Views on how long for a horse to settle at new yard?

comet!

comet!

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 December 2010
Messages
444
Location
UK
Visit site
I am wondering what other people think about how long to give a horse to settle at a new yard. I know that is probably a bit like how long is a piece of string, but curious to know when other people would admit defeat/call it a day and try to find something else.

Short version is: we moved seven weeks ago. First two or three weeks were OK, but since then he's being really hassled in the field. He can't change fields. He's getting very upset in stable, but I really can't work out why other than it's possibly a busier yard in his view.
 
comet! said:
First two or three weeks were OK, but since then he's being really hassled in the field. He can't change fields. He's getting very upset in stable
Click to expand...
Are you asking how long it will take the horse or how long you would wait before looking for a different yard? If you asked me how long it would take me to settle if I was being 'really hassled' my answer would be never. How long do you think it might take if a horse isn't settled in the field or in the stable?
 
Arzada said:
Are you asking how long it will take the horse or how long you would wait before looking for a different yard? If you asked me how long it would take me to settle if I was being 'really hassled' my answer would be never. How long do you think it might take if a horse isn't settled in the field or in the stable?
Click to expand...
Both really. Everyone thinks I am over-reacting which is why I am asking what other people think. My view is it won't settle down - he'll continue being hassled and getting himself upset but apparently I'm in the minority in thinking that.
 
I expect horses to settle in my yard within a few days, once they get into a routine and I find the best turnout situation for the individual, if they are being hassled I will move them around until everyone is happy, in the unlikely event that they dont get on with any others I usually put them out alone until they settle down properly, once they get out 24/7 they generally find a friend.
I dont understand why a YO will not allow horses to change fields, having them constantly messing about at this time of year will be churning the land up, I want mine to settle down and eat, a quick run about but not too much otherwise it looks as if the ground has been ploughed.
 
If he's not settled after several weeks in the field then there is a problem, and I really would be looking at the yo to help me out - preferably with a field change.
 
comet! said:
Both really. Everyone thinks I am over-reacting which is why I am asking what other people think. My view is it won't settle down - he'll continue being hassled and getting himself upset but apparently I'm in the minority in thinking that.
Click to expand...
I don't think you're overreacting! I couldn't bear to see my (or any) horse in this situation so I'd be looking to move if the yard wasn't prepared to at least try to find a solution. I'd also prefer to be on a yard of people who care about the horses (which yours doesn't). Hope you find a solution for your boy OP.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I last moved him two years ago. He settled on day one.

He's not a remotely dominant horse and has always been bottom of the pack (I've previously seen him being picked on by a little 12hh welshie), but he is getting thoroughly fed up with the hassling and for the first time in three years I've seen him with his ears flat back and teeth barred trying to chase off one of the ones hassling him - it charged at him when he went down to roll. I appreciate they are horses and will play, although I don't think he is actually playing but sticking up for himself. He came in with 14 bites one day last week (not drawn blood lucky, but swollen lumps).

Aside from him not being settled and me worrying, it has cost me a fortune because of trashed rugs (a good couple of hundred pounds so far!)
 
amymay said:
That's not good, in any shape or form.
Click to expand...

No, and he's such a sweetie - I thought i'd moved him for his own good and it's obviously not. I think I've probably answered my question myself by sitting here and typing out this post.
 
Who knows what goes on in their minds, but it seems obvious to me you have one unhappy horse that is trying to tell you something…..

If that was my horse I would be looking for a new yard pronto, or if possible move him back to his old one.

Good luck x
 
Well it's been 4 very difficult weeks. Horse really hassled in field and very upset in stable. You worrying, naturally. Trashed rugs. No options at current yard. There's only one answer: move - for him and you.
 
comet! said:
No, and he's such a sweetie - I thought i'd moved him for his own good and it's obviously not. I think I've probably answered my question myself by sitting here and typing out this post.
Click to expand...
Really feel for you - can you return to old yard?
 
