Moving sooner rather than later

[NicP]

I have decided that although I have paid till the end of the month, I am goind to move Cody on 11th Aug (I would do it this weekend but I am at the Parelli thing in Birmingham).

Things at the farm haven't improved but have got worse. The two existing paddocks have no grass - and I mean no grass - and the area which has loads is still not fenced in. The horses aren't starving as they are having hay but there is grass there we can't used.

Also, the fields haven't been poo-picked. I do it whenever I can but hadn't had time recently and nobody else has done it (I shouldn't have to do it as that is what I pay for but am happy to help out). I collected 4 full barrows off the field last night and probably didn't even get a third of it - and it isn't a big paddock.

I have a photo on my desk here of the paddick when it had lots of grass and now it is a lot of mud, dead grass and poo.

The owner is really busy with work and harvest so I can't see anything changing so I'm off on 11th Aug - just need to sort out my transport!

Any tips from those who have moved for things to remember greatfully received! :)

[Kittycat]

Tip - don't forget the horse... :)

Seriously, good luck, and if you need an extra hand give me a shout.

[Trewsers]

Hmm, tips on moving...! Well, firstly, make sure at the other end when you unload you are wearing your steel toe cap boots (if you have any) and gloves and a hat. My Storm was a right loon when we "unpacked" her at home, OH had to come rescue me (he's soooo strong - giggles!) She decided to dance on my feet (v glad about the boots at that point) and rope burns - don't even go there - hence the glove wearing.....
I'm sure yours won't behave like that tho.......
I would also make sure you take some bedding and hay if you can from your old yard - I took two huge nets and "padded out" the new ones - just so that the change wasn't too great for their delicate tums! I also think taking a wee bit of bedding helps - they can then settle knowing at least they have something familiar.
You prob don't need me to tell you this - but don't expect too much for a few days - I didn't - I just more or less let them get on with it and didn't fuss too much about grooming / changing rugs etc.
Good luck!!

[NicP]

Tip - don't forget the horse... :)

Seriously, good luck, and if you need an extra hand give me a shout.

Tee hee - I will try and remember him!!

And thanks for the offer :D

[horsesforever]

I recently moved yards and although I was extremely stressed out at the time it went very smoothly! And my horse is much much happier now at his new home.

Some tips:

If you have lots of horsey bits and bobs - tack/rugs etc, start moving it all a few days before (either to new yard or the garage will do!) and then there's not so much to worry about on the "big day"

If you're using a using a transport company or even a friend's box, confirm and re-confirm to make sure its all still going ahead and that they know where he's going etc. Also make sure the new yard know what time you're arriving in case they need to get anything ready.

A few loading practises are useful if you need it. (We didnt do any practise with our youngster which was a bad idea and we were lucky we popped in just fine :rolleyes:)

Sort out all your travelling gear to make sure you have everything you need.

And if you havent told your current yard that you're leaving, try and broach the subject in the nicest possible way! :D

Might be a good idea to let your vet/farrier know that you've moved your horse in case you need to get them out.

You could bring some of your bedding/hay with you to make your horse feel more settled when he gets to his new digs.

Remember to double check you haven't left anything behind. As already said, most importantly the horse! :p

Well that's all I can think of, Good Luck!

[blues mum]

use a calmer for a few weeks after the move, start it now, does help with the stress.
good luck,

[clarabella_78]

I personally wouldn't use calmer unless you think your horse really needs it. All it takes is a little settling-in time, which is entirely natural. It might best to just let him be himself rather than artificially calm him so that he can be himself with his new field-mates too, and get his rightful place in the herd etc.

Although, after the stresses of moving my boy into his new home, I can see the advantages of sedation, never mind calmers :p

[NicP]

Thanks all.

He has only been where he is for 3 months and settled in quickly then but he has bonded with the other horses there so not sure if he will be worse having to leave them.

Unfortunately I can't take any time off work after the move weekend as my boss is off but I can go up each night and the YO is there all day.

[Back2Black]

We are starting to look for somewhere else now! Somewhere nice and quiet with a school is all we need :)

[MrDCBags]

Are you moving to a new yard or onto your own land?

[NicP]

A new yard - sadly I don't have my own land. There is another thread on this section about it but I have been on a farm and am moving to a livery yard.

There will only be 10 horses on it though so not huge but it has lovely indoor stables, a great menage, good grazing, sand school for lunging, horse walker, secure tack room. There is even a kitchen and loo - such luxury!!

[MrDCBags]

Sorry I missed the other thread!

make sure you know what the worming routine is on new yard. When I moved yards I had to use Panacur 5 day guard before the little chap was allowed out to play with others!

