Moving to a house with land. Should I bring my old, anxious horse with me?

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Lottie28

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I’m looking for advice from someone with past experience.
We’ve bought a house with land (2.4 acres). I have two horses, one ridden, one retired.
My retired boy is 27, has numerous ailments (managed for now) and also has terrible separation anxiety.
He’s been at the current yard for 13 years and is very settled.
I’m worried if I move him and something bad happens, either due to illness or stress, I’d never live with myself. I’d also have to get another companion as he can’t be left on his own.
Has anyone done this with their own? Did it go well?
The thought of the alternative is killing me but then is it fairer to do it where he’s happy, rather than potentially putting him through a whole lot of stress?
 
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Difficult situation. Can you manage three? If you move your riding horse to your new place will it be alone? In which case you'll need another anyway for company. Can you leave the old horse at livery where he is now? I have my own land. I've had upto five at any one time. I'm very fortunate presently as I can leave the companion stabled while I hack the riding horse. The companion is very chilled and tends to sleep or eat a bit of hay. I cannot leave him alone ib the paddock though. Nor can I take the companion for an in hand walk out and leave the riding horse alone as he panics. I've generally had to have a minimum of three.
 
I assume you are bringing your other horse home? Will it be ok by itself or are you getting another? Sounds like you would need another in any case so I’d bring him home and get a 3rd to keep your old boy company. I’d much prefer to have at home if you have the facilities for them x
 
It’s so difficult. My mare is fine on her own, as long as she has food! I would consider getting a little companion anyway but I’m more worried about the fact he’s so stressy, the move will finish him off.
Unfortunately, we’re taking on a big mortgage, so paying for livery too won’t be an option, otherwise I would.
 
I think it depends on the various ailments tbh. Are your 2 horses currently grazing?together? If not I imagine the move would be horribly stressful for your retired horse. If I were you I would consider pts in familiar surroundings unless you can be fairly certain that he will come through the winter well and is already attached to your riding horse.
 
Sanversera said:
Difficult situation. Can you manage three? If you move your riding horse to your new place will it be alone? In which case you'll need another anyway for company. Can you leave the old horse at livery where he is now? I have my own land. I've had upto five at any one time. I'm very fortunate presently as I can leave the companion stabled while I hack the riding horse. The companion is very chilled and tends to sleep or eat a bit of hay. I cannot leave him alone ib the paddock though. Nor can I take the companion for an in hand walk out and leave the riding horse alone as he panics. I've generally had to have a minimum of
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lme said:
I moved mine at that age - she settled well and lived another
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Amymay Again said:
So you have no option but to take him home.

I'm sure it'll be fine.
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Pearlsasinger said:
I think it depends on the various ailments tbh. Are your 2 horses currently grazing?together? If not I imagine the move would be horribly stressful for your retired horse. If I were you I would consider pts in familiar surroundings unless you can be fairly certain that he will come through the winter well and is already attached to your riding horse.
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Arthritis, cushings, kissing spine. They’re not in the same field but near each other.
I have considered it. If I move him and something happens, not sure I could live with myself but not sure I could putting him down either. So difficult 😞
 
I moved my 27 year old from his home of about 13 years to our new home. I had three at the time. They all settled pretty well but due to issues with my riding horse they were all pretty much retired anyway, so just stents a few years mooching about the fields and woods.

I would advise getting a similar age companion, so they can just be pensioners together.
 
With those ailments I'd seriously consider PTS in familiar surroundings. Better to do it on a good day than wait for deterioration. The bhs friends at the end give good advice. I'd give the bhs a ring on Monday to discuss. Better a month too soon than a day too late as the saying goes. 27 is a good age. Most don't get that far.
 
Spotherisk said:
I moved my 27 year old from his home of about 13 years to our new home. I had three at the time. They all settled pretty well but due to issues with my riding horse they were all pretty much retired anyway, so just stents a few years mooching about the fields and woods.

I would advise getting a similar age companion, so they can just be pensioners
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Sanversera said:
With those ailments I'd seriously consider PTS in familiar surroundings. Better to do it on a good day than wait for deterioration. The bhs friends at the end give good advice. I'd give the bhs a ring on Monday to discuss. Better a month too soon than a day too late as the saying goes. 27 is a good age. Most don't get that far.
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Thank you, that’s good advice. Just so difficult. I know I’ll get judged if I do due to the fact he could ‘live out his life for free’ at home but like you say, better to do it whilst he’s happy rather than in awful circumstances. A while yet to decide but I will definitely call BHS, thank you
 
As long as he has company , then I’d move him to your house. We had a phone call, my daughter’s first little horse had lost his owner. He had Cushings. Dropped fetlock’s. And was elderly. It was a very sad situation and he needed to move from his livery yard that he’d been at for years. He settled very quickly and died of a heart attack three years ago.
 
Sanversera said:
With those ailments I'd seriously consider PTS in familiar surroundings. Better to do it on a good day than wait for deterioration. The bhs friends at the end give good advice. I'd give the bhs a ring on Monday to discuss. Better a month too soon than a day too late as the saying goes. 27 is a good age. Most don't get that far.
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Yep, I can see the wisdom and compassion behind this thinking; and it is an option which I personally would give serious consideration to. IF and I say if this is what you decide, I would do it in the next few weeks before the weather deteriorates further.

Your old lad has been at this place for a long time; it is lovely that you have a new home with room for your horses, but it won't be "home" to him.
 
I've never been in that situation, so probably not much help. To me, I think it would matter much how much the horse cares about its human, versus its fellow horses. My mare is such that she, while very much disliking being left by the other horses, cares significantly more about me than her horse herd. So me being able to spend more time with her is preferable for her. Another pony I've had was the complete opposite. Didn't really like humans, would very much rather be around other horses. Me being able to be much around him wouldn't be much of an advantage for him, and definitely not worth moving him in your situation.

