Moving loan horse! Excited and some questions!

tankgirl1

tankgirl1

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Hello

We currently have Boyo on part loan 12 miles away. We have hopefully found a yard to move him, 4 mins from home. Just waiting for his owner to visit yard and give her nod of approval before we move him onto full loan!! :D

Obviously we are very excited, and hoping that his owner likes the yard!

Whilst we have a fair amount of experience in general horse care, loaning etc, this will be the first time we have moved yards. My main concern is that Boyo has lead quite a quiet existence for the last 6 years - on his own with alpacas for company for 4 years, and then a very quiet gelding for company the last 2 years. I am worried about how he will cope with the transition from quiet private yard, to busy DIY yard, and being turned out with a 'herd' of 4-5 others.

He can be quite bolshy, and gets excited round mares, and his owner thinks he was probably cut quite late. She got him at 5 yo.

He has a full set of shoes on as do some of the others in the field he would be joining. What would be the best way to introduce him to his field mates?

Thanks in advance, pringles to anyone who has read this far.

Just hoping his mum likes the yard arghhh!
 
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id fence a bit off for him to sniff the others over the fence or a week before letting them all out to charge around, at least then he will sort of know them and there will hopefully be less kicking etc!

good luck!!
 
Hi, thanks :)

I had a chat with the farmer today about electric fencing wrt possibly strip grazing him, and although he isn't keen on the idea (as his experience has been that rugged horses just bolsh through it) he does sound a nice chap, and I think he would probably let us fence a bit off for the first week.... hopefully!

Next question! Best/cheapest place to buy an idiots beginner set of leccy fencing that will hold an excitable welsh d in a fly rug!
 
Anyone? Is leccy fencing the way to go? Will it hold him? Is a week long enough for him to get to know them? He will be so full of beans, I anticipate lots of stallion impressions lol! Should we get his hinds taken off when he goes out with them?
 
Electric fencing may not hold him if he is determined and wearing a rug. Only way is to try. If he looks like he may try to push through then take his rug off until he learns. They usually learn very quickly.
I got an energiser for about £80, a car battery for £20 and the electric tape and posts depend on what area you are fencing. All are handy to have but do sell well if you need to sell it on.

I would decide how long he needs separated when I see how he behaves. I'd also be tempted to put him out first with one other on the morning he first goes out with them and then let them settle before the others go out. Sometimes they surprise you and it's pretty uneventful, other times it does take them a while to work out pecking order.

Whatever you do make sure you talk to all the other owners so they are aware another horse is joining theirs so they have the option to boot up if they want.

Good luck. Hope it goes well.
 
Hi,

I would wait until your loan horses owner has seen the yard before making plans. Once she's seen it and has given you the green light ask her your questions above. Being the owner she will be able to give you far better answers than anyone on here can.

Will keep my fingers crossed that you can move and all goes well xx
 
Hi, I was in a similar position to you a couple of months ago in moving our loan pony. She has gone to a full livery yard and yard owner thankfully handled it all as she has done it many times. Our pony is very nervous of other horses and was going into a field with 3 others durin the day (stabled at night). Yo turned our pony out alone on 1st day and then when she had explored and settled, she brought out the most gentle of her field mates. She let them meet and settle, then gradually introduced the other two, one at a time. First few days there was the odd chase but nothing worse.

Our pony settled in really quickly and moving her there was the best thing for all of us so it's turned out well. I remember how worried I was leading up to it but it really couldn't have gone better.

Good luck, hope owner likes the yard and the move goes well. Sorry I can't offer any advice as such
 
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