Moving Yards tips/advice

W

WelshRareBit

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 November 2006
Messages
2,985
Location
Wales
Visit site
Hopefully in 3 weeks I am moving to a new yard. Murphy will (very sensibly) need to go into isolation for a week. The isolation pens are made up of a small all weather yard and a big shelter. He can see the rest of the yard and horses, and hasnt been a big worrier being on his own since I've had him.

But has anyone got any tips to make the progression as smooth as possible?
Also he will be going from out 24/7, to most probably being in at night until spring finally gets here - so any tips with this? I've not had to do this in ...ohh at least 5 years...so Im a bit rusty!

Any thoughts/tips welcome!
 
I have just moved yards for the second time in less than three months. Here are my top tips!
You could try giving him a calmer, for a few days before the move, then wean him off it as he settles in.
If you are worried about him being alone, try a stable mirror; they work a treat on my boy.
I also feed coligone, to help with stressy tummies/ colic.
Make sure he's on a pre/ pro biotic supplement- the dengie triple action one is good- in case he gets 'loose' with the stress.
Take some of your hay/ haylage with you, to minimise change.
Make sure he is on adlib forage.
Try using a feed ball, to keep him busy. Also, licket;s sweed on a string, apple bobbing etc.
Make sure he is getting exercise- if you are not allowed to use the arena, get him out hacking. If he's stuck in it will give him a change of scene and tire him out a bit!
Make extra time to spend with him, grooming or just pottering about, he will know you are there. My horse doesn't usually whinney at me, but when he moves house he does every time he see's me for the first week!
Good Luck
smile.gif
 
Hi there

Thanks for the advice
He's on Naf Pink Powder at the mo, which is meant to be good for stressers, so i think I'llkeep that up while he moves!
xx
 
is the yard quiet and light with big spaces? horses settle really well into this environment, i had to make the same descision earlier this month and the new yard is more private and nicely lit and with high roofs, i felt libs never truely settled at the old yard and neither did. it had american barns with6 stables, small herds in small feilds and horses were always fighting. much prefer grazing in small paddocks with 2 or 3 horses.
 
Hi
Yeah the new place is lovely, huge stable, over 100 acres of fields for grazing etc.

I am moving because the place I am at the mo is terrible, the grazing hasnt been managed, there arent enough stables for horses, there's no hay put out in fields, no school, a few crappy jumps..thats about it, there's just nothing here for me. Only good thing is its in my home town, the new yard is 20 mins drive away...
 
Some horses settle better than others with yard moves. I have been at 9 different yards with mine since I bought her 5 years ago and I think she is happy as long as I am still there to attend to her every day (and there are new friends to make).

If you worry about how your horse is going to cope, he might pick up on it, so focus on the all the positives - e.g. better grazing, school etc and be cool about it. Sounds like you are going somewhere really good - 20 mins drive is a small price to pay for being happy.

I am moving again in March (10th yard!) as I am seriously dissapointed with the BHS approved I am at. New place is a bit further away but I know we will be happier there - can't go on being stressed every time I get to current place.

Hope I don't sound like I serial yard-hopper! I'm not really a fussy owner - have moved house with work lots over the years!!
 
I moved yards with my stresshead - he was a crib biter, and general worrier. I was petrified he was going to flip his lid and get colic/kill me in the process.

However, he settled in immediately - literally! The first night in his stable, he looked like he'd been there all his life, and has remained chilled out since - have had no crib biting, no tanking off when being led, no frantic calling to his friends etc.
He also holds his weight much better.

So the moral of the story is - it could be the best move you've ever made!

To help with the moving, I gave him some calmer, and some rescue remedy. I took plenty of hay and canisters of water from the old place, and I got him in a routine straight away. The morning after he'd arrived, he was hacked to check out his surroundings and introduced over fences and stable doors to his prospective field mates.

Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top