What to do on the first few days at new yard?

[bimba]

Having a bit of a dilemma as to what to do with Mac and TJ on the first night in our new home.

Mac will be coming in overnight and TJ will be living out with another pony for company however I don't know whether to bring TJ in for a night (or 2) until they settle in. Basically options are, a) arrive approx 12ish turn out for a few hours, bring Mac in leave TJ out b) bring both in on 1st night, turn out on sat am and give them all day to settle in, bring only Mac in on sat night or c) take 2nd stable for a week bring TJ in and then leave out once they've settled in.

My concern is that if I leave TJ out on day 1 with them only having been there a few hours they'll be very unsettled and Mac being Mac that will lead to massive tantrums and general idiot stresshead-ness. But on the other hand if I bring TJ in for a week we could have more issues when he then goes out.

I know what I think would be best but just interested to know what others think.

[Grey Haven]

I haven't voted, but personally I would turned them out ASAP. If they both seem quite settled that is. They will be glad to stretch their legs. I suppose it depends on what time of day you get there, if it's later on I'd probably leave them in the first night and then start the new regime on the saturday!

[Catg]

I would play it by ear if possible and see what theyre like when they arrive. If it's at lunch definitely turn then out. Sounds like you'll have to choose the lesser of two evils, which one is more stressy? Is it Mac? If so I would keep them together and start TJ's new routine once they're settled x

[bimba]

They'll both go out when we get there regardless of what I decide to do as like you say they'll have been cooped up in the lorry and it'll be nice for them to stretch their legs, I'm just unsure what to do overnight with Mac coming in but TJ staying out.

[fairyfeet]

I'd bring TJ in for at least one night.

[Teej]

When I moved my two, I left them both out for the first night and brought them in on the second night. We didn't have a long drive to the new place but we just felt that loading, travelling, offloading in a new place, new horses, out for a few hours and then stabling for the night was just too much for one day! Left them out on the first night and when we went up in the morning, my two and my friends gelding were all lying down together

You could then assess on day 2 whether you also need to bring TJ in on the 2nd night. If they seem chilled then Mac may be ok in his stable surrounded by his new 'friends'. I would play it by ear.

[bimba]

FF and Teej, those were my thoughts exactly. I am leaning towards definitely bringing them both in on fri then seeing how sat goes and just taking it from there.

Cat, Mac is definitely the stressy one - typical TB will wind himself into a state of total hysteria over nothing if he sees fit to do so and I don't want to have him sweating and weaving on our first night hence thinking bringing TJ in might just calm things down a bit and then they can have al day Saturday out to make some new friends and see how it goes from there.

[fofo]

I voted for the second option. It gives you a bit of time to get settled without worrying then start as you mean to go on the next day.