Yard move anxiety... tips?

[ponyparty]

I'm moving my boy next Friday. I'm excited - the new yard has lovely facilities, his stable will be in a big airy barn, he'll be able to see other horses at all times (in or out) and hopefully will go out with a small group of another two or three horses once he's had introductions over the fence.

But... It's a big yard, nearly 40 horses, and he'll be on part livery so may have different members of staff handling him daily. I've had him on a small DIY yard since I bought him in November, and he's so settled and chilled it is just amazing. He used to be quite bolshy on the ground, could be a pain to turn out and bring in, didn't used to tie up (the second you turned your back he'd pull back, break the string and be off!). Now he's like a donkey! This could be down to other things e.g. his diet has totally changed to low sugar/starch, no cereals, but I do wonder if routine has something to do with it too - and not being on a busy yard with comings and goings all the time.

Anyway, last night I had loads of anxiety dreams about the move, and now I'm wondering if I'm even doing the right thing moving him! I'm just worried that he won't settle. I really need to move him though, the facilities where I am aren't what I want and there isn't enough grazing. The hacking is way better at the new place too, really nice and quiet with lots of bridleways. He's currently on assisted DIY but at the new yard it's part livery - which will be invaluable soon, for various reasons.

Does anyone have any tips for getting a horse settled in quickly?

We're booked in for transport at 11am next Friday - I've taken the day off work, so I can be around all day, and will then be able to spend lots of time with him over the weekend, so he has some continuity with me being around. I'll be going up every night after work still, but will be able to spend more quality time with him, grooming, exercising him, rather than just mucking out and rushing with him.

 

[be positive]

As he is going part livery he is likely to be on a good routine if the yard is properly run and although there may be more going on in general that should not effect him as he will be out all day as normal, there should be in some ways less disruption than on a DIY yard where people are feeding at different times, turning out, bringing in as and when they feel like it, he may test the staff a bit but they should be professional enough to keep him mannerly and should really only be feeding, turning out and bringing him in everything else involving handling him will still be down to you, you will have more quality time with him now with less stable jobs to do.

To help him settle get him worked every day and don't feel sorry for him about the move, he is a horse and will be fine if he is ridden, has food and a nice friend or two to get to know.

 

[Birker2020]

Most horses settle without a problem. The key is routine, keep as much as you can to the routine already established with your boy, the same feed, same rugs, same familiar buckets, nets etc.

Maybe consider putting him on a calmer in the interim, something like Magic works very well on some horses.

I would recommend Zyklene fed in his feed a couple of days prior to moving and for three or four days following the move.

Basically Zylkene is made from a milk protein and is classified as a food supplement. The active ingredient is a peptide that has the ability of impacting brain receptors, resulting in a soothing effect on the animal. This protein peptide which binds temporarily to certain receptors in the brain, cause a calming influence to your horse. It has undergone much research and has been shown to be effective in both dogs and cats and horses with a taste which is readily accepted with no fuss. It can be given for shorter periods of time to cover a particular event or can be given longer term if required. The draw back to using this is the cost - it is about £3.00 per sachet from e-vet and you would feed one sachet a day up to 500KG. BUt I think that is well worth it, if it prevents your horse from stressing if you think it will

 

[ElectricChampagne]

As long as he has grub and water he will be fine. once he realises the routine it will be a breeze. They can definitely pick up the anxiety from us, so try stay calm and collected yourself. (easier said than done I know!)
Just make sure you have your everyday things to hand after the move. There is nothing worse than realising you've packed away something you need and can't find it among the excitement, and make sure you can easily get to any feed or supplements he needs.

It might be worthwile making sure you have a stock of the food he is currently on to bring with you, just so he doesn't get any upset tummies and if needs be transition him over to the yard feed over a week or two (if thats included)

I'd suggest making lists of the things you have and where they are so that you can find them easily. Its funny how in one place you work something like tacking up as almost second nature, but then when you move to another its all different and everything is all over the place! It pays to be (somewhat) organised.
Try keep up his exercise routine after you move too if you can.

Once you've both settled you'll be flying! The very best of luck with everything!

 

[pixie27]

I moved my gelding onto a massive yard onto part livery, and he has never been so settled or happy! We moved from a very small yard, and I was worried how he'd cope with the busyness. It's the best decision I've ever made - I know he's well cared for, he's settled in a routine, and the time I spend with him, is 'with him', not carting barrows of poo around!

With mine, when we arrived I rode straight away as I would if going to a show or clinic, then he went out in the field with his new fieldmates, then came in as usual. Haven't looked back since then. If you can bring some of your hay with you from the old yard, that might help, and if you can, maybe up his workload so he's not too fresh on arrival.

Good luck! (and PS I was totally the same - I had SO many people telling me not to move and that it was a mistake, so by moving day, I was such a nervous wreck, I could barely lead my horse! But it's all turned out brilliantly. Hope it does for you too)

 

[ponyparty]

Thanks guys, great advice. I know I'm being irrational really and there's no need to be anxious about it - but clearly it's bothering me, otherwise I wouldn't be having weird nightmares about it!

