I’ve always gotten on mine the day they moved. I expect my horses to be able to go new places and settle in and do their jobs, as it’s a big part of horse showing. Its also nice to let them stretch their legs a bit after a trailer ride, since they’re usually not going out in a big field right away.
OP, I’m glad your guy is settling in well, and I hope you’re loving the lack of stress in your life!
I see no fault in either approach, and figure that the owner knows their own horse better than strangers.
Okay super helpful folks, how long does it take for horse to really settle down at new barn? He hasn’t really calmed down yet and it’s been a week—no terrible behaviors but he’s unsettled in turnout and edgy when riding. Still wide-eyed and head up when walking around. Granted, it’s a busy farm with lots of land, so lots of new things. He’s normally fairly chill, and although I wouldn’t call him a kick ride, I usually wear spurs, which are now in the trunk of my car.
It could be a million different things.
Your horse might simply be one of those horses that does not do well at a really busy barn. There are horses who do not like that situation.
Has his feed changed? Has his turn out schedule changed? Is he prone to ulcers?
Was he on something at the old barn that he is not getting at this barn? (meds/drugs/supplements)
Or, he might just be settling in a little slower than some do. Hasn’t figured out the whole situation yet.
What does the new trainer think?
A week is not that long. My current horse moved from a farm where he had lived for 5-ish years and didn’t go off site a lot for the last 2-ish years of those 5. It took him a good two months to really settle down and act like he was completely comfortable in his surroundings. He’s not a spooky or unruly (usually) horse, but he was very clearly worried about things for that first 2 months or so.
This horse lived for 6-years in previous barn (from his breeder) and didn’t get out at all in the last year.
Food is the same, turnout schedule roughly the same (early in am for a bunch of hours).
Work has been either me, or new trainer (who rides him well—she’s not making him worry).
He is prone to ulcers but we upped his supplements/meds for a few weeks before the move AND he’s still on the same doses.
New trainer wants him to breathe. She has been patient with him, and is really trying to get him to settle (she takes him for walks, and today he got a very sweet, older pony friend next to him in turnout. They groomed over the fence and it was very cute). The management at this new farm is top-notch.
You say that he didn’t get out at all in the last year, which I take to mean that he didn’t go to any shows and wasn’t trailered off the farm for any other reason?
Maybe it’s just that he’s taking longer to adjust to a completely new situation. Some horses do. He might be interested or somewhat amazed at all the new horses and activity around him after not going anywhere for a year, if you and he showed on a regular basis (I didn’t check upthread to see if you did).
We actually didn’t get off the previous farm much. We didn’t show. Last year, we didn’t leave at all. In past few years, a few times/year we’d go off property to trail ride/use a cross country course. (Another major reason for leaving previous barn was there were no trails and trainer rarely trailered us off property).
It sounds like it’s quite a change for him, then. I bet his new pony friend will help him settle a bit. I would just continue to focus on keeping things relaxed and low key. Continue the walks around the property, especially if they include some hand grazing time. Just let him get used to everything that’s going on without pushing him for a lot.
Right, however this horse isn’t adjusting quickly. Sometimes even strangers have decent ideas.
Did he have a horse buddy at the old place who comforted him?
We forget horses are emotional beings and sometimes losing a buddy via illness, death or a move is very, very hard on them.
As far as I know he wasn’t particularly attached to any one horse at previous barn. I do think it’s helped to have me (as opposed to if I had say, sold him and he had to move without his human) as he visibly relaxes when I spend time with him (drops his junk and all!)
When I got my horse he hadn’t left his old barn for at least 5 years. He didn’t show and they were a hunter/jumper lesson barn so he never left the property.
He was a spooky mess when I brought him home. He was new to me, so I wasn’t sure what he was really like, but he was a prancing, jigging pyscho for the first few months. After that, he settled in and I adjusted his grain, and he was better. It was also winter when I got him and I’m sure that was a factor as well, but is what several months until I left like I was looking at the horse he really was.
Um. Wow.
But, one does not know the horse is not adjusting well until it has time to adjust so that would leave the only option of taking the horse places and doing nothing with it for some period of time.
I think the OP is fine here.
It sounds like both her and the trainer are doing all the right things to help her horse with a big change. Keeping his brain working (with training rides), letting him relax (with turn out and hand walking), getting him a new friend, etc.
Edit to add - And at some point in the life of a horse that someone is planning to show the horse has to learn to work/behave/do its job even when it is stressed in a new place.
Was he on any particular supplements for a medical condition before? I know you said he hasn’t gotten them in months, but might he have been getting them anyway? (If that would be the unexpected change in his feed, I meant.)
It took my guy at least 4 weeks. Easy going gelding and we moved every 2 years. We also went off property frequently. I wouldn’t worry about it for at least 6 weeks.
Look, the OP has been through the wringer getting her horse moved to begin with.
Having people jump on her as soon as she’s out of that mess seemed more than a bit over the top to me.
But sure, go ahead and criticize her–she’s more likely than not ruined the horse for life by this precipitous behavior, eh?
Jeez.
You are fine here. Cannot expect him to act like a million miler away at shows 20+ weeks a year or a seasoned veteran with multiple moves under his girth any more then you expect small children to amass a circle of new, close friends and win popularity contests at new schools in one week, especially if its their first move. And you can talk and listen to little kids. Not so much the with the horse with whom you can only guess.
Like kids in a new school, some horses are going to be quicker to adapt then others regardless of history. Waaaay too early to start worrying about having made a mistake here. Patience, patience, patience. And remember they thrive on routine so try to understand its still new to him.
Long as he’s eating and not developing new self destructive behaviors, he’s doing fine for not ever being away from home much or at all.
I’d give it more than a week to decide if the horse is adjusting “quickly” or not.
You mentioned he’s ulcer prone and is getting supplements. Is he just getting supplements or is he also getting something like ulcergard? When my ulcer prone senior stresses (something as simple as a mice in the winter cause him to get spooky, unsettled, and get ulcers), he usually needs to either go on ulcergard or do 30 days of nexium. Once his stomach feels better, he settles back down. When his ulcers are bad, he can’t even stay in his stall he stresses so much (which means all of my horses have to live outside).
You may already be going the ulcergard/nexium route, but just thought I’d mention it just in case you are only using a gut supplement (which are great, but sometimes they need a little bit more).
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
