Getting the chance to own a horse that has competed professionally in any field is an opportunity not to be missed. As schoolmasters they have so much to teach us and the confidence that they can give a keen amateur is priceless.
There are things that as owners we need to ensure that we provide them with. It is all well and good to spend a lot of money getting an ex professional horse with the hope that you can go to your local shows and scoop up all the prizes. However life just isn't that simple......
One of the KEY elements that as an owner you need to consider is ROUTINE. This is true of any horse but what you need to remember is that a professional yard is an incredibly organised, regimented machine. Horses are turned out, hayed, fed, mucked out, ridden, groomed at specific times during the day. They are used to hustle and bustle - a busy yard. Taking a horse out of this environment to a DIY yard can be incredibly stressful for them and their behaviour can be affected dramatically, as the routine is not so regimented. Therefore it is imperative to find out what their routine has been and as much as possible follow it making changes gradually.
More often than not when the decision has been made to sell a horse it would have been "roughed off" from professional work but the yard routine is likely to be the same. Communication is imperative and can make all the difference as to how your new horse settles in to their new home.
Time to go and see Bert now.... he will be expecting me....
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