I don’t think mine misses me one bit and he’ll probably run when he sees me 
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Sort of a pity you can’t move her in late fall, as then the bug issue isn’t a thing. But in any case, moving in spring is totally doable. However, take advantage of the fall sales. Assuming the retirement place permits it (they may not), moving a horse to 24/7 turnout when you have the option of giving them the full kit: mask, boots, and fly sheet with neck and belly band, is easier.
IMO horses that fail to thrive in 24/7 do so because of two factors: inability to get away from insects or inability to get away from irritating herdmates. Fly sheets/masks mean that if they don’t have, or aren’t comfortable in the shed with the others, they aren’t getting bitten to death.
I did retire a show horse. Not mine, I was in desperate need of a companion for my big draft horse who was going literally insane by himself. I picked up my little pinto pony for a song as she wasn’t coming back from an injury in the middle of a brutally cold January. She went from 2 hours of turnout in a pen, living in a 100 plus horse stable, full set of shoes, full set of indoor blankets, and a show schedule…to living outside, with a shed, 8 acres of field, no shoes, and a very heavy winter blanket (she had, of course NO winter coat that year)! Aside from the total culture shock for a horse that had spent her entire 16 years in the confines of the Western halter and then barrel racing circuit, she adapted quite well. But it took months. Now, I have to go get her most nice mornings to bring her into her shed stall for food. She still doesn’t grow a coat, though.
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When I had my first horse on retirement pasture she realized over time she didn’t need to be caught by me, but loved the old cowboy who took care of her and never rode her. At one point in my late 20s I went traveling for a year. When I came home and went out to check on her she was grazing quietly in the herd. When I parked the car her head went up. None of the other horses paid any attention. Her ears went up and she sniffed. I crawled under the fence and she walked away. I walked after her and she started trotting. The other horses kept grazing. She trotted into the forest. Oh yes she remembered me.
And this is the horse that used to greet me with joyful whinnies when I kept her stalled
I have been way more careful with subsequent horses, making sure I have happy pasture visits and a good recall.
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Agree with this. Spring grass is the hardest to manage, digestively speaking. It’'s super sugary and if a horse isn’t used to real pasture, it could be disastrous.
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My horse became so resentful of all the vet work, poking, and prodding to try to fix his kissing spine/lameness issues he would run away when he saw me with a halter in my hand lol. Trust me he is wayyy happier now feral as can be with only human contact being his feet getting trimmed out in the pasture. I can see it in his expression with every picture I get.
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The retirement boarding facility I moved my horse to had experience in getting show horses adjusted to the 24/7 turnout. Maybe speak with them to see when the best time to move would be and what their strategy is for the adjustment.
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Hi All- I wanted to thank you for providing your advice and wisdom, perhaps you could also help me with “Part 2”.
As an update- I moved my mare to a retirement farm in March. She’s thriving being turned out 24/7 in a small herd setting. She absolutely loves it- she’s getting along well with her “friends” but she has turned back into a 3 year old.
I cannot catch her for the life of me. She is not food motivated so has no interest in a bucket of grain. Sometimes I just sit out there to see if she’ll walk over to me. She comes about 5 ft within of my reach then “gallops” away. I’m confident she thinks it’s a fun game- but how do I correct this behaviour before it gets out of hand? In 25 years around horses I’ve never had one who won’t be caught!
Thanks all- looking forward to some new ideas to try.
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we have one like your mare who does not want to caught but then again does not want to be the only horse in the field so we bring in ALL of the others before even looking at the renegade who then willing wants to be caught (is also the only horse in thirty years that we turn out wearing a halter as he is very reactive to having a halter strap going over his head)
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Catch one of her friends to lure her in lol
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