[NicP]

Yes, he has to be wormed on arrival. She didn't say he would need to be kept in but I will check. She has a smaller paddock (but next to one with others) where they go at first till they settle.

He will probably see all the grass there and forget his mates straight away!

[Mary Poppins]

Make lists of everything you need to pack and prepare. I am very forgetful and use lists all the time - I couldn't function without them (how sad do I sound!)

[cazrider]

I'd echo don't expect too much of your horse in the first few days. I moved yards recently and I was really worried i'd done the right thing as he was so stressed... for about two days... Now, a fortnight later I know I did the right thing. I just add a little bit of something new to what we do every day so that he gets used to life on new yard. I did ride him with the friend he came with on day 2 in the field next to his , and we're working our way up to where we were before we moved. But we are getting there and he's less stressed by the day.

So my advice would be .. take your time and let him settle. from your other thread your new yard sounds great.

[happyhacker101]

We were once on a yard with a very "kind" YO - everytime someone came to their senses and moved their horse's - she would pack up all their stuff, put their hay straw outside etc......

Good luck with your move.

[NicP]

Not long to go now!

I have transport coming at 10am Saturday and am hoping he loads OK. He did when I got him but I have had no way of trying to load him since.

My rugs are at home already and I have got my trunk to keep things in - most of my stuff has been kept at home anyway so far due to not having a tack room. In fact I am going to the new yard tonight to take some things up and finalise details with the YO.

I think all I will need to worry about on Saturday is Cody, his headcollar and lead rope and his grooming kit.

Looking forward to it and nervous at the same time! :D

[fairlady]

He He:) Best of luck. Forget the calmer for the horse:eek: TAKE IT YOURSELF. Thats where I was going wrong:)

[horsemadmandy]

Hi
I hope all goes well :) I have just moved my fella and I have only owned him for 4 weeks which was more of a heartache for me and him as I was convinced he would hate me for it as just settling in . I wont go into details but I just knew I was not happy with livery for our needs especially for winter, and I made the move to a yard not far away but with a school:) All the above advice is spot on and will help you. I would like to add just be yourself and keep to a routine if possible and treat your horse no differently. My fella was very hyperactive in the first 24 hours after the move and I felt very scared that I had done the wrong thing but I did a lunging session in the school the very next day and once he had calmed down we started to talk again and I rode him that session in the school and walked him inhand around the yard and just got him to have a look around. We moved a week ago and he is doing really well and I feel soooo much happier about the move as I have ridden him more times then I would ever have done in the old yard. just treat him or her as if you have known them forever and keep the rules the same. I wish you all the luck in the world and dont look back !

[cazrider]

He He Best of luck. Forget the calmer for the horse TAKE IT YOURSELF. Thats where I was going wrong

Good advice.;) I was at least equally as stressed about the move as Sen was. Make sure you have a bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin at home for the first evening.:D

Seriously, all the best. I am so glad I moved, and I'm sure it will be fine for you.:)

[NicP]

Make sure you have a bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin at home for the first evening.:D



Yum - my fave! :p

I popped to the new yard last night and the YO introduced me to the other horses and showed me which stable he will be in. I also dropped my rugs and what kit I won't need for the move off so that is a bit less to worry about.

He will go out in a small paddock when he arrives (but with way more grass than he has now!) - on his own but next to fields with others. He will then be wormed on Sat night and put back in the small field Sunday so she can check his droppings. After that she will put him out with others depending on how they get on - there are two groups of geldings.

Thanks for all the support, I am taking hubby with me for the move so he can take some pics! :)

[clarek]

I too mad a decision to move my new horse from my friends yard to a new yard, and it was the best thing I did for my horse. My friend did me a big favour by letting me keep my horse at her yard as I was new to horse keeping and needed the security of an experienced person to guide me, but after awhile I felt that I wasn't being able to make decisions for him, like being told when I could and couldn't turn him out. Being told he was bored in the stable, even though I'd been asked to keep him in to save the fields, and being asked if I'd consider sharing him with a friend of her daughters! (which really annoyed me)

A lot of my problems was she had too many horses and not enough grazing and I had no one to hack out with. So after the Easter holidays I decided I just had to move him. I looked around a couple of yards, found one that I really liked, and was close enought to ride to. I rode Kenny there so that I knew the route and he could have a look around. A week later I loaded up my car with all his paraphanelia and drove it there. It took me two trips. Then I tacked him up and rode him there.

He now has a 2 acre paddock all to himself which I have to maintain, I can turn out when I like, and also I've made friends who I can hack out with and who also have the added headache of kids. At the time it was a big decision and I kept wondering if it was the right move, I'm really glad I did and so is Kenny.:D