Hello all hope everyone is doing well!
Been a bit absent of late but as I've been doing lots of training I'm sure I'll be forgiven!
So I would like some advice about moving yards. I plan to move down to East Sussex (uk) about August time to live with my boyfriend ( gulp!) but I have been wanting to move for a while as my yard doesn't have good facilities and is pretty shit-literally. Won't bore you with the details.
However, I have never moved a horse before and woody has maybe only moved yards once in his life? I want to make it as easy and stress free for him and myself as possible.
Loading wise I'm going to have lessons with the amazing Chris Morris after Easter and have started to do the narrow space, backing up rethought poles and will get some wood to practise walking on in preparation so we can take our time and go at Woody's pace. ( he is terrified of horse boxes/ lorries as he was beaten up going into one and apparently they smacked him round the head with a plank of wood. Also the only other time he's been on was to go to hospital as he impailed himself on his stable door trying to jump it as his previous owner didn't turn up.) so no good memories there.
So I need to know as much as possible to keep him calm and ok getting there (is there anything I can do to make the journey easier) and what to do when we do get there. I'm quite prepared to rig a hammock up and stay the night with him if need be as long as he's ok!!
I have no idea what yard i will be moving to yet as unfortunately I'm going to have to take what I can get initially as I'll be moving myself and my job at the same time so timing is going to be tricky. - if anyone knows of a nice yard in that area please let me know!
Cheers
Wow! What a life chage for you and Woody. All the very best with it. Sounds as if you are doing all the right things in preparing Woody for the journey. Having his trust will help so much. Is it possible to hire a float/ trailer beforehand? If so could you leave it in his field for a day of so hooked up to your vehicle but closed so he can't go in panic and hurt himself. Then once he used to it you could start putting some nice hay in there while yo are there to watch him. Put the hay close to the front initially and then move it back a bit once he is brave enough to go in for it. You may try going in with it so he knows that you think it is safe. I would use carrots to. No pressure just let him get used to the idea before you put the dually on him and ask him to go in with you. I am sure you know to reward any foreword movement. Because of his horrific past experience it will take time. You will probably need about for or five sessions of about 40 minutes each. Any progress is good! Good luck with it.
I recently was asked to help board an Arab that had been previously abused. He had only been floated once before and it had apparently taken 3 men about 3 hours to do so - you can imagine what they did to him - all the usual traditional brutal treatment. It was very tricky as he would rare frantically as soon as he was near the trailer and as soon as I put any pressure on the dually so I had to get him in without putting pressure on the dually so that he wouldn't rare up and hit his head on top of the float. I also chose to do it by myself as it was too dangerous for others. He was still terrified and shaking when I did finally get him in but I figured that it was now safe enough to load his little companion pony in first and allow her to calmly eat the nice Lucerne/Alfalfa hay in a hay bale on her side and then ask him to join her. This worked like a charm and he went in with only minor dually work though he was still very scared. A few sessions together then back to asking him to load by himself. He did with no problems. Now I have been able to tell the owner that all she needs to do is place some good Lucerne hay in his hay bale then lead him to the flaot and allow him to go in by himself then close him in before moving around to the front of the flaot to tie him on his hay bale twine and give him a rewarding pat. Took me about 6 sessions! Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with it all. What an exciting time for you and Woody. Hope someone from UK can help you find the perfect yard to keep him in once you get there. Apologies for such a long response.
Hi. You've got lots of time to address Woods' issues. Borrow/hire your preferred type of transport. Get him comfortable with it. Have him loading, willingly. Take him on short trips to build his confidence. The main issue you have to face is the new yard. This is like your child starting at a new school. He's the new boy & he's going to be stressed! Make sure he's turned out apart from the established herd so he can meet them over the fence. Relax. You have time. Be cool. Woody will follow your lead. Make changes incremental, don't be bullied. Moving is part of life & our horses need to adapt. It is our obligation to meet our horses needs, whatever they may be. Maybe you will need to spend a night or more in a hammock, may be not. But, I'm very happy that moving to be with your boyfriend, you would even consider such a venture. Clearly Woody has a concerned & loving owner. Cheers, Jo.
All great advice Widgy - a big change ahead for you all, exciting and scary all at the same time! :-)
What town are you going to be close to, my neighbour moved from around Hastings to Cornwall, I can probably get her to put some feelers out for recommendations for yards if this would be of some help to you. You can email me on joy.tears@hotmail.co.uk, Ill message her through fb,she's a night nurse so I'm never sure when she's not sleeping, she can then make some enquiries. Let me know if there's anything specific you'll need for Woody, obviously you want somewhere that has like minded people.
