Yard help - Arg!!!

Shantara

Shantara

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I posted here too http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=11919680#post11919680

As it says in the other post, Ned really isn't happy at his new home. I mean, he is more stressed than I've ever seen him! I feel like a terrible person. I moved him to try and make us both happy, but it's seriously backfired.

My new yard is perfect in my eyes, it's got everything I need! But Ned just can't see it like that. I know it's only been 2 days, but the way he's been acting has really depressed and frightened me, more for his sake than mine.

Thankfully YO and the other liveries are doing everything they can to help and are just really lovely people, which is making me feel worse! I feel like I've let a devil loose in their paradise.

I think the only option for him is grass livery. He is perfectly happy out in the field and has once been moved to a friends field (sadly, not an option) and he settled instantly. I don't think he can handle a yard environment, such as this. In fact, he was better than I've ever seen him in friends field. He loved it!

Does anyone know of any fields around the Milton Keynes area that has any space?
 
sorry to hear that things haven't gone as well as expected. How long have you been at your new yard? do you think he just needs time to settle? whats his routine at the moment is it much different from the yard you was at previously? Try not to give up too soon he might need a little bit more time.
 
I'm sorry that he's not happy at the new yard.

I'm not in your area so can't help with alternative yards, but I can offer words of hope. When I moved CM from the old yard where we were both unhappy to a new yard, she was very, very stressed. However she did just need more time to settle and it did get better and better until she was relaxed and happy. We ended up staying there for years and only left due to moving out of the area.
 
I personally would give him longer to settle before even considering moving again. When I moved my 2, despite them being calm and happy pretty much straight away, it did honestly take nearly 3 months for them to truly settle and relax. The had both been at the previous yard and with their established herd for 10+ years so I was prepared for it to take a while!
 
Faracat said:
I'm sorry that he's not happy at the new yard.

I'm not in your area so can't help with alternative yards, but I can offer words of hope. When I moved CM from the old yard where we were both unhappy to a new yard, she was very, very stressed. However she did just need more time to settle and it did get better and better until she was relaxed and happy. We ended up staying there for years and only left due to moving out of the area.
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^^echo this.:) I've just moved and it's horrible to see when they are all stressed out, but they will usually settle given time. Mine is better after some work so I'm trying to make sure she is ridden every day - her brain seems to cope better when her body is tired.

What's he finding most stressful?
 
I wouldn't jump to move him again as you may end up only stressing him more. It's only been two days, I'd give him some time. My horse took a good week or two to settle down when I moved him and stop jumping at his own shadow! Chances are Ned is feeding off your stress at seeing him seemingly unhappy and it could be making him worse. Why don't you just give him a really easy couple of weeks work wise, just find a routine and stick to it and let him chill, give him time to relax. It'd be a shame for you to leave if you like it so much in terms of facilities and people etc.
 
Its different for him so of course it will be very strange at the start

Give him time though - dont make any snap decisions!
 
It's being in, he's never had that before so that's new to him.
Another livery turned her horse out early and he jumped out of his stable and over the yard gate (thankfully, it just goes onto a gravelled area, he couldn't completely escape!) I got a call at 5am telling me he's got out.
I am going to have to get onto this livery's time and it's going to be hell! She turns out at 4:15am.

Once he's in the field, he is fine. I caught him flat out yesterday! But it's just in the stable. I really feel cruel keeping him in there :( It's a gorgeous stable, really big and open, but he still doesn't like it.

ETA - that's another problem though, I still can't ride him, so no work! :(
 
It just takes them time to get used to everything being different and new. He most probably feels a little alone as he's not got his normal 'friends' with him. Once he's made new friends and gets used to the yards activities, I'm sure he'll be ok :) Just think of it as a child moving schools; it's often tough to start off with but once they get new friends it's like nothing's ever happened!
 
Nah said:
It's being in, he's never had that before so that's new to him.
Another livery turned her horse out early and he jumped out of his stable and over the yard gate (thankfully, it just goes onto a gravelled area, he couldn't completely escape!) I got a call at 5am telling me he's got out.
I am going to have to get onto this livery's time and it's going to be hell! She turns out at 4:15am. :(
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Ok, so this is all manageable.

Can this livery turn Ned out for you?

Is there an option for him being out 24/7 during the summer?

Can you move to a stable where his neighbour doesn't go out so early?
 