I'm having a similar issue with one of mine. He has been at the yard since the beginning of October and hasn't really settled in his stable (or any stable) He has lived out for most of his life, although I had stables at the yard I rented before, but they only came in for grooming, tacking up or feeding in the winter. Unfortunately we lost the yard and grazing round here is like looking for hens' teeth so I had no alternative but to move onto livery. He was OK living out until it turned really cold but now he has to come in at night to have feed and hay and he's fidgety when I handle him, fractious in the stable and will barge out, running over me if necessary, to get back to his field.... and believe me, I'm no pushover. I have four and his best friend is in the stable beside him so it's not even that he's on his own or doesn't know anyone around him. It has broken my heart to see his distress as he was so lovely for the first two years of ownership. I feel like I have lost him. Weirdly, he's still absolutely golden to ride, bless his heart. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that the best option is to try to find a new home for him where he can live happily out all year round in a quiet field with a friend or two for company.....
 
Arzada said:
Really feel for you - can you return to old yard?
Click to expand...

There should be a stable or two coming up in the next couple of months, but nothing at the moment. There is also a waiting list, so no guarantee I could even have one of the ones due to come up.
 
Coblover63 said:
I'm having a similar issue with one of mine. He has been at the yard since the beginning of October and hasn't really settled in his stable (or any stable) He has lived out for most of his life, although I had stables at the yard I rented before, but they only came in for grooming, tacking up or feeding in the winter. Unfortunately we lost the yard and grazing round here is like looking for hens' teeth so I had no alternative but to move onto livery. He was OK living out until it turned really cold but now he has to come in at night to have feed and hay and he's fidgety when I handle him, fractious in the stable and will barge out, running over me if necessary, to get back to his field.... and believe me, I'm no pushover. I have four and his best friend is in the stable beside him so it's not even that he's on his own or doesn't know anyone around him. It has broken my heart to see his distress as he was so lovely for the first two years of ownership. I feel like I have lost him. Weirdly, he's still absolutely golden to ride, bless his heart. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that the best option is to try to find a new home for him where he can live happily out all year round in a quiet field with a friend or two for company.....
Click to expand...

That's really sad, but very brave of you to do this for him as it must be so upsetting for you.
 
comet! said:
No, and he's such a sweetie - I thought i'd moved him for his own good and it's obviously not. I think I've probably answered my question myself by sitting here and typing out this post.
Click to expand...

I think you have too OP. Poor lad (and you) - I hope you find somewhere where he can have some nice friends. I have a very soft spot for coloured horses (I'm assuming your boy is coloured), they are such nice, sweet characters, which of course makes them fodder for the local thugs.
 
Cobbytype said:
I think you have too OP. Poor lad (and you) - I hope you find somewhere where he can have some nice friends. I have a very soft spot for coloured horses (I'm assuming your boy is coloured), they are such nice, sweet characters, which of course makes them fodder for the local thugs.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Yes, he's the coloured hairy cob in my avatar. I think me seeing him on Monday with his ears back and teeth barred at another horse shows how fed up he is, as that just isn't his character at all - I've never even seen him put his ears back at a horse before. It took about half an hour of me being in his stable tonight before he settled and we lost the wild/worried eye look. It's not much good for me either, as I'm spending my day worrying about him.
 
Now to properly settle and call the place a true home (i.e. like the one they were in before) I believe takes at least 6 months, maybe a year.

But I would definitely want to see relaxation and comfort in the new home by a fortnight in.

As others have said if he's not enjoying his field mates and is being pushed around a bit, then it probably isn't working: especially if this cannot be changed.

Sometimes things aren't meant to work out and your intentions sound to be for the best: look on the positives you wouldn't have known if you hadn't tried!

Thats just my take on it, hope it all works out for the best:)
 
Last edited:
comet! said:
Thank you. Yes, he's the coloured hairy cob in my avatar. I think me seeing him on Monday with his ears back and teeth barred at another horse shows how fed up he is, as that just isn't his character at all - I've never even seen him put his ears back at a horse before. It took about half an hour of me being in his stable tonight before he settled and we lost the wild/worried eye look. It's not much good for me either, as I'm spending my day worrying about him.
Click to expand...

