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[LesleyR]

Hi everyone
I've been visiting this site for ages but have only just got round to registering - mainly because I would like some advice.

I've been offered a friend's horse on full loan. I'm hoping to take him on in the next couple of months. The thing is he was home bred and although he has been kept with other horses before and has been moved from winter to summer grazing at different places this will be his first totally new home since he was a foal.

Can any of you offer me some advice on how to make settling in as untraumatic as possible both for me and the horse?

[Wally]

I personally would never keep a horse on his own. Can he have a friend to stay with him? An old retired pony or some such companion? Will there be other horses to keep him company?
Give him plenty of time at grass or at least outside in a fenced paddock if he's likely to put on the pounds.

[hlstarmie]

I agree with Wally, horses hate it on their own so some sort of companion would be better, maybe a donkey.
You will find that settleing in will be hard for him if he is on his own. He is not used to that either.
I would visit the horse on a regular basis before having him so he gets used to you and knows who you are.

[Allie]

try to keep the same feeding/turnout schedulke as much as possible. Find out when he was fed, when he was turned out, etc., and keep the same times at least for a week or so, then gradually adjust them to fit your own schedule. If he is used to full time turnout, don't just stick him in stall 23 hours a day and expect him to be happy. Likeise for a full time stalled horse. Any changes that you have to mkae, just make them gradually.

Allie

[Dot]

We use goats as companions too, as they are not as expensive to buy as another horse.

[nic24]

We also used goats for our first horse. We bought her when she was just weaned and she missed the other horses so much. We bought 2 baby pigmy goats and now they do not go anywhere without her. I do agree they need another horse, but at the time the goats did the trick.

[LesleyR]

Thanks for the replies but I think you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick. He's not being kept on his own - that's the point. He's moving from a private home with one other horse to a livery yard with 20 odd other horses!

[Maci]

I know this was last replied awhile ago, but it's the first time I'm reading it, and I have a suggestion anyways. If this new place has any pasture land, put him out to pasture with some of the new horse's at the livery yard. If there's no pasture land, then walk him up and down the asile so he can see and 'touch noses' with the other horses.
This was probably posted awhile ago, and your horse probably already settled in, but I thought I'd start it again and offer my advice!
Maci :)

[Sonia]

I'm just in the process of settling in Ellie, I found that instead of turning her loose with 10+ other horses, I put her in a fence arena, where the others could meet her, but where she was safe.

Good luck
Sonia

[Silver1]

I agree to,
when ever Justine rides Buddy, Dusty (his companion horse)
tries to follow and if he's shut out he stays next to the fence and looks miserable....