Nah said:
It's being in, he's never had that before so that's new to him.
Another livery turned her horse out early and he jumped out of his stable and over the yard gate (thankfully, it just goes onto a gravelled area, he couldn't completely escape!) I got a call at 5am telling me he's got out.
I am going to have to get onto this livery's time and it's going to be hell! She turns out at 4:15am.

Once he's in the field, he is fine. I caught him flat out yesterday! But it's just in the stable. I really feel cruel keeping him in there :( It's a gorgeous stable, really big and open, but he still doesn't like it.

ETA - that's another problem though, I still can't ride him, so no work! :(
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Are there any other horses left in with him? Could he move to a stable next to a horse that is in till later? Put a full grill on his door so he can't jump out? What about arranging with the other owner so you turn her's out for her or vice versa?

As others have said I wouldn't rush into moving him, hopefully over the next few days you will see him gradually start to calm down. Is he on a calmer? It might be worth introducing one for a couple of months while he adjusts to the change.
 
does he have to be in at night?

I wouldn't be in a rush to move him after 2 days but iirc he has had stable issues before, even at old place? so it is all a bit new for him then and will take time for him to settle. Can he see others from his stable? consider a mirror? grill to stop him jumping out?
 
amymay said:
Ok, so this is all manageable.

Can this livery turn Ned out for you?

Is there an option for him being out 24/7 during the summer?

Can you move to a stable where his neighbour doesn't go out so early?
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Nope, nope and nope I'm afraid! I might offer to turn out for her though, so neither of us have to get up so freakishly early, but then I don't want to wreck her horses routine.
 
I feel your pain. My grey has not only jumped fences before, but will jump out of her stable (even if all the other horses are stabled too *grrrrrrr*) so I put an anti weaving grid on her stable door. She was, of course, most put out and very miffed. However she doesn't even try to get out now.
 
ester said:
does he have to be in at night?

I wouldn't be in a rush to move him after 2 days but iirc he has had stable issues before, even at old place? so it is all a bit new for him then and will take time for him to settle. Can he see others from his stable? consider a mirror? grill to stop him jumping out?
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He does :(

He's got a mirror and inserted a grill yesterday which kept him contained for longer, but I dread to think what would happen if she turned out and he got into a panic. Yep, he can see the whole yard! It's a tiny yard of 6 stables in a square.
 
I would offer to turn out for her or vice versa. Two days is nothing and he will need much more time to settle due to his past and his type.
 
Nah said:
Nope, nope and nope I'm afraid! I might offer to turn out for her though, so neither of us have to get up so freakishly early, but then I don't want to wreck her horses routine.
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^^ this is definitely worth a try, even if it's just for a week or so :)
 
2 days isn't long enough to make a decision. Give him more time. It doesn't matter that he's seemed to settle immediately elsewhere, horses generally do if their needs are met. He needs company and a routine so give him that and I'm sure he'll chill out soon.
 
Nah said:
I have and she said she'd rather not for the time being, as she's got 3 horses to do and works super early. And Ned is being a douche doesn't help.
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Absolutely understandable.

Early mornings for you then for a few weeks :o:)
 
Thanks guys, I really do appreciate your help! I feel so annoying saying "tried it/nope/etc"

I know 2 days is nothing, but it's so heart breaking to see him. I'm trying super hard to make it work, but I feel I need a back-up plan in case something goes badly wrong.
 
amymay said:
Absolutely understandable.

Early mornings for you then for a few weeks :o:)
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This ^^^

I'm not sure if this is a daft idea or not....I would go down there early but not actually turn him out. Maybe give him a groom, walk him in hand etc while the other horses are being turned out but then put him back in his stable until 'normal' turnout time in the hope that he will get used to being in with just the two other horses. If he is settled with the above you could gradually decrease what you are doing with him during them being turned out until he isn't bothered about it.

Can you get an infill for the grill so there is no way he can get through it?
 
I think that you are wise looking for an alternative. Hopefully he will settle and you can stay where you are, as you seem happy with the yard in every other way. :)
 
Might be worth a chat with your vet - as a last resort I had to give mine some sedalin last time we moved as she just wasn't coping with the change. It really made a difference. She had a couple of ml every day before going out, as it was the turnout she was struggling with. I hated having to do it but was so glad I did.

Might not be suitable in your case but worth a phone call to see?
 
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