Turnout advice please!

CatStew

CatStew

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Hello,

I was just wondering if I could have some HHO opinions please? We are moving our horses (11 year old arab x cob mare & 5 year old sec D gelding) to a different yard soon, and I want to try and make the move as stress free as possible for both the horses and us!

Our horses are stabled 24/7 at the moment and have been for two weeks, as we're not allowed to turn out at all due to the rubbish weather we've had recently. A few other liveries on the yard have said that they've been told that the horses will have to be stabled 24/7 for another few weeks yet - by which time, we will have moved yards.

Once we move yards, our horses will be turned out seperately for a while to give them a chance to settle in before meeting the other two horses who are currently stabled there, which is great. But with the excitement of going somewhere new, and being turned out after being cooped up for a couple of weeks I'm wondering if I should perhaps give them some sort of calming supplement? I'm fully expecting them to have a hoon round, but I think the fact that they will have been in for so long previously will make them blow their tops, and I don't wan't any injuries!!

I've seen these http://www.naf-equine.eu/uk//products/productDetail.jsp?detail_id=instant-magic in my local feed merchant, and was just wondering if anybody had any experience using it and if it would be advisable for me to use it? I'm just looking for ways to try and take the 'edge' off really! Or perhaps somebody could recommend anything else?

I intend on lunging them both for a good 20 minutes/half hour before loading them to go to the new yard in the hope this burns off some excess energy, and I will be turning them out with boots all round and rugs to start with for a bit of extra protection.
 
calmers aren't a massive help in this sort of situation in my experience. I wouldn't just lunge before loading, but also give them a good lunge before turning out to help them burn off any excess energy. Now the grass is growing you'll probably find they are more interested in eating then messing around anyway! I thought my highly strung TB would be a nightmare on his first time out after 2 weeks, but he just couldn't resist the spring grass.
 
Personally I wouldn't give a calmer. And I agree - after the initial 5 mins wizz they're going to be more interested in stuffing their faces..... (which in itself may cause problems.)
 
ACP -speak to your vet. The shop bought calmers have a place but turning out at a strange place after a long time in needs, IMO, for what it's worth, something a little more reliable.
 
Thank you, I've never used any calmers before, and wasn't sure how effective they'd be in this instance, hence the reason of this thread!

I have to be honest, lunging them once we're at the new yard before turning out hadn't even crossed my mind :o but it does seem like a sensible thing to do - I had thought of ACP or perhaps sedalin, but thought it might be too strong for them.

I'm also concerned about them having sudden access to much better quality grass then they had previously before the no turn out, so I'm thinking I might allow them to be turned out for a couple of hours to start with to allow them to have a bit of fun and a roll and then hopefully section a bit of the field off if I am able to.
 
Potentially you have an explosive cocktail that flies in the face of the rule of making changes gradually.

A yard move, turning out long term stabled horses and quality grazing. You are right to take care about on long they graze for, it needs to be a gradual increase. If they havn't seen the green stuff for months they probably won't go dotty, they will just stuff themselves silly.

ACP does not affect the chew/swallow reflex so is ideal for turning out a tricky horse. I use it for box resters seeing the first light of day for a long while. Vet will need to advise you how much, when and how.

Horses, why do we did it !! hope all goes well for you.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Potentially you have an explosive cocktail that flies in the face of the rule of making changes gradually.

A yard move, turning out long term stabled horses and quality grazing. You are right to take care about on long they graze for, it needs to be a gradual increase. If they havn't seen the green stuff for months they probably won't go dotty, they will just stuff themselves silly.

ACP does not affect the chew/swallow reflex so is ideal for turning out a tricky horse. I use it for box resters seeing the first light of day for a long while. Vet will need to advise you how much, when and how.

Horses, why do we did it !! hope all goes well for you.
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Thank you, I know that it's not a brilliant situation, but unfortunately we didn't know at the time we decided to hand our notice in and move that the horses would be stuck in their stable for so long - otherwise we would have moved before it became an issue. I was worried about posting as I thought I might be shot down in typical HHO fashion, but I've had constructive and very useful answers :) But yes, next time I think I'll buy a rabbit!!

I'll post back with an update when they've been moved! :D
 
I only joined late last year, asking a veterinary question. I was worried too ,but to be honest, I have learnt such a lot and in the main, most people are really helpful, interesting and honest.

Some posts are really funny to join in with, especially if you are bored ! I really think no one should be afraid to ask for help regardless of how daft we may think the question might be.

Hope all goes well.
 
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