Moving Yard - Pony too old?

[Skye24]

Hello!

I am thinking about moving my pony to a new yard as his current one, in my opinion, doesn’t meet his needs any longer.
He needs to be out everyday, even if just on a walker and is just stuck in currently which in turn is making him stiff, it’s not fair on him at all.

My concern is my pony is now in his early 20’s and has been at the same yard for the majority of his life and whether a move now could upset him.
He’s a really easy going pony in the main, he is easy to handle and takes most things in his stride (apart from the odd wheelie bin) so I think he would be OK I just have that niggle really, so I just wanted to ask for people’s experiences on moving their horses/ponies later it life

Thank you

 

[Arzada]

I would look to move. Yes is might be hard for your pony but you might just find a yard that is a good fit for him. Ask around, put wanted cards in local shops, look at Google satellite views of possible areas and see if there's a yard. Drive round. Take a look at yards which look promising, visit and with a bit of luck you'll arrive at one and just know it's worth a move. A retirement yard would most likely give year round turnout in a stable herd. Good luck - it won't be easy but hopefully you find something more suitable.

 

[Skye24]

I would look to move. Yes is might be hard for your pony but you might just find a yard that is a good fit for him. Ask around, put wanted cards in local shops, look at Google satellite views of possible areas and see if there's a yard. Drive round. Take a look at yards which look promising, visit and with a bit of luck you'll arrive at one and just know it's worth a move. A retirement yard would most likely give year round turnout in a stable herd. Good luck - it won't be easy but hopefully you find something more suitable.

Thank you - some good ideas!

As it happens I have a couple to go and look at which seem on the face of it to be better for his needs and one already has people we know stabled there so it’s probably 90% decision made really.

I think I just worry more about him with his age and whether he will settle in a new environment after so long but I’m hoping the visits may help with those concerns

 

[Lady Jane]

He may be unsettled to start with but being stuck in the stable isn't great for any horse, especially an oldy.

 

[Skye24]

He may be unsettled to start with but being stuck in the stable isn't great for any horse, especially an oldy.

Yes I completely agree which is what has kicked the search off really, he deserves better

 

[dottylottie]

i’d say go for it! potentially he’ll be unsettled for a few days, but right now you know this yard definitely doesn’t suit his needs. Opting for the yard where you know people might be a good idea, since they can give you the “inside scoop” of things you otherwise wouldn’t get told until it’s already said and done, and you’ll have an extra pair of eyes to spot anything out of character or worrying once he arrives!

 

[View]

You already know that staying where you are is not an option (given that the no turnout does not meet his needs), so you have nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain by moving. Do have a really good chat with the people you know on other yard, and ensure that what the YO/YM tells you is really the case. Good luck!

 

[Burnttoast]

I would definitely move if you can find a yard that fits her needs. Plenty of horses around her age move - e.g. to retirement livery - so it can certainly be done.

 

[ester]

When we bought mine at 12 he took months to properly settle, when I moved him age 21 iirc it only took him a couple of weeks. I did spend the first few days telling the YO he wouldn’t be like he was forever ? but I’d absolutely move for a better offering/ better suits

 

[Caol Ila]

I moved my old horse at age 26 from a yard she'd been at for about eight years. I'd been unhappy at the yard for seven of those years. Finding a new yard was tricky because she could be pretty neurotic about her living situation, and over the years, I'd found the odd one that might be suitable but never got the balls to make the move.

Then something happened, and it became a welfare thing for her rather than a 'I don't want to be here' thing for me, and that made it an easy decision. I jumped ship. Not drama free (long story), but she ended up at the yard where my horses are now, and she settled happily. The last couple years of her life were filled with happy hacks.

 

[eahotson]

My old boy was 21 when I retired him.He had been on the same yard for about 12 years and I moved him to a retirement livery.He settled very quickly and easily.

 

[JoannaC]

My old pony came back to me last year at 28 for retirement, I was worried about the travel as it was 3 hours but he settled straight in no problem. As has been said just make sure the new yard can definitely offer what you are looking for.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hello!

I am thinking about moving my pony to a new yard as his current one, in my opinion, doesn’t meet his needs any longer.
He needs to be out everyday, even if just on a walker and is just stuck in currently which in turn is making him stiff, it’s not fair on him at all.

