When to call it for a yard move

[yobonacob]

I know this is done to absolute death - very sorry!
My horse is young, green and has recently been through surgery and chemo and is now coming back into work. Without going into too much detail (anonymous forum lol!) we had an accident shortly before all the vet stuff so bringing him back into work is far more challenging than it should have been - it's become dangerous, and I am not willing to risk anyone's safety to continue as we are. Its a mix of genuine fear & greenness, and he knows he can take the p. The cons, the yard does not have a school. All work must be done on a dirt/stone yard that's sloped and uneven, in an open turnout field or out hacking - which is awful, barely any off road and lethal roads. Horse in neighbouring field is left alone to call which really upsets mine (to point of struggling with handling, galloping round field) and that yo (not mine) is unwilling to help in any way with that. Only one person to hack with, but that's once or twice a week at absolute best - after a recent incident on the roads I cannot trust him out on the roads even with company. As yard is private with no school it is very difficult to get an instructor out.
The pros, the yard is a beautiful private one with one other person and we get on like a house on fire. They have been very supportive and incredible through buying, chemo, surgery - wouldn't have survived without their help. I would also be leaving them in the lurch, they need someone else to move in and would have to do the horses twice a day which is taxing due to their job. Yard is only 7min from home, walkable & cyclable easily. Its rent not livery so dirt cheap. But, I have to pay for replacing wooden fencing, electric fencing, move my own hay, poo pick 6 acres by myself, muck removal etc so it's not actually that much cheaper and hugely time consuming. At risk of biasing responses I work two days a week, attend college 5 days a week trying to maintain straight A's on difficulty courses and fit monetized social media and a growing campaign into it.
No idea where I'd go, the yard I work at would be brilliant aside from the fact it is a huge yard (I have quite severe social anxiety, panic attacks that have resulted in throat closure or passing out) with typical livery opinions and its 25min away not accessible by public transport or walkable.

 

[Wizpopagain]

What a very difficult situation for you- and at the very hardest time of the year too. I’d be assessing exactly what my horse’s needs nd my needs are and make a decision based on that. Do you have transport to take him to a school where you could get help from an instructor?Or do you know a trusted and empathetic trainer where he could go for a few weeks to get him a bit further on? It does sound though as if your current yard would be difficult for you both even without the rehab needs, with the danger of the roads nd the fact that he is green- and very little company for hacking out. I think it’s really time to seriously make a move for both your sakes.

 

[rextherobber]

Unless you absolutely have to continue with the rehab now, I'd be turning him away until Spring, and reassess then. I'd also be querying with the vet whether something had been missed. (Sometimes vets do give some pretty random rehab advice too). If his reaction is that extreme, I'd be thinking there was more going on than young, green and trying it on.

 

[kaiserchief]

I think I've guessed who you are and seem to remember you worked at this yard before you moved there? If so, could you still stay on good terms with the owner by returning to your previous work agreement, being paid to do feeds, fencing, poo picking etc, and put that money towards the increased cost of keeping your horse at a yard with better facilities or sending him away for rehab and schooling before he returns?

Having had young horses in basic places, it is very hard and it's a case of balancing the difficulties of working them (especially at this time of year) versus the politics that you tend to get with bigger yards. Since you are already working at the other yard, presumably you get on with everyone and haven't had any major issues with your anxiety, so it would make sense to move your horse there.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[kerrieberry2]

I think I've guessed who you are and seem to remember you worked at this yard before you moved there? If so, could you still stay on good terms with the owner by returning to your previous work agreement, being paid to do feeds, fencing, poo picking etc, and put that money towards the increased cost of keeping your horse at a yard with better facilities or sending him away for rehab and schooling before he returns?

Having had young horses in basic places, it is very hard and it's a case of balancing the difficulties of working them (especially at this time of year) versus the politics that you tend to get with bigger yards. Since you are already working at the other yard, presumably you get on with everyone and haven't had any major issues with your anxiety, so it would make sense to move your horse there.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

same, I follow on FB. having had a young horse who was on box rest then having to be brought back into work I ended up having to move him to a yard with facilities and people around to support me! there is no way I'd have been able to do it where he was! thankfully, I rented that field privately and kept my other two horses there while I moved him, so once he was back in work and was going well, I was able to move him back. so maybe you should ask if you could move back in the future once he's back in proper work

 

[exracehorse]

Did you say you have no off road hacking and roads are lethal, plus no school ? It sounds like it’s more of a retirement set up. Not for a young green horse.

 

[dorsetladette]

Without knowing you, it sounds like you need to put your horse on a rehab yard for a while where they will get regular consistent handling and the required exercise to bring them back into work. Yes it's pricey but it sounds like you are already very busy and the alternative is putting yourself and your horse in repeated danger of hurting yourselves which could be costly.

I'm sure if you talk with your friend she will understand, maybe agree that you help her find a replacement companion pony for her horse before you leave. With all the rain lots of people are looking for grazing (in our area anyway). It doesn't have to be permanent but I think you need facilities right now and a bit of professional support.

 

[Suechoccy]

The current setup isn't going to work for you or your horse at the moment. I'd say you have at least two options:

1 Put him on holiday at your current yard for a few months. He may not have recovered fully yet from his trauma and he will be feeding emotionally off your fears and concerns too. So chill the vibe by holding back, slowing down and give him and you a holiday. That does him no harm and buys you time.

