The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Horse behavior changed by moving homes?

6K views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  Palomine 
#1 ·
I've moved my horse to a different boarding facility after finding a much better price with them (he's been there about 7 months now). I feel as though my gelding's temperament and behavior has changed because of the move. As if he's unhappy in his new home and it shows through the way he acts, even the way he acts towards me. His new home only has an open barn to run into whereas the other had a nice stall to go into every night. The new home also has mostly other geldings which he doesn't seem to like much at all. He use to be very calm with just an all-around happy demeanor. Now he seems irritated and pushy all the time. Do you think the move is a plausible reason for the personality change? I'm also thinking about getting a mare with an absolutely GREAT personality. I'm afraid her perfectly gentle and puppy dog personality will be spoiled as well. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to move them both back to the previous boarder, despite the price difference. Any opinions?
 
#2 ·
Absolutely. Horses are very socially structured and any change in their lives would be comparable to taking yourself off to uni. It takes a good few weeks to get used to it all and settle into the routine and figure everyone out. Some people/horses are sociable and will get on with any other immediately, and fit right in to a herd. Others will be unsure and want to either lead or submit but don't quite know which to do. So they just get stressed out and become annoying.

How long has he been there? If it is anything under about 3 months i would NOT take it personally.
 
#3 ·
Ditto, absolutely. I've heard of horses over react (negatively) when they were re-introduced to a Training barn and it wasn't the same barn.

One horse owner was smart enough to pick up on that and had enough training barns and "normal" boarding facilities around to experiment.

The horse was nervous and full of angst at both training barns but quiet and compliant at a the normal boarding facility. The training barns evidently stirred up some bad memories of a previous point in time for the horse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Palomine
#4 ·
It does take some horses longer to adjust to a new home than others but I think the fact that he has gone from being stalled to a run in situation is more of what is bothering him. Also turning several horses out on pasture is one thing, several horses on dry lot having to deal with the others over hay or a place to stand out of the weather or sun is another. Some horses have no problem with it but I think it keeps certain ones on edge. As much as 24 hr turnout has it's benefits, I like the idea of stalling a horse for part of the time. When I had my own place and several horses they were in during the hot summer days and cold winter nights and out on pasture the rest of the time.
 
#5 ·
Moving can be very stressful for horses so its possible your horse has ulcers that need treating
My horses choose to stand in their individual stables at different times of the day/night/ usually dictated by the weather and the bugs but given the nature of them they wouldn't go in a communal barn, they get on great most of the time in the field but like to know they can get out of the way if there's any pecking order tussles going on. I've actually had very few horses that would happily share a shelter with a 'herd'
 
#7 · (Edited)
I agree that it takes time for a horse to adjust, BUT, at the same time, know for a fact that full time turn out, with a shelter, is way better for total horse health, than being stalled every night.
If he always had his own stall, never needed to learn herd dynamics, it is an adjustment period for sure-but a good one, JMO
Long as it does not mean he is at the bottom of the pecking order, with not enough surplus food, so that he is being kept from eating. Other than that, any horse in my opinion, becomes abtter horse, allowed to live like ahorse, learn herd dynamics, etc
"bubble wrapped 'horse, are never really learn social skills.
His working out his position in a group of geldings, reAlly should havE no impact as to how he reacts to you. That position should already have been established as an absolute
hORSES ARE CREATURES OF HABIT. Of course, they are going to be more comfortable in a familiar setting then a new one.
It is also why young un seasoned horses ride great around home, but become very different horses when first being exposed to the show scene
If the horsed is well cared for, has lots of room to escape those geldings, is not kept from eating, then I would let him adjust-he will be a better horse in the end, then those that are considered , 'too valuable to be turned out
 
#9 ·
If he has been at his new place for seven months then I would expect him to have settled by now.

I don't think the stalling issue has anything to do with it. If anything it sounds like his new situation is better than his last.

Questions I would be asking would be: Is his herd stable or constantly changing? Is he fed the same food regularly? Does he have to fight with other horses to get it? Who handles him most of the time and are they a clear leader? Have there been changes in the frequency or way he is handled?

Horses personalities don't change when they move. What can change is factors that influence them to be a certain way. For example if a horse doesn't have clear leadership he might be on edge all the time and not feel safe. This could come from other horses or from handlers. Or if the herd is always changing, the horse might always feel on edge because their position is always in flux. Their routine might change, or not be kept to, which can make them anxious. Food changes that change their energy levels.

A new mare won't change when you move her but factors might require her to be another way.

Also, be reflective on your behaviour. If he is handled less often is he being allowed to get away with poor behaviour? Are you demanding respect?
 
#11 ·
If the horse has been stressed enough by the change in the way he's kept and adjusting to a new herd with possible harsh pecking order antics and its given him ulcers then he's going to be cranky with everyone because he's uncomfortable and miserable
Its all very well singing the praises of keeping a horse out 24/7 with a shelter and buddies because its 'so natural and better for them' - but what's natural to a horse is what that horse is used too, not what we humans perceive as natural
If he's afraid to use the shelter so having to stand out in the heat and the biting bugs and his new herd scare him and haven't accepted him and he's still showing signs of something being badly wrong this far down the line then it's time to consider that this form of 'natural' isn't doing him any good at all
Rather than keep trying force him to 'enjoy' it why not look at some alternatives?
 
#12 ·
It could be there is a lot going on at this place you don't know about.

He's not happy for whatever reason, instead of getting another horse I'd move him back to where he was happy.

Someone could be riding him, could be they aren't getting fed enough, or he is getting run off of water?

But I'd move.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top