Would you hack your horse to his new livery yard?

tashcat

tashcat

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I am moving my 22 year old to a livery yard this month.

We've never been on a livery yard - for the past 5 years he has lived on a small patch of land with three other horses who he is quite close with.

He's very nervous and unsure of himself on the road, but we hack daily so getting there wouldn't be a problem. Its about 2 miles away.

The problem I have is I have worked really hard to gain his trust whilst hacking, and I'm worried that I'll break it if I hack him there. Hacks and riding in general is purely for fun for us, and I'm not sure its fair to take him out for a pleasure ride, and then end up at a new yard where everything is different he'll never see his friends again.

I do not have my own lorry or trailer, so I'd have to hire or borrow off a friend - not a problem, but an extra expense.

What do you think? Am I being silly and too sensitive about this, or could it upset our relationship and his trust?

Thanks in advance! :)
 
I don't think he will associate the change with hacking - and nor should the change be too traumatising for him. Like most horses, he will probably find it very exciting! So yes, I think you are being a bit sensitive, but we all can be when it comes to our horses. Just make sure everything is completely ready for when you arrive - a nice big haynet if he's going into a stable or field ready and waiting if not.
 
For what its worth I hacked mine twice to new yards, my horse is quite stressy and I felt that he would be more relaxed and a bit hungry when he got to new yard so would settle easier - he was fine on both moves, he still took a long time to settle but I believe he would have done if I had trailered or hacked. What ever you decide he still has to settle in, spend time after the move doing groundwork and trust building work with him and perhaps get out exploring with another livery so its positive from the start for him. Good luck with your move! :-)
 
My friend hacked her horse here a lot back in the day and he would then have a holiday until he just stayed one time lol he was none the wiser. If you are worried he will stress out, ask a livery to hack to you and hack back then the horse will be happier with a friend.
 
I would advise you avoid the route past your old yard for a while after moving or the horse could become nappy thinking he is "home" now.

Hacking him to the new yard should make no difference to anything really. It's the move that will stress him not the hack there. He will soon realise he returns to the same place, albeit a different place to before, each ride.
 
Thank you for all your replies! :)

Perhaps I am too sensitive about him haha :p

Sugar_and_Spice - we've never actually hacked past this livery before (theres a small section of fast road to pass and I've never justified it before now) so I doubt we'll return, but thank you for the advice, I'll definitely be sure to avoid it for a while!

equi - good idea about having a friend to go with, that would definitely make it easier for him! :)
 
I thinking hacking there is a brilliant idea, horse arrives a bit tired, a bit hungry and with the edge taken off him. If he's not used to travelling in a trailer regularly then I think he'd find that a bit more worrying. I've taken horses to stay away for a few days and always been very surprised at how settled they are but I have found they have liked me to be around a bit more to give them confidence, so I usually spend a lot of time grooming and just generally being with them when they are in a new environment. Don't worry, I'm sure your horse will be fine.
 
Hacked my boy for 1 and half hours to get to new yard, went straight to bed for the night as tired and setlled immediately. He's not the best traveller so it made sense from my point of view. I don't think going 2 miles down the road Will bother the horse, just avoid old route for a while.
 
Your hacking him somewhere positive though yes? Somewhere he will be happy! I've hacked mine to both his new yards and to say he is relived to get into a nice stable with a big haynet is an understatement! My boy is very chillaxed about most things in life though I'm sure you'll do what's right buy yours but I'd definitely if it's going to be somewhere he enjoys! X
 
I did. It was 7 miles and I had to go through the centre of a town so I got my OH to meet me on the edge of the town and walk through with us, armed with many carrots. It was really enjoyable actually! Especially going under the motorway!
 
It's so much less stressful to walk or hack them there. I'm incredibly tense when travelling horses in trailers or lorries and they've settled much quicker when hacking.
 
I walked mine in hand to her new yard in July. I would have ridden but it was pretty much the hottest day of the year and I didn't finish work till after mid-day so I didn't feel it was fair on her - plus it was only half a mile down the road! It probably would have taken me longer to groom and tack up than just put her head collar on and walk there.
I'd agree with what others have said about avoiding old hacking for a while - I've made that mistake, because we are so close to old, well known routes, we have ended up 'taking root' outside her old field on one occasion and planting at the end of the farm track that leads to the yard on another!
 
Yup, mine was hacked to both his last two yards. Apart from rearing and spinning at the sight of two Shetlands, he was fine :rolleyes3: He managed to ignore the tree surgeon and the busy traffic, but that just finished him off!
 
I definitely would if it was an option. Particularly if he's not a regular traveller. As others have said, it means when you arrive he'll be a bit tired and looking for a feed so will hopefully settle quickly.
 
I have a trailer and wouldn't want to hitch up for a journey of 2 miles, far easier to hack - I probably would even go directly but would want to do at least 4 miles so he was exercised for the day.
 
I know people that have hacked to new yards. Just ensure all his things are moved first & you've got his favourite food waiting for him, treats or a big hay net to help him feel straight at home.
2 miles isn't far at all. As long as the road is safe. Also could anyone nanny you & walk, cycle or ride with you?

