Moving yards then going on holiday

[I don’t like mondays]

I’ve decided to move my horse to a yard with loads of advantages for both of us (hacking, much closer to home, living out with others etc etc). The current yard isn’t what we want. I’ve given notice and am moving in 3weeks...however I’ve just looked at my calendar and realised I’m meant to going camping with my family the week after we move! (Booked ages ago and totally forgot). My horse will be in quarantine for 2 weeks and then go into a herd (so he’ll do 1 week quarantine with me and 1 week with me being away). There is a freelance groom at the yard who I can pay (she’s really competent but she doesn’t know my horse). My friend has her horse at the new yard. My horse will be living out 24/7 so will just need feeding and checking. I can pay someone he knows to come and exercise him

Is this a really bad idea to move and then go away a week later? I’m confident my friend and the on site groom will care for him well but I feel like I’m abandoning him and this could affect how he settles. He’s sometimes bolshy but doesn’t seem to stress when he moves. I’ve thought about delaying the move but my husband has book another camping trip in August so I’ll have the same issues. Thanks in advance

 

[milliepops]

it's not ideal IMO but.... if he's in quarantine while you're away I would find that preferable to him being introduced to his new herdmates while you're away. and you'll have had a week there with him to pick up on any immediate problems.

Does your friend know him fairly well? and is living out normal for your horse? it's good that you trust the freelancer. My concern would just be if he gets like a little niggly colic or something relating to a change in routine and environment and no one notices because they don't know what's normal for him. but that's my doom-monger tendencies. it'll probably be fine and I'd be reassured if someone who knows him was to pop by now and then.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

A few years ago I did this …the horses survived but weren’t cared for as per the information sheet I’d left…conjunctivitis due to flies as fly spray not put on which led to injury to eyelid due to rubbing. I was royally ripped off financially for the care too…moved two months after returning from holiday so in my experience no I would not move then go on holiday but I’m sure lots of people have had painless and successful transitions.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

it's not ideal IMO but.... if he's in quarantine while you're away I would find that preferable to him being introduced to his new herdmates while you're away. and you'll have had a week there with him to pick up on any immediate problems.

Does your friend know him fairly well? and is living out normal for your horse? it's good that you trust the freelancer. My concern would just be if he gets like a little niggly colic or something relating to a change in routine and environment and no one notices because they don't know what's normal for him. but that's my doom-monger tendencies. it'll probably be fine and I'd be reassured if someone who knows him was to pop by now and then.

Thanks Milliepops, very good points. My friend knows my horse quite well as we used to be on the same yard a year ago. He’s living out 24/7 now so no change there plus the new yard is a private yard and much quieter. Good point about colic though, with changes in grass etc that could happen. Maybe it’s just not worth it and I should wait

 

[I don’t like mondays]

A few years ago I did this …the horses survived but weren’t cared for as per the information sheet I’d left…conjunctivitis due to flies as fly spray not put on which led to injury to eyelid due to rubbing. I was royally ripped off financially for the care too…moved two months after returning from holiday so in my experience no I would not move then go on holiday but I’m sure lots of people have had painless and successful transitions.

Thanks Midlifecrisis. That sounds awful, sorry that happened to your horse. I’m wondering if it’s just not worth the risk and I should wait. The way my 2 holidays fall I may need to wait another 8 weeks from now which is putting me off, but need to do what’s right for my horse

 

[milliepops]

It'll probably be fine, I'd just want to make extra sure that someone has a close eye on him just in case rather than a brief check once a day.

 

[asmp]

Any chance you can delay your move a couple of weeks (assuming there is someone at the yard you’re at now can look after the horse)? It will obviously be expensive paying two liveries for a couple of weeks but may give you peace of mind.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Any chance you can delay your move a couple of weeks (assuming there is someone at the yard you’re at now can look after the horse)? It will obviously be expensive paying two liveries for a couple of weeks but may give you peace of mind.

Thanks asmp, I’m thinking this might be the better option. Even if my horse was ok, I’d spend the whole time I’m away worrying about him

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If there is a week after you move him, before you go on holliday, I would monitor him closely for the first week and if all seems well trust the people you have asked to care for him, expecting him to be fine.