Moving your horse to a new yard

A checklist for moving yards: notice, paperwork, transport, the first weeks and settling in.

Moving yards is stressful for horses and owners alike. A bit of planning makes the first few weeks much smoother.

Before you go

- Give notice in writing, as your current agreement says, and settle the account. - Check the new yard's requirements: vaccination record, insurance, worming or worm count, sometimes a strangles blood test. - Have your horse's passport ready. It must travel with the horse. - Book transport early if you don't have your own, especially at the start of a month when many people move.

Moving day

- Travel in the morning so the horse has daylight to settle. - Take enough of the current hay and feed for a week or two, and change over gradually. - Agree in advance where your tack and rugs go.

The first weeks

- Ask how the yard introduces new horses to a field and to a group. Many keep a new arrival in a separate paddock, sometimes next to its future field companions, for a while first. - Expect a change in behaviour for a week or two while your horse works out the new routine. - Keep an eye on weight and droppings while the grazing and hay are new.

When you're looking, search yards near you and use our viewing checklist.