Another option I hired a lorry & driver to move my horse, it was 55 miles so no hacking options but cost a reasonable £100 & would pay it again for their fantastic service. Xx
 
Yep, my new yard is also about 2 miles from my old yard so it wasn't worth hiring a trailer.
I did have to dismount and lead him a few times during some silly moments, so if I were you I would take a lead rope and some treats in case your horse has a wobble.

Just keep everything as relaxed as possible. If he's going into a field, untack, walk him around a bit and turn out so he can see other horses and settle better. He's bound to feel anxious at first but he'll soon settle and find new friends :)
 
I know what you mean about the guilt.
But your horse will still have you and I'm sure you will do everything that is best for your horse.

Could you maybe hack to the new yard a couple of times and let horse have a look then hack back.
It won't be such a big shock when you hack there on moving day and he ends up staying.

Good luck
 
Yes I would hack, get someone you trust to walk with you, get them in a hi vis to slow down the traffic on the fast road!

I have hacked my mare to and from new yards! was supposed to be moving my boy to a new yard a few weeks ago until I found out he was broken! I have a trailer but the yard is only 2 miles away, so I was planning on hacking him there!

Good luck
 
I walked my two inhand at 6am in the morning to avoid heavy traffic. Was the best option for me as I couldn't travel them together in the horsebox, both settled really well
 
Out of 4 yard moves I only used a trailer for one and that's because he wasn't fit to walk/hack.

My boy likes to find out where he is so hacking is ideal for him.
 
No never I only did it once and my horse paid with his life He jumped out of his new home over a 6ft fence and ran back to the old one and was killed by a car the car driver was killed too I even used the lorry to move fields after that and would never ever hack a horse to a new home again
 
tashcat said:
I am moving my 22 year old to a livery yard this month.

We've never been on a livery yard - for the past 5 years he has lived on a small patch of land with three other horses who he is quite close with.

He's very nervous and unsure of himself on the road, but we hack daily so getting there wouldn't be a problem. Its about 2 miles away.

The problem I have is I have worked really hard to gain his trust whilst hacking, and I'm worried that I'll break it if I hack him there. Hacks and riding in general is purely for fun for us, and I'm not sure its fair to take him out for a pleasure ride, and then end up at a new yard where everything is different he'll never see his friends again.

I do not have my own lorry or trailer, so I'd have to hire or borrow off a friend - not a problem, but an extra expense.

What do you think? Am I being silly and too sensitive about this, or could it upset our relationship and his trust?

Thanks in advance! :)
Click to expand...

Yes why not..................................
 
windand rain said:
No never I only did it once and my horse paid with his life He jumped out of his new home over a 6ft fence and ran back to the old one and was killed by a car the car driver was killed too I even used the lorry to move fields after that and would never ever hack a horse to a new home again
Click to expand...

So sorry to hear about that, sounds like a truly terrible event :(

The fields at the livery yard are surrounded by very full, very tallhedges, and he loves new horses so likely he'll keep himself entertained with 20 other horses to meet! Thank you for your advice, and I'll be sure to be aware of a situation like this in his new home.
 
Thank you to everyone for your replies - I think the majority verdict is to hack!

Also thank you for all the extra tips to make it go as smoothy and safely as possible, I'm feeling much more reassured :)
 
tashcat said:
I am moving my 22 year old to a livery yard this month.

We've never been on a livery yard - for the past 5 years he has lived on a small patch of land with three other horses who he is quite close with.

He's very nervous and unsure of himself on the road, but we hack daily so getting there wouldn't be a problem. Its about 2 miles away.

The problem I have is I have worked really hard to gain his trust whilst hacking, and I'm worried that I'll break it if I hack him there. Hacks and riding in general is purely for fun for us, and I'm not sure its fair to take him out for a pleasure ride, and then end up at a new yard where everything is different he'll never see his friends again.

I do not have my own lorry or trailer, so I'd have to hire or borrow off a friend - not a problem, but an extra expense.

What do you think? Am I being silly and too sensitive about this, or could it upset our relationship and his trust?

Thanks in advance! :)
Click to expand...

I think you are being very sweet, but I also think you are overthinking things x He wont care, wont process it like that, Ive had some very tricksy horses that I have worked hard to establish that bond with and never blinked an eye either before or after establishing that bond when it came to hacking to a new yard. Honestly, if you view it as an adventure, your horse will do the same... at the same time - worry yourself stupid over nothing and it will impact on your horse. If anything the bond youve worked so hard to forge should be your reason to do this, if you have that bond your horse will trust in you, you are not breaking his trust by riding him somewhere new, rather he should by now (with such a bond) trust you wherever you take him xx
 
I've done it several times. Both horses settled fine but the first time they were together so knew each other. When I lost my old boy I hacked my girl to her new yard and she settled ok - but did flap her bottom lip a lot (something she's always done when anxious)
 
I was given no choice with my old boy! We had a box, loaded up all the gear plus the youngster, my old lad took one look, decided we'd sold him and refused point blank to load! (To the point of throwing himself on the ground). I nipped home for the tack, tacked him up and rode him 4 miles to the new yard without any issue at all. At 4pm. In rain and fog. On Christmas Eve. In the dark. He didn't turn a hair, and when we got there he looked round, realised that his dad and the other horse werethere, marched into his new stable and started on his haynet and from then on it was as if he'd been there all his life.
 
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