now, and we’ve been at the same place for pretty much all of that time. She hasn’t been ridden for roughly about 3 years, (due to friend used to ride with, selling horse and no one else at our yard riding, mainly all grown out of ponies, older horses) but well looked after, checked every day, and groomed etc most days, she’s basically retired now. She hasn’t really been out of her field much in the past 3 years and has always been quite clingy to her friends in the field, same ponies for probably the past 2.5 years. She has quite a feisty personality, and is VERY strong. We used to ride a lot in the past, but she won’t hack out alone, I think she could be ridden again, and would easily go out with others.

I live in the West Midlands at the moment, and my partner has been relocated for his work which means we need to move to Stamford, Lincolnshire. My issue is with moving her! I had planned to get a new horse next year to keep with her anyway, but, my current plan is to move this forwards, get one hopefully soon, move her in with Ebony and once they have hopefully bonded move them both. I’m looking for something sensible and calm that will then hopefully be a good influence on Ebony. Ebony is happy in the box, but will only really go in if one of her friends is in first, I would not want to travel her alone. As my boyfs company are paying for us to relocate, I can hire a top notch one with cctv to calm my fragile nerves.

What do people think to this plan? Am I mad to try and move her after she has been settled for so long? Is it likely to be too much of a shock to her? I really don’t know what to do, I obviously want to bring her, have found a field in Stamford (which I’m now paying for to reserve it for when we move as they go quick!) which is exactly the same as our current set up (nowhere near road, very quiet, other horses in surrounding fields, no more than 2 – 3 horses per field). My other option would be to leave her where she is, and pay one of the pony owners to look after her, which is possible, but of the other 2 owners, I’m probably the one that does the most sorting out, checking, worming reminders, sorting hay, giving extra feed in winter etc, I know they would look after her, but it wouldn’t be the same as I do now. I don’t want to move without her, but obviously I want to do what’s best for her. I swing from one opinion to the other at the moment, help!

Any opinions on this greatly appreciated! Also if anyone has done a ‘big’ distance move then I’d really like to hear of your experience.

Thanks

Liz x
 
I try to do my best by my girls but they are PETS and a HOBBY and if they need to fit round me to a certain extent they damn well will. Also she is not that old, our 31 moved safely recently and settled very quickly. Horses do not take things as hard as we seem to expect. Lincs is nice. Find a nice yard and move her, don't you stress and she won't. Good luck and welcome to lincolnshire.
 
Thanks Spotsrock! That is what the big part of me thinks too, I really don't want to leave her behind as I can't imagine being without her, and it will be a big change for both of us, the new field is lovely though. I just need to get things going I think ans top worrying about it all!
 
Thanks Foraday, just registered for a quote. Yes, I have a feeling it may be better for everyone, if I stay out the way a bit! I'm going to need a v large glass of wine when its all over!
 
Not sure if you have found a yard, but would recommend Bracknspa which is in Stainfield, just outside Bourne. Good facilities and lovely riding.
 
I have to move for work - I am about to move my 21 year old to Essex on Saturday. I think you are doing a great job what with getting her a companion and so on - mine is bringing her haynet and snack-a-ball and that will have to do!
Seriously it sounds like you are planning it well and assuming you wean her off the ponies which by the sound of it you are going to (and give her her new friend) she will be absolutely fine. Do it.
 
i think you'll find she'll settle easier than you think, a friend who's just had an op has moved her 8 yr old gelding to the field i rent, he has lived his whole 8 years at the stud he was born at following the same routine of being in at day out at night, turned out with others and being on a busy riding school/livery yard. it took him about a week to settle into the field where he is out 24/7 and in his own paddock next to my lot:) he dropped a bit of weight in the first week but now he's used to his new routine he's fine.
 
Thanks Everyone, Your comments are really helpful and reassuring! I think I know deep down she'll be fine, it's quite difficult though as don't see the other owners very much so have no one to chat to about it all, coming on here as definitely helped!!

Herts 05 - I have found somewhere in Easton On the Hill, but thanks for the info, not knowing the area, i'm not sure where's good or bad, so may need options to fall back on!

Unbalanced - Good luck for Saturday!! Sure it will all go fine. Come back and let us know how it goes though?

Thanks again everyone!
 
Hi Liz, welcome to Lincs! I actually live in Easton on the Hill & it's quite a small village, just wondered which field you're moving your girl into?! It's very quiet here & I hack into the village several times a week. I keep my two at a lovely yard nearby at Tinwell but it is currently full. Stamford is a lovely town so hopefully you'll feel at home really quickly. Good luck with the move. :)
 
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