Moving yards on Fri - help!

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Ranyhyn

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I have been at my current, lovely, livery yard for 2 years. I'm happy - the horse is happy, but with a change of job I can no longer afford the livery prices (it's nigh on the highest in the area BUT its warranted because its a lovely yard!)

So I have found a new yard. Nice people. Nice fields, nice stables. It's all very nice. And cheaper by almost £50 a month.

But Ed's a fretter and now I'm fretting about him fretting and it's all getting a bit WAAAA! So I know he's going to jump out of his lovely field with a sea-view, he jumps out of everywhere!

So just looking for a little calming influence.

If he starts jumping I can always keep him in, can't I? And if he frets he WILL settle eventually and I can always pop him on a calmer and ride he back legs off him to help him chill...

Kitty *worry!*
 
ok firstly breathe :-)

Totally agree that moving yards is very very stressful and espicially when you're moving away from somewhere you like so much.

Give him time a he will settle. I'd actually give him time off to relax and get to know his surroundings a but if its going to then make him too fresh then keep riding. Try to stick to your normal routine and spend lots of time just being with him which will hopefully calm the both of you.

For you- spend lots of time up there getting to know everybody because the more support and new friends you have, the calmer you will be and the quicker it will feel like home.

Why does he jump out? Will he have a companion in his field or be in a herd? If so he'll probably be too busy getting to know his new friends. Can the yard owner keep an eye on him through the day so if he does so anything they can contact you or sort it out?

Ultimately, try to relax. It'll all be fine eventually, even if the first week feels like hell. Try to relax and just go with it. Best of luck with it!!!! xx
 
Hi BB :)

He jumps out for all sorts of reasons, but usually, when he moves fields, when he isn't ridden enough, when he wants to come in (ie @ 5pm!) and if the herd gets excited!

He'll go into an isolation pen for a week next to the herd, then he'll go into the herd. It's a massive field with plenty of room and his stable will be right infront of it (when he jumps he just runs to his stable!)

The yard owner lives on site so she'll keep an eye out but the field does border a road, so I'm very conscious and wary about him jumping anyway.

I think I'm going to end up overodsing on rescue remedy the rate Im going!! :)
 
I was very, very nervous last year when I moved my horse. But it went very well, and he settled almost straight away. Absolutely no sign of fretting or anxiety - and this was a horse that took a good 5 months to settle when I first had him. He was turned out immediately with his new herd - introducing them one by one.

I took two days off work (Thursday and Friday) so that I was around with him to monitor what was going on etc. on those days and over the weekend. I did bring him in overnight for the first week - and then left him out 24/7 with the others - until they had to come in once the clocks changed.

I also rode every day - as he was so settled.

Panic not, dear friend - it will go much better than you think :D
 
Ahh I hope so AM :) I have the weekend off, so I think I might keep him in Fri and then turnout Sat and Sun and be there with him for a few hours - because inevitable he'll jump out of his isolation paddock! ARGH! ha! :)
 
Try to stay positive. He may surprise you and settle here quickly. If you are calm it might rub off on him.

Hope he move goes smoothly.
 
I know how you are feeling - I am moving my lot on Saturday and I have a jumper too.
Am hoping they will just settle and not go off exploring, they are going back to where they lived 4 years ago and as I was just checking out the field a neighbour came out of his house and said "have you still got the big white horse?"
What he means is "have you still got the big white horse that ATE MY GARDEN"

Fingers crossed for both of us then :)
 
Are you prepared to give something alternative a go? If so, go buy the following Bach remedies - Star of Bethlehem (shock) and Walnut (protection from change). Maybe Aspen as well (fear of unknown things). Start putting 4 or 5 drops of each in every feed now and continue through the move and while he settles in. If you visit him during the day, put some drops on a bit of apple and give them to him.
I've had unbelievable results with this combination, to help horses stressed after they move. (I mean unbelievable, because I can't believe these things should work, but they do).
What have you got to lose? A few quid.
Oh, you could get some Rescue Remedy for yourself, and have some drips on your tongue at regular intervals during moving day LOL! He can have some of that too.
 
Arrghhh..I know the feeling! i move my horse in a week or so too. It'll be my first time on a 'proper' livery yard after 6 years on a proper diy farm! I am slightly cacking it! I know it'll be lovely, but horse has only been there since I got him as a completley nutty OTTB! He took an age to settle then. Plus I have to go through the trauma of actually getting him there! He does NOT load well at all! Herbal remedies at least sound like a way of calming me so I am less stressed and therefore hopefully he will be too!!:o

Good luck with it! Hope he settles in quickly and doesnt feel the need to fence hop his way around. :)
 
And...breathe......

My old horse was a fretter. I moved him to my own place- he settled and became the most chilled I've ever seen him.

My new horse is a fretter extraordinaire......

He settled really well in a few days - getting better all the time.

Stop fretting- you'll make him worse. Start him on calmer if he isn't already.

And......relax! All will be fine.:D
 
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