Moving yards

G

Gorgeous George

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 April 2007
Messages
6,268
Location
Essex
Visit site
I am moving yards next Weds and I'm quite nervous about it, just want it all to be right and the other liveries to be nice! Anyway, when I first bought George, I waited 3 days before I rode him to give him time to settle in as he didn't know the yard and didn't know me. When I move him this time the yard will obviously be new but I'll still be there, so I was wondering when would be a good time to ride him first? He will have to stay in the first 24hrs as he'll be wormed, so the day we move I will probably take him for a walk round the yard and school and an in-hand graze, and then ride the following day? No experience of this so not too sure!
 
I never bother waiting, just keep to my normal plans, my theory being that if I go away to compete I expect him to behave as normal, no ifs or buts or excuses. Same deal as if I go for a lesson at a new place etc etc. I have never understood leaving them as we taken them new places all the time and expect them to get on with it - he won't know he's not going back to the old yard after you've ridden, now will he?
 
I tend to play these sorts of things by ear. If my horse seems resonably calm then I would ride in the school for the first few days then hack out (hopefully with a new livery friend!).

If the horse was in a state I would be more inclined to leave it until they had had chance to settle into a routine. Some horses get more upset than others. My pony doesn't mind where she is and will just get straight on with work, I had a TB on loan a few years ago that had to be sedated for the first 24hrs as she would practically throw herself over in the stable box walking and try to jump out.

Good luck, I hope your new yard is nice
smile.gif
 
I'd play it by ear to be honest. If he settles quickly, get on and ride. If not, leave it a bit. It's much more important that they are given time in the field with their new mates, than worrying about exercising them - I think anyway.
 
I think still keep your normal routine the same but use the time that you would spend riding to walk him round and graze in-hand like you said in your post just for the first day. I once rode a pony after she hadn't even been at the yard 24 hours. Where she is normally really placid she bucked like mental and threw me off. The move really unsettled her and I have learned that they should be 'shown round' and given a bit of time.
 
Just to add to what I said before - this summer my horse went from being out 24/7 to a 3 day show, where he was not only effectively 'at a new yard' in a strange place with strange horses, but his routine was totally altered as he was stabled constantly for 3 days in temporary stables and he was competing every day. So he was only out for classes and a bit of inhand grazing. He coped fine and I expected him to get on with it, much as I would if he changed yards!
 
See this is just my inexperience I guess, I don't have a trailer so don't go other places, and I've never been to a show (yet), but what you're saying makes perfect sense, perhaps I'm just too cautious?
 
Thing is, you should do whatever makes you happy and feel comfortable. It won't kill him to have a few days off if that's what you want to do, but equally, I would expect mine to just knuckle down and crack on as normal. Horses for courses as they say!
 
I think that there is a huge difference to taking your horse to a show and moving yards.

You don't turn your horse out in a field full of horses it doesn't know at a show........
crazy.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that there is a huge difference to taking your horse to a show and moving yards.

You don't turn your horse out in a field full of horses it doesn't know at a show........
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't turn my horse out in a field of horses it does not know full stop!
 
I think you're just being nice and being a human. If you moved house you'd know about it and probably get stressed - as someone says above - your boy doesn't know he's moving house at all - so he should just chill about it - providing YOU are chilled as well

if you are all of a fluster he'll sense it and start to think "why is mum all upset" and pick up on your vibes - if you are calm he should be calm - so the more you stick to your normal riding/grooming/work routine the better for your boy.
 
Your plan sounds sensible. This way you can be confident no monsters lurk in corners when you first ride. Would also try to have company for first couple of hacks. Mine stay at shows and have to get on with it but they are used to being out and about whereas you haven't taken george to any shows.
 
I am moving yards this weekend and I am nervous too as my TB can be nervous. Have ordered some So Kalm paste for the journey- is only up the road, but I want him to be chilled about the whole thing.

I was planning on seeing how he responds to the move and then go from there really.

good luck
 
Personally I would ride the same day. Is he out or in at the moment as if you are stabling him 24 hours without riding him he is going to be even more fresh when you finally get on him. He might also settle better on the first night if he is a little bit tired.

Like SC I expect my horses to behave in strange circumstances.
 
I have always given my boys two days off whenever we move, as first day wormed then second day in new field, then third day back into ormal work, this seems for work for us but at the end of the day it is whatever works for you as a tea.

Hope the move goes well
 
I think I rode Twiglet the day after we moved (didn't move till late afternoon so was a bit late after that).........just took him round the farm. He was quite stressed the first time, but didn't play up, and I think it helped him to get his bearings and settle in.

Maybe just walk George in hand the first day, then ride the next? Am sure you'll be fine - George sounds like a very sensible chap.

Best of luck with the move, let us know how it goes.
 
I think its more important than ever to stay in a routine if doing something new - after all your horse will understand his routine and gain comfort that things are carrying on as normal.

I also move my horse around a fair bit for competing and he is expected to get on with it.
 
When I moved my horse I rode him the day after. I think he would've been more unsettled if he'd gone to a strange place with new people, but because I was still around he wasn't too fussed.
See how it goes and how settled George is before you decide when to ride.
 
George is out far too briefly at the moment (8-2) and then stable the rest of the time, and this is one of the reasons we're moving. He is pretty calm in the stable and doesn't really do 'fresh', but he does tend to just stop and stand about 2ft taller with his eyes on stalks if something disturbs him.
 
I would ride the day after, as you will be cream crackered from getting everything moved, sorted out and getting to know the natives!. Although as LEC says staying in a routine is important too. Perhaps a day off wouldn't hurt to allow you to get sorted and then resume your normal routine the day after moving
 
I normally ride within a day - Cairo and Jemima were ridden to their new yard and then again the next day.

If they were going into a new field of horses, I would probably give 24 hours to settle in and then back to normal routine.

Some horses walk into new yard as if they have lived their all their lives and some take months to settle.

Friend bought a competition SJ pony Saturday and went out and won 3 classes the next day, whereas Delia took about 2 months to truely settle, but she had been on the same yard for 15 years prior to that. I was, however, riding her from the second day.
 
I moved recently and two of the horses I moved had been in the same place for 18 years, they were a bit unsettled, so turned them out together for a few hours then rode them, that settled them the most, they were happy then
 
IMO, it depends on your horse. I prefer to get them out working from day one, so they don't build up their excitement and then release it when you do get on them! If you were taking your horse to a show that lasted a few days, you wouldn't give them a couple of days off to settle, so I don't generally see a reason for it when moving yards. However, if your horse is likely to be very unsettled, I would just lunge him for the first few days.

I would only turn out when they have settled, and then keep a close eye on them.

Good luck with the new yard and I hope everything goes smoothly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top