Well, I've got a 4 acre paddock stood empty, with a 40ft field shelter on it and an empty 14 x 14 stable in my back garden. If you're near me your welcome to take refuge for a few weeks, but my field is very wet at the moment, but there's plenty of grazing... and a nutty 'skewbald' cat that thinks it's a horse in situ. I'm Lincolnshire btw.
 
Cobbytype said:
Well, I've got a 4 acre paddock stood empty, with a 40ft field shelter on it and an empty 14 x 14 stable in my back garden. If you're near me your welcome to take refuge for a few weeks, but my field is very wet at the moment, but there's plenty of grazing... and a nutty 'skewbald' cat that thinks it's a horse in situ. I'm Lincolnshire btw.
Click to expand...
Ah, thank you - that's very kind 😊. I'm a good 100 miles away unfortunately!
 
What is the grass situation like in your field at the moment?

I think this time of year can be a difficult time to move as if there is not much grass and the weather is bad it can make horses more grumpy and competitive about grazing and field space or they are keen to get come in and get fractious around the gate or bored.

I moved yards a couple of months ago and it took my pony about 4 weeks to settle into the field and be part of the group but he had not been in a new herd for 6 years so it must have been a bit of a shock to his system to be in a field where all the horses were new to him.

Is there a particular horse that seems to be causing the problem? Can you take advice from the YO or YM as if it is one particular horse that always bullies the newbies then it might be normal for it to take a while for the new ones to settle.
 
I'm going through the same situation at the moment, it's been nearly 2 months at the new yard and my boy is getting more and more stressed and unmanageable.

OP, how did this end up being resolved for you?
 
Originalnamehere said:
I'm going through the same situation at the moment, it's been nearly 2 months at the new yard and my boy is getting more and more stressed and unmanageable.

OP, how did this end up being resolved for you?
Click to expand...

No horse should be getting more stressed as time goes on, you either have to change something within the environment that is currently unsuitable or move yards, it is an easier time of year to get them settled with more turn out and grass available, I had a new arrival a few weeks ago and he settled in with his new best friend within a couple of days, if he hadn't I would have made changes to the turnout arrangements.
 
I'm currently looking at other alternatives, and trying different things to help him settle. If it doesn't happen soon we do have the option to move back to our old yard. Just curious to see what happened in this case.

Thank you for the feedback, it's good to know that its not me overreacting since everyone around me is saying that it takes time to settle.
 
I moved my horse from living at home with a few ponies to a large livery yard. It has taken a couple of months and a very patient YO, but we found the best resolution was individual turnout next to a quiet gelding well away from mares and the yard helped him settle. He was happy in his stable - again well away from mares (tarty mares stress him out). And finally we put him on steady up advance which has helped as well.
I am really pleased with his improvement, it can take time, but it's vital to try and identity what is upsetting the horse or he will never settle.
 
Some horses never settle on some yards. My last potential eventer I recently sold was a lamb since I'd bought him as a rising 3 year old. I moved him into a pro full livery yard and it was if if swapped him for a stress head, crazed beast. 5 weeks later I removed him and within 2 hours in a new pro yard he was back to normal.
 
I would move him. It's not fair on him in that situation.

I am always afraid of what my horse might do or what might happen to him as he is one of the horses that likes to cause fights. But he is playing and deliberately winding the others up i have watched him go from horse to horse winding them up til they bite him. The thing is too it's only him that comes in with bites or kick marks never the other horses. He seems to enjoy pain the weirdo.
 
I have decided to give it till the middle of next month and if he has not settled to move him back. It wouldn't be fair to either of us to carry on and on and will give us time to explore some other potential issues.

Thanks everyone for your advice, it's not nice to admit failure but if it's best for the horse then I'm quite happy to suck it up! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top