My concern is my pony is now in his early 20’s and has been at the same yard for the majority of his life and whether a move now could upset him.
He’s a really easy going pony in the main, he is easy to handle and takes most things in his stride (apart from the odd wheelie bin) so I think he would be OK I just have that niggle really, so I just wanted to ask for people’s experiences on moving their horses/ponies later it life

Thank you

As long as his mum is around, I don't think he will be that bothered, I would move him if it does not meet his needs as his needs are priority.

 

[ycbm]

Judging from my own horse who I moved last year for the same reasons, I think he could be unsettled for months, but as long as you support him through it, then it is still the right thing to do. I would definitely be feeding him aloe vera juice every day until several weeks after I thought he was fine.
.

 

[Skye24]

As long as his mum is around, I don't think he will be that bothered, I would move him if it does not meet his needs as his needs are priority.

ah well, that’s the thing, he would be going from one full livery yard to another so I wouldn’t be around as much as I would with DIY due to work and life in general really, that’s why he’s on full livery now ?

 

[McFluff]

Friend moved her 24 yo last year from livery that was closing to a retirement yard. He’d been on same yard for nearly 20 years. He took it all in his stride and is actually looking much better in new yard.

 

[loz9]

When we moved house the pony I'd been helping care for at livery came with us to continue her retirement. She was in her late 30s (think 38) & the journey was over 2hrs. It was the best thing ever for her & she enjoyed several more years bouncing round our fields & baby sitting the 3 youngsters. She settled pretty much immediately despite having been at the livery yard for 10+yrs without ever setting foot off it.
We also moved my first pony at the same time (he was late 20s/early 30s) without issue, but he was kept with my others so the herd didn't change for him. It was just along trip to a new field!

If you find a yard that suits his needs better go for it.

 

[Fjord]

I moved my girl last year, at almost 24, after 13 years at her old gard. It helped that 2 other horses she was familiar with moved as well, but she didn't like them so I think would have been fine without. She was fine, although was a little more nervous out hacking than before.

 

[Winters100]

I would move ASAP. Personally I would not even think of keeping the horse stood in a box all day, especially an oldie. Managing horses with no turnout is very difficult and time consuming, and putting them on the walker is just not enough. What time out of the box does he get now? How many times a day are you riding or hand walking? If he is not ridden I would suggest hand walking at least 3 times a day for minimum 40 minutes, if you cannot do it find someone you can pay. You could also speak to YO and ask if you can 'turnout' in the school when it is not being used. When one of mine had to keep in the dry because of a hoof infection my YO allowed this, as long as I was out by 7am. I was able to give her 2 hours between 5 and 7 in the arena with a friend, which while not really adequate, was at least better than nothing. Good luck finding somewhere.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would move him , your current set up is not suitable for an old horse .

 

[Ratface]

Move as soon as possible. I bought my current horse when he was 19. He'd been generally messed about and was quite shut down.
I turned him away for four months with a small herd of supervised retired horses/ponies, bringing him in three times a week for handling, grooming, farrier and/or vet visits. He's still going strong at rising 29, and still an enthusiastic loon!

 

[Ratface]

Added to above information. He still goes out every day from dawn to dusk, rugged or not, as necessary.

 

[wills_91]

My first loan pony was well in his 20s when he came to us and then a few years down the line I got another who was 20. Both settled absolutely fine, no issues we were just very very cautious about introducing field mates.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I've had this conversation with our YO & also talked with my wife & daughter about retirement for our horses. Our horses have had the same routine for years & we've decided to stay a their present yard. They are turned out mnost days early morning & then brought in later in the day. They have their stables that they recognise & automatically walk into. They are fed at the same time every day & given hay when ever they need it. They know & are happy with their routine. When we go to bring them in they are standing at the gate waiting for us. They are in individual paddocks adjacent to each other so they can groom eachother if they want. At their age I'm not taking them to a 'retirement' livery. They are happy where they are, yes it's more expensive than retirement livery but after the fun & love that the have given us over the years they are staying put.

I understand some owners put their elderly horses on reirement livery but it's not for me & my family.