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Moved to a new barn..; .. now my horse is nuts! help!
Topic Started: Oct 3 2007, 11:57 AM (246 Views)
Ice Princess
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Is this normal for horses when moving?

Background: I've had my horse for 8 years. In those 8 years we have moved barns 3 times and she has always been calm and ladylike when we moved.

I recently moved her to a new barn and shes been a lunatic. :,( I feel as if it's not even my horse! It's been a week, how long should this "settling in" period take? I love the new barn- nice indoor, huge outdoor jumping ring with rolltops, coops, etc. but I can't even take advantage of them when my horse is scaring me to ride her! Normally my horse is DEAD slow and I can't even get her to move but now she's just being absolutely crazy! :brickwall: :brickwall:

please say it's going to get better! :shoot:
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Ride'emCO
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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What are they feeding her? Has it changed?
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SnackPack
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You're BANNED!
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Ditto the feed question..although a week would be really quick to have that effect her.

What else has changed? Weather, turn-out, exercise, etc?
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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Yup -

feed
lack of turn out
and do they have a stallion on the property? (sometimes hormones are funny things)
and who besides you is handling her? <----that is the worry-some one
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2hsmommy
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Give her some time. Change of barn. Change of the season. Is she coming in/in season too? I'm sure she'll settle.
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Ice Princess
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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feed- same pellets, but she is slowly being introduced to an alfalfa mix hay (that she has been on before while I owned her)
lack of turn out- she is out all day in a huge paddock
and do they have a stallion on the property? (sometimes hormones are funny things)- no they don't
and who besides you is handling her? <----that is the worry-some one- I agree, but the people handling her are the owner and the two guys who do stalls/turnouts etc (2 mexican men that are very nice and super helpful and speak english fortunately)

She came into season when she moved here almost immediately- the only thing I can think of is that this barn is a lot larger and busier than her last one, but she is still outside the same amount, in a larger paddock too. She is very clingy now and gets super attached to almost any horse that she sees who will look at her. She didn't have any buddies at her other barn either that she would be missing, the actual reason I had to move her was because she was getting beat up in turnout and they didnt offer individual turnout. :sigh: :,( I just want my normal horse back! :argh:
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SadiesMom
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I'm sure you probably have done this, but...have you hand walked her around the property and shown her everything, rings, jumps, etc.? I know my former horse would be real jumpy for a week or two and I usually just let him chill and take everything in. I hand walked him around the property and just took it easy until he started to settle into the new surroundings and routine. I'm sure she will calm down once she is not "in season" and gets to know the people and the place better. Hang in there!

Oh, and my horse was funny about new people, as in didn't trust just anybody and once he felt more comfortable with the new barn help and new owners, he was fine. Good luck!
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Ice Princess
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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That sounds like a good idea Sadiesmom... I have walked her around the whole property on her back, its hard for me to control her on the ground when she gets very frantic and panicking- but when I am riding she is more confident. Hopefully this will pass! Thanks for the encouragement everyone! :hug:
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MyGiantPony
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Ice Princess
Oct 3 2007, 06:17 PM
the actual reason I had to move her was because she was getting beat up in turnout and they didnt offer individual turnout.

That's something that grabbed me.

She was out in a herd, now she's alone.

Horses are herd animals - so even if she was low man on the totem pole, she was in a herd.

Is there maybe an old pony they can put out with her? I'm betting she needs an equine companion.
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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My old mare was a peach till I took a job and moved her to a hustlin' h/j show barn (I do trails) and her turn out was initially parallel to the indoor AND both sides of her had VERY agressive horses in them - as in squeeled at her and snarled and would kick out. <_<

I had taken my own grain, hay, etc. b/c I knew the job was short term and did not want to disrupt her digestive system

What worked was moving her to a different turn out where she could see and hear all that went on, but no aggressive horses to either side - it was broodie mares/ babies (and she wanted to steal a baby soooo bad) <3 on one side and the driveway on the other.

My mare was low horse on totum all the time too, and she fretted when bullies were about - she much preferred the broodies to the double aggressors.

Oh, and she refused to be caught by the barn owner for over a month. Not run away belligerent, just walk away and head keep away - she had some trust issues. (I never had trouble catching her)

One place I kept her had a stalllion and she was a complete hussy for about a week and then that too passed.

In her 28 yrs I kept her at 13 different places. Poor dear Rita. RIP sweetie. You will never have to move again - but you do have many friends to greet at the Bridge. :candle:

Give it another week or so. Your horse is still in there - but these moves just so distrupt their lives.

They have no control over thier lives - sometimes that really gets to me.
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Ontherun
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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MyGiantPony
Oct 4 2007, 04:38 AM
Ice Princess
Oct 3 2007, 06:17 PM
the actual reason I had to move her was because she was getting beat up in turnout and they didnt offer individual turnout.

That's something that grabbed me.

She was out in a herd, now she's alone.

Horses are herd animals - so even if she was low man on the totem pole, she was in a herd.

Is there maybe an old pony they can put out with her? I'm betting she needs an equine companion.

I agree-a buddy might help her. Good luck.
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Ice Princess
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Quote:
 
That's something that grabbed me.

She was out in a herd, now she's alone.

Horses are herd animals - so even if she was low man on the totem pole, she was in a herd.

Is there maybe an old pony they can put out with her? I'm betting she needs an equine companion.


She's actually out with these two quiet mares that are really sweet, but she is becoming obsessed with them! :duh: My vet came out today and she said its probably an adjustment period since this is a busier larger barn and she doesnt feel secure as of yet- we gave her 2 ccs of ace too so I could ride without all that excess nervous frantic energy- it sure was nice :)
Then after I rode I put her in the paddock directly next to the mares that she is becoming obsessed with- because I don't want it to become a problem. She seemed quite content and even ventured across the paddock away from them to eat some grass. (and lift her tail and show off how she was in heat to this yearling filly in the paddock next to her) I guess I just have to take it a day at a time now- that's mares (and shes usually never mareish!):rolleyes:

Quote:
 
They have no control over their lives - sometimes that really gets to me.
Dairyqueen- I agree. Thats why its so frustrating! We moved her to this barn because they had the indoor, she would have better care such as blankets changed, eating not with other horses, a nicer turnout and ring, overall generally more attention to her care, and its even more expensive- we are only trying to make her happy :sigh: I feel bad for her that she's so nervous in this new place.
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SadiesMom
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Hey, girl, don't beat yourself up. I promise she will adjust - just give her a little time. We can only do what we think is in their best interest and it sounds like a very cool new home for her. It will be okay :hug:
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