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

Red-1 said:
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.
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That’s the other thing, access is an issue so getting him out of the field if PTS there would be far from dignified.
It’s just so difficult. I need to do what’s right for him, not me 😕
 
Red-1 said:
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
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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yes, I’d have to fence the field if I got a little one, they’d still come in most nights anyway as my mare is a good doer. But you’re right, the logistics of it is also a nightmare
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Put your 2 together now if at all possible, yard owner can't really argue about possible injury if they r both yours, then the move will be easy. If you can travel them together great if not get a friend to take one (this is what I did when I moved yards as didn't want one to be left at current field on own or first moved to be in new field on own). They leave together arrive together...
 
I can’t because if they allow me, they’d have to allow it for others. It’s a strict rule and it’s fair enough.
If he comes, yes they’d travel together. I have two separate paddocks so I can always keep them apart for a while until settled
 
I'd move them both. Being pragmatic, I'd say to myself he's coming home for the last part of his life, I'll do well by him, he'll live as long as he lives, and then I'll need to get another companion for my riding horse once he's gone. That he will be living at your home so your partner and any other pets will be around may well help[ him with his separation anxiety too. Hope the move goes well.
 
Lottie28 said:
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
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That's the trouble, isn't it. Always someone will judge.
ETA: I suppose we just have to accept that some twits and PITAs will have their unwanted opinions. And that it's their problem.
 
Don’t worry about people judging.
Non of your options are the wrong one .
1 PTS at the yard he’s on.
2 Take him home and see how he goes , you can PTS at any point when you feel it’s right .
Both are good options .
Neither are right or wrong .
That’s why it’s hard you know him best if he’s very easily unsettled and you forced me to choose I probably would lean towards option one .
You know him best and the new place best take a little time to think it through quietly.
You have to careful talking about this in RL if you do pick a friend to talk make it one away from the yard .
It will make life more peaceful .
 
Goldenstar said:
Don’t worry about people judging.
Non of your options are the wrong one .
1 PTS at the yard he’s on.
2 Take him home and see how he goes , you can PTS at any point when you feel it’s right .
Both are good options .
Neither are right or wrong .
That’s why it’s hard you know him best if he’s very easily unsettled and you forced me to choose I probably would lean towards option one .
You know him best and the new place best take a little time to think it through quietly.
You have to careful talking about this in RL if you do pick a friend to talk make it one away from the yard .
It will make life more peaceful .
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This 200%
 
The real dilemma is not to decide what's right or wrong. Both options can be equally right or wrong, depending on the outcome. Your problem @Lottie28 is that you're trying to make a decision based on fear. You worry about being judged for PTS and you worry about all that might go wrong, if you bring him home. Angst is a bad advisor.

Try to make a value-based decision instead. Does it matter more to you spare your old boy any stress at all costs and keep him as happy as can be where he is now? Or, if he's still going strong, is it more important to keep him going as long as he's happy and well? Only you can decide what you value higher. Your personal values are, well, personal.
 
I would take him with me. Could you happily leave him and never see again/let someone else decide if the worst happens

A friend of mine has just moved to a little place with some land, she taken her ridden pony, a friends crooked pony as companion, and her daughters 30 yr old ex JA pony. The 30yr old has always led a very structured life, in/out/fed rugged etc on a traditional yard. It's only been 2 weeks but he's settled to a more relaxed life really well. If he doesn't thrive then they will do the right thing
 
tda said:
I would take him with me. Could you happily leave him and never see again/let someone else decide if the worst happens

A friend of mine has just moved to a little place with some land, she taken her ridden pony, a friends crooked pony as companion, and her daughters 30 yr old ex JA pony. The 30yr old has always led a very structured life, in/out/fed rugged etc on a traditional yard. It's only been 2 weeks but he's settled to a more relaxed life really well. If he doesn't thrive then they will do the right thing
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I don't think leaving him at livery when OP moves was ever a consideration. The options are take him to the new place or pts before they move, a very difficult decision but no-one has suggested leaving him at livery on his own.
 
Lottie28 said:
I can’t because if they allow me, they’d have to allow it for others. It’s a strict rule and it’s fair enough.
If he comes, yes they’d travel together. I have two separate paddocks so I can always keep them apart for a while until settled
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I know it’s not the crux of your question, but just on this point, will you have enough land to rest/rotate if they do end up needing separate paddocks? We’ve had the horses at home coming up 5 years now and I truly hadn’t appreciated just how quickly land can get messed up without adequate resting and that’s with being on well draining, sandy soil.
 
If it were me, I'd take him home. I'd want to at least try, and their is every possibility he'll be perfectly happy after the move.

If his physical problems had suddenly become unmanageable, then that's a completely different scenario. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

So personally (my personal feeling and not passing judgement on anyone who would do differently) I don't think i could PTS because of something that might happen, but equally might not.
 
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