Please tell me I'm doing the right thing?

atropa

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 September 2012
Messages
1,294
Visit site
My horse is currently in a outdoor stable in a small block of four, the stable is a decent size but an odd shape (rectangular) and layout which basically means that she doesn't move around very much and I feel doesn't have much space to move anyway. She spends most of her time in one spot munching hay. Tomorrow I'm moving her to a Loddon stable in a different block, this stable is the same size but is square, with a better layout and feels much more spacious to me.
The new stable is in a small building which is great as it's cool in summer and warm in winter, but it means my horse won't have as much to look at and keep her occupied when she's inside. She will also be moving from a block where one of her lovely field mates lives, to one with a gelding from a different field on one side and a currently empty stable on the other. Eventually the empty stabe will house a new mare who will be in the same field as her.

The main reason I'm moving her is due to friction with one of the other owners in my current block which is currently making my time at the yard extremely unhappy, plus a lot of extra storageand the aforementioned spacer stable, and I'm starting to feel absolutely horrible and selfish about moving her to an indoor stable and away from her field mate. I'm just so paranoid that she will hate the new stable and I'll have failed her :(
She is generally quite chilled out 95% of the time, but can occasionally be a bit attached to her fieldmates. Has anyone else ever been in a similar position?
 
She'll be fine - probably fall madly in love with the gelding and love her new field mate even more than the one she's stabled next too and she'll probably be happy that her owner is more relaxed and happier spending time with her rather than worrying about a nasty livery!
 
Your mare may be a little unsettled for a few days, but she may not be bothered. Many people move yards, sometimes quite frequently. Top competition horses move around all the time. Your happiness is important too.
 
She won't care a jot! So long as she has a hay net and she can still see others she will be absolutely fine! Plus she can still see her field mate when she's turned out :) your overthinking this!
 
Sounds to me like you're definitely doing the right thing! I moved my old lad from one stable on our yard to another as his old one was a pain where you had to lead through a small tack room to get to it and he is more than happy in new one :) As long as he's got hay, he's happy! Am sure your mare will settle :)
 
I'm sure your mare will adapt very well to the new stable :)
My youngster is exactly the same, very attached and anxious unless he's with a herd of horses. I keep him at a big, spacious livery in the countryside so we have an enormous indoor barn with plenty of room in the stalls, and 5 acres of pasture for them to roam in a herd. His stable has a window I can open or close so he can look out, and I often give him a treat ball or a lick to play with when he's indoors which you could try for your mare to keep her busy.
It will take her time to adapt to a new home, but once she gets to know the horses and become a part of their pecking order then she will feel much happier. You're not being selfish at all, and I wish you luck in your move!
 
Yes I think you will both be fine. In my experience it is better not to stable too close to a field mate anyway, as this (IME) can magnify the attachment and cause greater issues with separation anxiety. If you are really worried about her not having sufficient stimulation, could you maybe get a stable mirror? Sorry you have had yard issues, hope this new arrangement is much better for you :)
 
Thank you all, well moved her today and left her munching her dinner, hay and grass block. She was a bit anxious but not as bad as I expected.
I definitely do overthink anything to do with her, but just because I want to give her the happiest life I can. Hopefully she'll soon settle and be back to her lovely self so I know I've done the right thing..thank you all
 
Top