Good luck, whatever your choice may be.
 
Korg said:
I've never been in that situation, so probably not much help. To me, I think it would matter much how much the horse cares about its human, versus its fellow horses. My mare is such that she, while very much disliking being left by the other horses, cares significantly more about me than her horse herd. So me being able to spend more time with her is preferable for her. Another pony I've had was the complete opposite. Didn't really like humans, would very much rather be around other horses. Me being able to be much around him wouldn't be much of an advantage for him, and definitely not worth moving him in your situation.

Good luck, whatever your choice may be.
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Thank you. My mare is human orientated, and wherever there is food, my retired boy is much more attached to horses.
 
Ime Cushings horses decline quickly towards the end, so with the added stress of moving that would incline me towards pts in familiar surroundings. I wouldn't want to move him away from his herd to somewhere new only to have him go downhill and have to pts as an emergency a short time after moving. It isn't an easy decision, though, as we cant see what the future will bring.
 
Would you consider pts, if he could stay at his current yard? If the answer is a firm "not yet", bring him home.

Having the horses at home is special. The relationship gets so much deeper and you can monitor their wellbeing more closely as well. If you don't even try you might have regrets later, for denying you and your old boy to have this in his last years. I believe, in general people tend to have more regrets about the things they didn't do than those they did.
 
Capalldonn said:
Would you consider pts, if he could stay at his current yard? If the answer is a firm "not yet", bring him home.

Having the horses at home is special. The relationship gets so much deeper and you can monitor their wellbeing more closely as well. If you don't even try you might have regrets later, for denying you and your old boy to have this in his last years. I believe, in general people tend to have more regrets about the things they didn't do than those they did.
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This 100% - beautifully put @Capalldonn: exactly what I was trying to say upthread (but not articulated as well).x
 
I think I would be putting the horse before myself in this case.
For me, I would want to bring him home and try him there.
For him, I think that's potentially really unfair at that age with those conditions, yes it could go ok, but if it doesn't, I think that's unkind to him and I'd be kicking myself too.
PTS in a familiar environment before the worst of the weather hits is not the worst thing that could happen to him.
(With the caveat being I'd want to be as damn sure as possible the sale was going through, eg searches and questions all done and exchange date agreed etc)
 
Thank you. Sound advice, especially regarding being 100% about the move going ahead.
This is the problem with animals, often we let love, guilt and regret overrule what’s right for the animal itself.
I suppose I have a bit of time on my side at the moment so can really think about what’s best for him before making a decision
 
Cragrat said:
Does your retired lad have any long term equine companions at his existing yard? If he is bonded to another horse at the yard, that would make moving him more difficult, unless the livery yard would allow you to graze him with your mare BEFORE the move, to get him used to the idea.
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Only her really. Whilst they’re not together but near each other, they go out together and come in together. Grazing them together isn’t an option and the rule is separate paddocks due to losing a couple to broken legs a few years ago, caused by kicking.
 
I don't envy you.

The separate paddocks rule is a shame.

If you have him PTS at the livery yard, will you let the mare see him so she knows he's gone? Then you have to move her and get her a new companion? I know you said she is human and food orientated, but it's still a lot of upset for her.

If you move them both, will they share a paddock? I might be nice for him to have play mate for his final weeks/months/years. Then she can settle in to the new place, and you could perhaps introduce a companion before you have to have the old boy PTS, making the whole thing easier fr her.
 
You'd have issue with logistics also as you don't have enough room or three horses on 2.4 acres unless you have the best land ever, and with the amount of forage required to sustain an oldie you wouldn't be able to get a tiny companion really as they'd be laminitic within 5 mins. You also couldn't really just have two as the retired one sounds like they would have a breakdown if you took ridden horse away. I do think that's a consideration.
 
A horse who is stressy on a big yard may not be stressy at home in a quiet environment. That would especially be if they are retired and alone in a paddock currently, and that living situation could be swapped for shared paddock.

For me, I would make the move and try it, but PTS pretty quickly if the horse didn't relax into it.

I have kept 1 or 2 at home for 26 years, and they have all settled to it really well. Only one didn't and I had a rescue Shetland delivered within 24 hours, and all was well.

I don't think there is a right or wrong. It is as much what sits well with you as anything.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
You'd have issue with logistics also as you don't have enough room or three horses on 2.4 acres unless you have the best land ever, and with the amount of forage required to sustain an oldie you wouldn't be able to get a tiny companion really as they'd be laminitic within 5 mins. You also couldn't really just have two as the retired one sounds like they would have a breakdown if you took ridden horse away. I do think that's a consideration.
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My rescue Shetland was kept out with the 7/8 tb during the day, on poor grazing or arena turnout, then they were separate at night (next door to each other), so the Shetland was eating little and the 7/8 TB was stuffing his face with good quality forage and hard feed.
 
Cragrat said:
I don't envy you.

The separate paddocks rule is a shame.

If you have him PTS at the livery yard, will you let the mare see him so she knows he's gone? Then you have to move her and get her a new companion? I know you said she is human and food orientated, but it's still a lot of upset for her.

If you move them both, will they share a paddock? I might be nice for him to have play mate for his final weeks/months/years. Then she can settle in to the new place, and you could perhaps introduce a companion before you have to have the old boy PTS, making the whole thing easier fr her.
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Yes, I would do. I’d do it well before the move too so she has time to get used to it. And yes, they would share as long as they get on, I’d divide the fields if not.
 
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