~ Moving Barns -- Long Post

I have been riding at a barn for almost 6 years. That is where I met my first horse Stoeka. I have now owned her for just over 4 years. She is 26 years old this year, and has been at this barn for a very very long time.

Last year I started riding occassionally at this other barn, where I met my other horse Night Heat. She is 14 years old, 16.3 hands, and has alot of jumping potential. At this barn I also get regular lessons.

The problem is that now my dad is having doubts about buying Stoeka, and was thinking of selling her, and then I move permanently to this other barn. I really did not want to sell her, because I loved her so much, even though I know for a fact she won't help me much with my jumping anymore, because she is so old and is barely 15 hands...

My dad agreed that we move Stoeka to this other barn, and let her half retire, and I carry on riding competitively with Night Heat. I am at least glad because I will still own Stoeka, and will still see her and be able to ride her. And I can also get lessons and work more with Night Heat.

I am just worried about one thing....I have heard it is not always that good to move old horses to new and different places. And at this new barn she will live out all year round and won't get regular food.

I would like to hear your opinions and what you think is best to do...what you would do if you were in my situation. I'm kind of stuck here....

I would move her... you can always put her in another adjoining paddock untill the other horses get used to her. And that way you can compete and train Night Heat, whilst still giving Stoeka some gentle exercise. And the living out thing... in the winter the ones that need it get a blanket, so why don't you get her one? And theres always grass or hay out, and plenty of water too. =)

Moves are always stressful on horses, regardless of age. Gosh, Nelson and I have had to move 3 times already in the 3 years we've been together, it sucks.

Does your girl have full vaccinations to help protect her from the new barn, incase if there are horsey bugs going around. You can give her some Probios to help her with her tummy with the stress and keep things going nicely in her belly.

When you move, just be with her alot. Comfort her with your presence and let her know that you haven't left her. Horses like familiarity and consistancy - so if you are present, that'll help.

She is up to date with vaccinations. Last week she had biliary, but is fine now.

When she does move, which will be sometime this month or next month, I will try to go as often as I can. That is one disadvantage of this barn because it takes about 20 minutes to get there...

Stoeka has actually been at this barn once before, last year when we went to a show. She spent the night there and was fine. She even made a few friends with some of the horses there.

Thanks for the advice. I will get some Probios for her for when she moves, and see how things go.

One question---you said she wouldn't get fed "regular food". What does that mean?

At her current barn, she gets two meals a day. At the other barn she will only get food during the winter months if needed. (I'm talking about hard feed)

I'm going to slowly and gradually decrease her food ration over time until she lives fully on grass in the field. I know that it is not good to suddenly change a horse's diet. Then she will be a pure bush pony.

LOL okay I was like "WHY isnt that horse getting fed?!?!" my current gelding lived on 8lbs of grain and grass for a year (at his old house)....it was not very pretty, so I would make sure she still has access to a hay roll or some kind of roughage other than pasture, especially since she's older. You'll want to keep as much weight on her as possible!

LOL. Ahh, okay. Yeah, in the summer months there is plenty of grass (too much), so she would still have alot to eat. Also, at her current barn she only goes out into the field for half the day, and the rest she is out grazing. At the other barn I'm going to move her the horses stay out all day, besides in the winter months, then they sleep in. So she'll have alot more grazing time.

I will still give her lots of carrots like I always do. Luckily she is a nice well filled out pony.