Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your hooved friends. Preparing to move your horses can be an intimidating task. Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly!
- Find a New Vet and Register with them Right Away: When moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for you and your horse. Most vets will not treat a horse that is not a client. This means that you need to set up an account right away with the vet that you choose. You don’t want to get stuck in case of an emergency.
- Transfer your Horse’s Medical Records: Once you find the right vet, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move.
- Coggins Test and Health Certification: If you are moving across state lines, you will need to have a blood test and health certification prior to shipping/transporting your horse. This will require a vet visit but is minimal in cost. Just a personal opinion but moving is so stressful that I would leave the transporting of the horses to the professionals if it’s any distance at all.
- Ship your Horses with their Comfort Needs: Being on the road can cause anxiety in horses so send them with all the creature comforts that they have at home…their feed, their supplements and anything else that can give a sense of normal for them.
- Watch your horses carefully as they adjust to their new home: Different areas have different climates and different plants and grasses. If the grass is too rich you risk the possibility of founder. Make sure you confirm that the plants/grasses on your property are not toxic to horses. If you need a book to help with that, you can purchase one HERE.
Ensure you have all the supplies you need before bringing your new horse home.
Often when bringing a new horse home, you find you’re missing some of the essential items the horse needs. We have plenty of extra supplies around our barn, but inevitably we are missing something. That’s why it’s necessary to have a supply checklist for your new
Checklist of supplies:
- Grooming brushes
- Water buckets and feed bins with snaps
- Halter and lead rope
- Hoof pick
- Hoof oil and brush
- Sponges
- Sweat scraper
- Stall hay bag
- Hoof boots
- Leg wraps
- Fly spray