He's on Thunderbrooks muesli and balancer and I will be keeping him on it, so sadly that won't be included as the only supply "standard" feeds. But I have got plenty in, so he'll have exactly the same feed as usual from arrival. I think he'll be changing from hay to haylage, but I know he loves haylage and have switched him between the two with no problems before. Good idea to take a bit of his current hay though - do a gradual swap.

Deffo looking forward to having more time to spend with him. He's not ridden at the moment, for several reasons (now only to do with me, he's ready to start ridden work again) - I'm just continuing to work him in hand. So will keep that up!

Zylkene looks interesting, how long would I need to feed it for, before moving day? It's probably me that needs it, not the horse

 

[wiglet]

My mare can be a bit of a stress head. I went from DIY on a small yard, to full livery on a large yard a couple of years ago. Best move I ever made - my horse thrives on the routine of it all and has never been so settled.

On a lot of large yards (mine included) you have the same groom/handler everyday (my yard allocates 6 stables to each groom) for continuity. Your groom soon gets to know your horse so I doubt any bad habits will set in.

Good luck with the move and try not to stress!

 

[SpringArising]

I also moved from a private stable to a huge yard and my horse was actually a million times more calm and seems so much happier! Bigger doesn’t always mean more stress.

 

[Dubsie]

I think we all get anxious about moving and your horse can feed off that. Our last move we'd given notice and found out the stable we were moving to was free & could move immediately so a 4pm spur of the moment decision was made to move that day, nipped home for the trailer, loaded and went before 5pm (we have minimal 'stuff'), arrived at new yard in a thuderstorm and I don't think horse had time to get stressed!

 

[ponyparty]

Yes, I'm sure he'll be fine - thanks all, for your suggestions and reassurance. Much appreciated.

I just read my original post back and I didn't actually mention that, when he was behaving like a bit of an idiot before was when he was on a big yard - a riding school and livery yard. I had him on part loan there for a while and worked there, so saw his silly behaviour a lot haha. Man he could be a pain; on high alert in the field all the time, helpfully galloping around whilst leading other horses past (setting them off, in turn), turning out/bringing in he'd be doing his best racehorse impressions, you'd be having to dodge forelegs... He settled pretty quickly at the small DIY yard; we do have quite a solid routine there, even though we're all up doing our own horses. So my worry isn't completely unfounded really don't need to be dealing with dangerous behaviour at the moment.

I'm hoping it was more to do with sugar/starch in diet etc. He's like a dope on a rope right now, think the warmer weather is helping chill him out a bit too. Only time will tell I suppose.

He's not ridden at the moment so it's not like I can just hop on and exercise him. I haven't even got a saddle - I was told by the lady who sorted his back out for me to hold off getting a saddle fitted, until his feet have come 100% right (newly barefoot). I also have a further complication that I don't want to mention on here just yet - but will in due course sorry to be mysterious! So looks like I won't be getting back on him for some time. But yes, I will continue to work him in-hand, and keep up a routine with that to give him some normality and routine.

I can't wait to lunge/long-rein him in the beautiful school at the new place, it's massive and a lovely flat, even surface - unlike the current yard, where it goes from rock hard to really deep and completely sodden in places! I don't even use it any more, I think it's too tough/potentially dangerous even, for horses being asked to work on a fairly tight circle in an outline or in lunging gadgets.

Will let you know how it all goes!

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks guys, great advice. I know I'm being irrational really and there's no need to be anxious about it - but clearly it's bothering me, otherwise I wouldn't be having weird nightmares about it!

He's on Thunderbrooks muesli and balancer and I will be keeping him on it, so sadly that won't be included as the only supply "standard" feeds. But I have got plenty in, so he'll have exactly the same feed as usual from arrival. I think he'll be changing from hay to haylage, but I know he loves haylage and have switched him between the two with no problems before. Good idea to take a bit of his current hay though - do a gradual swap.

Deffo looking forward to having more time to spend with him. He's not ridden at the moment, for several reasons (now only to do with me, he's ready to start ridden work again) - I'm just continuing to work him in hand. So will keep that up!

Zylkene looks interesting, how long would I need to feed it for, before moving day? It's probably me that needs it, not the horse

Couple of days before maybe three or four following arrival. Good luck

 

[ponyparty]

Thanks HB. Will let you know how we get on...

 

[ponyparty]

It all went smoothly! So far so good anyway. He loaded like a dream, and when we got there he walked into the barn and into his stable like he'd lived there for 10 years. Dropped for a roll almost before we'd taken his headcollar off! and then tucked into his haynet without a care in the world.
All my stress over nothing eh... well, let's see what tomorrow and first turnout bring
I am pretty sure someone has swapped my horse for a super chilled one to be honest... he's being very un-Bruce-like at the moment...

 

[ponyparty]

There was one drama actually... unrelated to the move though, gonna start a new thread about it I think...