Recouperating after a long haul and new barn?

Question

My horse is being picked up today in Washington and being delivered to me, in Illinois. He'll be on the truck for about a week, hopefully less. 
He's been at the same barn his whole life, and has never hauled more than maybe 30 minutes. 
So by the time he gets to me he's obviously going to be extremely stressed out. He's also been off of work for 8 months while I've been in military training. 

The new barn is requiring him to stay in a stall for a couple weeks for a quarantine period to make sure he's healthy. He's been out to pasture for months, but has been in a stall for the past week and is doing alright. 

He's a very high energy horse and I'm unfamiliar with how they do after such long hauls, so what can I do to make this transition easier for him? I plan on giving him a couple days off, but how long do you recommend? 

BTW, I'm shipping him with Bob Hubbard Horse Transportation, so he'll be very well looked after during the trip.

gallop · Accepted Answer

There have been some studies done on managing stress.  In one study, the researchers measured cortisol (a stress hormone) in yearling horses that had never been transported, both before and during a six hour ride in a semitrailer. The horses rode either in groups or in individual stalls.

The finding was that all of them were equally stressed just from hauling, and that grouping them during transport made no significant difference in stress hormone levels.

After transport the horses were first housed in groups and then moved to individual stalls. the move into individual stalls caused an increase in cortisol by 3 times the levels, indicating acute stress response.  Even after 35 days of being stalled, the horses' cortisol remained elevated above the levels measured before they were hauled.
So, between the long transport and isolation period, there will be considerable, measurable stress.

I'm posting a link to more information on equine stress issues with some management tips that should be of some help as well. 
 
You have hired a highly reputable transport service which helps a great deal. I know they allow you to provide your own hay, which I would advise you to do, since providing the same hay that he is accustomed to eating to be fed to him during the trip will help to prevent digestive issues associated with changes in diet.

If you can also purchase enough to last for at least a week or two after he arrives in order to allow a gradual transition to whatever he will be fed at the new facility, that would also be ideal.

Anyway, here is the article which I think you'll find helpful and informative.  Good luck with the move..............

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13880

Bubbles · Answer

I would give him as much time off as he needs - he's never moved, never travelled that far and is being put in a stable, has a new home and a new routine.

I would take him out in hand for a pick of grass if you are allowed to and maybe stick him on the lunge after a week for a leg stretch. If he's chilled enough by then, happy with his surroundings and routine and the yard are happy to let you, sit on him in the school. Remember - he's had a lot of time off, may be very fizzy due to the time off, the stabling and the new environment and will be very unfit so you will need to do lots of walk only work with him with walking on the road and short bursts of trot and gradually increasing the time and intensity to fitten him back up again (will take about 6 weeks - I'm sure the new yard will be happy to help you with a fitness programme for him)

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Recouperating after a long haul and new barn?

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