Helping Your Horse Adjust to a New Barn House

Purchasing a new horse comes with a cost – a cost that both you and your new horse will have to pay. If done right, you both will be paying the price for the better. And if not, you both will have to put through unnecessarily tough times.

Assessing fairly, the situation is naturally more challenging and stressful for the horse than it is for you. It has no control over this new change in life and has to put up with whatever you provide him. Hence, it is your moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to assist your horse in adjusting to a new barn house.

On the same note, here are a few ways that can ease the adjustment process for your horse:

Go with the Usual Feed

Perhaps, the very first measure that you can take is to opt for the feed that your horse already recognizes. Opt for the same hay and water. It will help your horse identify it as an element that associates with home. Thus, encouraging it to perceive the newer environment as home too.

If arranging the old grain, hay, and water is difficult, gradually transition your horse to newer feed. Mix the two in equal ratios and gradually increase the percentage of newer feed until there is none of the old one. Remember, you have to progress with this as per the pace of adjustment adapted by your horse.

Give the Horse Ample Time

Now, do not push your horse to adjust to its new environment as quickly as possible so you can pay attention to other stuff. Like you, the horse too is eager but bound by its natural limitations.

Hence, do not push your horse to adjust to new pasture mates as soon as it gets into the new barn. Provide it with a separate space. Perhaps, arrange a stall nearby the rest of the barn mates or a paddock near the barn. Allow it to get comfortable and interact with the rest of the barn mates little by little until the horse feels comfortable enough to move in entirely.

Look Out for Signs of Stress

Your horse is already dealing with quite a lot. The new environment increases the anxiety and stress levels in the horse’s body. And this, in turn, may weaken its immune system. Thus, exposing and making it vulnerable to a variety of diseases and infections, which may have your horse fall sick. To avoid this in the first place, you need to control the root factor, i.e., stress levels.

When under stress, the horse will exhibit clear noticeable signs. These include loss of weight, changes in eating patterns, changes in sleeping schedule, or development of unusual habits such as cribbing. Now, these will be your red signal, and you ought to report to a vet before the situation gets worse. They will suggest a suitable soothing solution like an effective CBD oil.

Provide Company

Lastly, try providing company to your new horse. Perhaps, you can bring in a companion of your horse along with it. Or perhaps, develop a routine interaction with other horses in the barn in the initial days. In this way, it will befriend the environment sooner.

Alternatively, you can provide it with your precious time and company. Having a human companion and guide brings about a sense of reliance on most pets and barn animals. Your company will help it associate the place with the word home.