Settling into a new yard

[FlorencesLegacy]

Hi all

My loan horse is moving yards at the end of the month. What are your best tips for helping a horse settle in a new environment?

I’ve never known him to be stressy, but equally since I’ve known him he has never been in a new environment.

I’ve seen opposing views of keeping ridden routine vs allowing time to settle if needed.

Appreciate it may in part determined by his reaction upon arrival!

 

[McFluff]

I’ve just moved yards, so all fresh for me and my boy.
My biggest learning, get into a routine and try and keep the parts you can familiar to the horse. So when you see him, follow your usual groom and exercise routine. Be his constant. Mine visibly relaxed after we had a good schooling session in the school. To be honest, I think he’s coped better than me! I’d been on my previous yard for 20 years…

 

[Wishfilly]

I moved my pony this summer. He had a couple of weeks to settle without being ridden, as it didn't really fit in with me moving and going on holiday! He had a big change, moving to being out 24/7 and in a small herd, rather than just with one other- but he has settled in most ways really well. He didn't like his new stable much at first though, but luckily I was able to build time up in there slowly, and he is mostly accepting of it now. He enjoys being out in the field with his new buddies, but is also pretty happy to come in for a feed etc most of the time.

 

[ponynutz]

Personally I think it's a mixture of both. Horses are very much creatures of habit and so even during a big change keeping as close to their previous routine as possible is the best way to go. If he's in work every day, keep it going (maybe more hacking or lunging). Feed him at regular times, bring in and out at regular times and bring in any routine changes in slowly and once he's adjusted to the yard.

 

[Birker2020]

I've never had an issue with any of the 7 horses I've owned during my life time. They all settled in well, nearly all came from dealers and I think they were used to that and Lari was from various competition homes for many years (before the person who I bought him off) so he was well seasoned in moving.

In my experience I've never had any problems with any of them settling, even away from home competing and staying over at events none of my horses that I did this with struggled, I can even remember a time when I went to the 3DE at MK and the tarps on the stables were blowing in the wind and none of the horses would go in their stables, so I shoved Bailey's net in our allocated stable and she went in happy as anything, without a murmur.

 

[eahotson]

My new one is,albeit temporarily, in a new home.I was worried that she would be upset but not a bit of it.