After boarding all my life, I’m about to move my horses to my home barn and I’m so nervous. Where do I begin?
Bringing any horse into a new “home” environment takes some time to adjust. But bringing horses to your actual home – where they will be managed under your own care 24/7 – well, that’s a big step! It might feel overwhelming now, but trust us, you’ll get used to it.
One of the most important factors to consider is routine. Horses thrive in a routine, so maintaining structured feeding and turnout times is a great place to start. Before moving the horses in, you’ll want to double-check you’ve hit all the basics: the farm is equipped and safe for animals (no nails in stall boards, pasture fencing is sturdy and safe, etc.) and you are stocked up on all the essentials: feed, hay, shavings, water access, farm equipment and an emergency medical kit. When you’re managing the horses on your own, you want to be prepared as much as you can.
But remember, even with these plans, things are bound to go awry at some point. It helps to have a team of experienced friends and professionals (don’t forget the vet and farrier, too) to lean on for advice and help. You’ll learn a lot as you go – what works for you, and what works best for the horses. But don’t be detered by the hiccups along the way.
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