2 Send him away to a professional backing yard that you trust. Meanwhile continue paying his stable livery and helping the owners so you have somewhere to bring him back to and they are not in the lurch. But you will be bringing back a young, green horse, not an educated, mature horse, so you'll need to sort out hacking in company and travelling,etc.

 

[maya2008]

I’m assuming you are on a budget and this is convenient for transport reasons and cost.

Things you could try to improve the situation there:
- fenced off portion of field for ‘work’ once the ground dries up.
- companion (another livery or a small companion pony on loan) to keep the left behind horse happy while you work yours.

If those would work, you would have options for once he is back in work. Then I’d push that social media to get enough £££ to send him away for the reintroduction to work. He was in pain before and his behaviour was completely understandable- but now he still has that memory and would be best off overcoming his quite rational fears in a pro environment which would set him up to succeed.

That’s what I would do anyway. Get him going well at a pro yard and set yours up to succeed once he returns home.

 

[Gropony]

I ended up on a yard with my pony (8 but had done very little, so green) where the owner is also a breeder and has a lifetime of experience with young horses. I didn't chose the yard for this reason, but it has been a lifesaver. I honestly think that I would have got hurt and my pony would have lost a lot of confidence if I didn't have this support.

The yard is set up with this in mind. Large graded arena, lunge area, all securely fenced, access to hacking for hours with no roads at all. Stables built with security in mind.

It is so much easier to be somewhere like this. Where you have someone to give advice, where you have a safe space to work with your horse. Of course, it comes with the "downsides". It is super strict in terms of rules as to what you can and cannot do (e.g. always riding in correct gear, no lunging in the big arena, no letting anyone else handle your horse etc), And the experienced person will have their own way of training, which might not match with yours.

But at that age it is really about the fundamentals, and I found it so useful (but very hard sometimes) to have someone point out my errors of my inexperience and where they would lead (and being shown this in reality when I chose to ignore the advice!).

That said, with yours, I would probably turn him out for a few months before. He has been through a lot of upheaval and would probably benefit from a break.

Good luck!

 

[yobonacob]

I’m assuming you are on a budget and this is convenient for transport reasons and cost.

Things you could try to improve the situation there:
- fenced off portion of field for ‘work’ once the ground dries up.
- companion (another livery or a small companion pony on loan) to keep the left behind horse happy while you work yours.

If those would work, you would have options for once he is back in work. Then I’d push that social media to get enough £££ to send him away for the reintroduction to work. He was in pain before and his behaviour was completely understandable- but now he still has that memory and would be best off overcoming his quite rational fears in a pro environment which would set him up to succeed.

That’s what I would do anyway. Get him going well at a pro yard and set yours up to succeed once he returns home.

That would be good, but when stressed he has and will run into metal gates so electric I doubt would hold him. The other horse isn't mine, I cannot put another horse in with it and all areas of the yard/fields are visible or hearing distance from the other - though this is only an issue for the 2 hrs a day the other two in its field are worked. I'd worry about him at another yard, apparently yard changes send him nuts (though since vet work he hasn't moved yards so it may change).

 

[kaiserchief]

As I see it, your choices are:

1. Stay put and accept that you now own a neurotic, traffic-shy, rearing, bolting horse that you won't be able to ride and enjoy because your circumstances are not suited to working him.
2. Send him to a rehab/training yard for professionals to bring him back into work, help him overcome his fears and set him on the right track to becoming a ridden horse for you (and hope that the training sticks when he comes home).
3. Move to a different livery yard, ideally one with professional help, where you can bring him back into work yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

While options 2 and 3 do involve changing yards, you mustn't underestimate how far you've come already - you've managed to get him treated which has involved travelling and time at vet hospital which is arguably more stressful than moving to another yard. Also, you'll be there too - it's not like he's being sold, he will have consistency of care which will help him to trust and settle. Also, given how horrifically he can behave in his current setting, would he really have any more bad behaviour to pull out of the hat somewhere new?

I realise it's a huge move for you and you've been very brave taking on and keeping this horse despite his many issues, but if you want to progress and stay safe, you need to set yourself up for success. Good luck!

 

[JGC]

As I see it, your choices are:

1. Stay put and accept that you now own a neurotic, traffic-shy, rearing, bolting horse that you won't be able to ride and enjoy because your circumstances are not suited to working him.
2. Send him to a rehab/training yard for professionals to bring him back into work, help him overcome his fears and set him on the right track to becoming a ridden horse for you (and hope that the training sticks when he comes home).
3. Move to a different livery yard, ideally one with professional help, where you can bring him back into work yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

While options 2 and 3 do involve changing yards, you mustn't underestimate how far you've come already - you've managed to get him treated which has involved travelling and time at vet hospital which is arguably more stressful than moving to another yard. Also, you'll be there too - it's not like he's being sold, he will have consistency of care which will help him to trust and settle. Also, given how horrifically he can behave in his current setting, would he really have any more bad behaviour to pull out of the hat somewhere new?

I realise it's a huge move for you and you've been very brave taking on and keeping this horse despite his many issues, but if you want to progress and stay safe, you need to set yourself up for success. Good luck!

Yes, I absolutely agree with this, unless you turn him away for the time being.

I had a youngster on a yard without much help, although had the facilities, and when the wheels came off, boy did they come off and yes, my safety was compromised and I injured myself. The only way to get back on track was sending to a pro yard and even then I'd lost too much confidence in the horse and ended up selling - the only horse I've ever sold. I have over 30 years experience in horses!

You need to make a change and quickly, your situation sounds unsustainable and unsafe.