Sorry for the late reply but thank you all!
I haven't got a trailer I can leave in the field but the lorry I'm (hopefully) borrowing is across the track from me and they are happy for me to use and practise as I wish as long as they're not using it for shows which is very lovey! I've been trying to find some wood to get him to walk on but no luck yet although he did walk in tarp for the first time ever the other day without so much as snort or pull back!! Just had a bit of a nuzzle at it and followed me on-still buzzing from it!
With regards to the new yard Turing him out separate from the others is what makes sense and what I've heard before but he hates being on his own and gets panicky. Should I try it and see how he goes and if he can't cope then throw him in the deep end?
Also when he started being stabled a few years ago he wouldn't eat without me being there to begin with. He's on a keep clam food anyway and I have some pet remedy spray to help him relax but is there anything else I can get for him to keep him chilled when I'm not there ( even with the hammock I'm gonna have to pee at some stage!)
I know I sound like a right worry wart...you're right... :) but he's been through so much in his past I just want to reassure him and myself- if I'm all prepared I'm gonna be less worried and confident for him.
Oh also are there any specific things I should watch out for and ask when I look at a yard other than the horses look healthy and people seem nice? At the mo it's just me and him so I don't have to worry about other people being around.
Thanks guys!
Oh and it'll be near Brighton area TIggy, but thanks anyway!
You are clearly making all efforts to make him feel safe. I may have missed something...what makes you feel that seperating him from the others in his new yard is the way to go, sorry if I'm being dim...just finished work and may not be concentrating! Usual process is to turn him out with one other that is calm (not the herd leader) and then put the two back into the group.
:
How do you know if he is chilled/not chilled when you're not there? What happens?
:
What to look out for on other yards... (1) What is their turnout policy (2) What do they do if they see horse abuse (3) What is their worming policy (4) Do they have a vaccination/quarantine rule for new admissions (5) How many horses per acre (most livery yards are seriously over stocked) (6) What are charges for all the little extras (7) Will they turn in/out if you can't get there (watch for this one as they may not handle him the way you want) (8) what do they think of Monty Roberts? (this will tell you a lot!) (9) Are you allowed to bring in external trainers (some don't like it) (10) Can you come and go as you please or are there set hours (I work till 2 am sometimes so 9-5 may not suit!)
It's a start, I'm sure others will have many ideas too :-)
Widgymaphlip,no worries. Mate did give me the name of one of her old instructors a Dr Carol Green, this may or may not be helpful.
Thank you again!
Vicki sorry I didn't mean I'd keep him separate, just many yards like to turn the newbie out on their own but next to the others for a few days first. I know he doesn't do well on his own so this is a concern for me. I'm hoping that being next to them he'll be ok, but I'll ask if he can go with one other like you said as this makes a lot more sense!
Trying to get DIY is gonna be tricky as I know the majority of yards want at least assisted DIY so turn out or bring in, which is handy but is one of my concerns as I don't want anyone to do anything I wouldn't with him! (I'd end up in jail if anyone so much as shouted at him)
Thank you for the list of questions- think I might start off with the Monty Roberts questions as I think then I'd get most of my answers! I really can't wait to get out of yard but at least I know where I am with this one and how the people are with him ( mostly nice but what sparked this whole thing even before the big move was that they told me they use a whip to get woods in!!! I told them on no uncertain terms never to do it again and if he was being a pain tell me and they had a go at me for upsetting them!) anyway.....
And thanks Tiggy, I shall look her up!
Cheers guys!
Good luck, I hope you find a lovely place :-)
Just wanted your thoughts- think I have found a yard right under the South Downs! Small school, hacking straight up to the downs, small, quiet yard, all you can see is green! Downside- even though everyone has a stable, they all live out, so woods would be the only one in at night. I guess during summer he could stay out but he really is a fair weather horse and likes his bed! He's on his own in his stable about4-2 hours in the morn, as the other horses go put at stupid o'clock and he's fine, but somewhere new....am I being mean? I know he likes company but will he get used to it? Or is it cruel of my to dingle him out and take him out of the herd?
The only other yards I can find are big liveries and I know he'd hate it. Apart from this stable issue it seems perfect. Oh and it DIY. I have asked if I can stay the first few nights but they don't seem too keen- not that they would know anyway I guess!
Cheers
Hi. I think this is a suck it & see situation. He needs to decide whether he wants his bed under these circumstances or not. Thinking through changes is sensible but all any of us can do is our best. The important thing is to remain open minded so we can adapt when necessary, but not with a knee jerk reaction. Cheers, Jo.