Please help! How do I play this?? What should I do?!...

BorgRae

BorgRae

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2010
Messages
461
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
I could really do with you knowledgeable folk at HHO to give me some advice. Here’s the background…

I am moving our two horses to another yard this Saturday (mine and my mum’s). My lad has been in a small starvation paddock for the past few months (not due to him being fat/lami, but because he was a nuisance in the main field with the other geldings :rolleyes:). He was fine last year, but this year was just majorly excitable and ran around chasing the other geldings. The YO said she couldn’t risk any of the other horses getting hurt, so he has been in the starvation paddock on his own ever since.

Anyway, it was ok at first, but basically he is miserable now :( I am moving yards this Saturday where there is more grazing and need some advice on how to play it…

My mums horse is fab, a bit lazy, will go out with anything type. But mine is just a bit “excitable” shall we say, and is generally boss (he was gelded late at nearly 4)!

At the new yard, they will have a massive field all on their own, but I don’t know how to go about introducing etc. They are stabled next to each other atm, and get on really well (share hay nets, hack together fine etc).

What would you do?? :confused:

We move on Saturday so I was thinking, leave them in the stable on Saturday to get used to the new environment with lots of hay etc. Then Sunday morning turn them both out at the same time together? …Or should I do them separately?? Or one day at at time at first?? Or put them in the sand paddock together first?

I have the option of turning mine out first into a sand paddock for a run, buck, fart etc…

Urgh, really don’t know how to play this!! Please help!!!

Thank you so much for reading this far! A nice cup of tea and a scone if you have got to the end! :)
 
If it were me id just get on with it, its not as if they have never met, turn them both out at the same time in the big field, at least if they decide to have a squabble there is room for one to get away unlike if you turn them out in the sand paddock together.
 
I would be inclined to give them both a short while to settle in their boxes, maybe while you unload the rest of their gear and then turn them out together to explore their new field. The only note of caution would be about letting your boy pig out too much too soon after his starvation exile so I'd perhaps bring them after an hour or two, let them stand in their boxes or go for a quiet hack then turn out again so that he gets used to trickle feeding and pacing himself not cramming in as much as he can because he's thinking it might all disappear very quickly.
 
I have an idea for you - put the 'excitable' one on Global herbs Rig Calm. It has worked wonders with putting my two geldings together. Good luck.
 
Thank you all!! Scones all round!! ;)

I'll do that then, put them both out for an hour or so let them settle for a bit, then maybe go for a quiet hack, then back out for an hour or so etc...

I have been feeding mine in hand 3-4 times a week on lush grass, so hopefully he will be ok, but I'll keep an eye on it and build him up slowly.

Thank you again for the advice, you know how it is, I'm just a worry guts!!! :D

(also may try the calmer!! thanks for that!!)
 
If it was me I would electric fence them apart for a few days and then introduce, this has resulted in the lowest kick rating and gives them chance to meet first!

Depends whether you have electric fencing to hand
 
Only you know what the set up is and also the individual characters of the horses so everyone here is really guessing and passing on their experiences.

Which is always great for a starting point.

I have always found travelling them together (as in both in the same wagon) helps a friendship along abit, after 3hour journey two of mine were great friends.

I too would be more concerned about your own horse having so much grass after so little.

Personally; if your mum's horse is so steady, he's likely to ignore the other and get down to the serious job of grazing all the lovely new grass.

Otherwise you could spend a whole lot of money on electric fencing you may not need.

Whatever you decide - good luck!

Have the livery asked you to worm them prior to turnout? I know some insist this.
If so, they'd be in a day anyway.
 
CHH said:
Only you know what the set up is and also the individual characters of the horses so everyone here is really guessing and passing on their experiences.

Which is always great for a starting point.

I have always found travelling them together (as in both in the same wagon) helps a friendship along abit, after 3hour journey two of mine were great friends.

I too would be more concerned about your own horse having so much grass after so little.

Personally; if your mum's horse is so steady, he's likely to ignore the other and get down to the serious job of grazing all the lovely new grass.

Otherwise you could spend a whole lot of money on electric fencing you may not need.

Whatever you decide - good luck!

Have the livery asked you to worm them prior to turnout? I know some insist this.
If so, they'd be in a day anyway.
Click to expand...

They will be travelling to the yard together in a trailer, but only for 30 mins or so. Hopefully this will aide the relationship somewhat!!

Unfortunately, I don't have access to electric fencing so would mean buying it from sctrach. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that having known each other by riding together, stabling next to each other etc for the last 4 months will help (mum only got hers 4 months ago!).

We only re-wormed them last month, so hopefully new yard will be ok with this.

Thanks again for advice, like you say the advice on here is a great starting point, so I'll take on board everything and hopefully it'll be a nice smooth transition!!

Thanks again, as always!! :D
 
As they have been stabled next to each other and will be travelling together, I would turn them out together. It sounds as though the priority for both of them will be eating, which should help them to settle down together. As he has only been on the starvation paddock for 'convenience (not yours, I know), I wouldn't worry too much about the grass for the first few hours.
The only problem I can envisage, is that he may not want to be caught in case he never sees good grass again. Obviously you will know whether this is likely to be the case or not.
 
I'd put mellow boy in first then add hyper chap a few mins later so he joins mellow in mellows new home not vice versa, then just leave them to it.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
As they have been stabled next to each other and will be travelling together, I would turn them out together. It sounds as though the priority for both of them will be eating, which should help them to settle down together. As he has only been on the starvation paddock for 'convenience (not yours, I know), I wouldn't worry too much about the grass for the first few hours.
The only problem I can envisage, is that he may not want to be caught in case he never sees good grass again. Obviously you will know whether this is likely to be the case or not.
Click to expand...

hmm, I didn't even get as far as thinking about catching!! :eek: He's generally brill to catch tho, but just in case I shall take a nice big tempting carrot!! ;)

Spotsrock said:
I'd put mellow boy in first then add hyper chap a few mins later so he joins mellow in mellows new home not vice versa, then just leave them to it.
Click to expand...

This seems like a sensible idea as well. I will wait and see how they settle on day 1 and judge then as to if mine is going to be a bit of a maniac!! If they're both quite mellow (ish), i'll put them out together, but if not, your suggestion, seems to be a great one! Thank you! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top