Moving horses to a new home, whether that be temporary or permanent, is a big change which can cause a lot of stress. Imagine how stressful it is for us humans when we move house, well it is the same for horses.

There are two key things to get right when moving horses to ensure that everyone involved has the most comfortable and relaxed experience. Firstly you need to ensure that your horse’s journey to his new home is as stress-free as possible. To achieve this, we would always recommend a professional horse moving service to ensure your horse is handled correctly.

Secondly you need to ensure your horse is settling in well and to help you to this, we’ve put together some things to consider in the first few weeks.

Helping your horse settle in

1. Give your horse a chance to explore his new surroundings in his own time. Ideally let your horse investigate on his own, however, if this is not possible try using a loose rope.

2. If there are other horses at the new yard, don’t introduce your horse to the group all at once. This will upset the existing pecking order and can cause unnecessary stress. Introduce your horse gradually to a few horses at a time over the course of a number of weeks.

3. In saying this, your horse should not be kept in solitary confinement following the move. Ideally keep him in an open paddock or pasture where he can be kept separate, but not alone.

4. A change in forage can increase the risk of colic, so make sure you bring a few bales of hay with you from the previous home and introduce it gradually. For the same reason, it is also a good idea to limit the amount of time your horse is out to pasture in his new home to just a few hours a day.

5. Changes in water can also cause problems. Sometimes horses can be fussy when it comes to differences in their drinking water. With this in mind, always ensure that water given at the new home is as fresh as possible.

6. If your horse is being stabled, make sure you use the same bedding that was used in his previous home. This will help him to bond wth his new surroundings a lot quicker.

7. Check your horse’s temperature twice a day for the three days following arrival. If the readings are persistently above 38.5 degrees celsius this could be a sign of shipping fever. Make sure you keep a close eye on it and call your vet if the temperature does not drop.

8. Get some horse toys to keep your horse occupied. This will take his mind off the stress of the move and help him to feel more relaxed in his new environment.

Moving Horses with Professionals

If you’re looking for a highly-skilled, professional service to use when moving your horses, look no further than NRT. Our team not only has all the skills and experience you could ask for, it also has a genuine passion for horses. This combination ensures that your horse has the most comfortable and stress-free move possible.

For more information and advice about moving horses professionally, give us a call on 01638 663155, or click here to find out more.

The Tattersalls December Sales are certainly an exciting affair, but every so often they become something remarkable.

It was one of those occasions on Tuesday 5th December when, at the December Mare Sale in Newmarket, four-year-old filly, Marsha, became the highest priced horse ever sold at a European auction when she fetched a whopping 6 million guineas.

There was interest from the US, the Middle East, South Africa and even as far as Japan, all of whom placed bids in the early stages, however, it ended up with a head-to-head battle between MV Magnier for Coolmore and John Gosden for Godolphin. In the end it was MV Magnier who won it for Coolmore when the hammer fell for a cool 6 million. 

This widespread interest in Marsha is well-founded. In her three-year career, she established herself as a talented sprinter, winning seven races for her trainer, Sir Mark Prescott. These wins included the Prix de l’Abbaye last year and also this year’s Nunthorpe Stakes. With good looks to match her impressive race record, she is a very desirable filly indeed.

So where next for Marsha? “She’s going to Galileo,” a clearly pleased Magnier confirmed to the Racing Post. “She’s one of the best sprinters around and she has a lovely presence about her,” he continued.

For sellers Elite Racing, the funds will go towards the future of the club as Dan Downie told Tatersalls: “ it is exciting, and it is a wonderful for Elite,” says Dan. “We did have a price at which we would have taken her home, but we did think it was going to be unlikely. She has been wonderful and always takes everything in her stride. The funds will help with ongoing and the long-term running of the Club, but we will, of course, take a look at our nomination plans, in particular for Marsha’s dam, Marlinka.”

Another legendary Tattersalls December Sales at the legendary Tattersalls sales ring!

Horse Sale Transport

Have you ever wondered what is involved with getting so many expensive horses to such a prestigious sale? NRT is a professional horse transportation company that is expert in transporting horses from any discipline to any event in any location across the UK and Europe.

If you’d like to find out more about our services, give us a call on 01638 663155 or click here for more information.

It is certainly starting to get cold out there, so it is time to start thinking about the best ways of looking after your horse this winter.

You must be prepared for the worst conditions to make sure everything is as comfortable as possible for your four-legged friend. Below we have put together a few basic tips for looking after your horse this winter so that both you and your horse are in top condition ready for spring!

Tips for Looking After your Horse this Winter

1. Keeping warm is hungry work so make sure there is enough food for your horse, but not too much! Overfeeding can create a whole host of other problems. If you’re unsure of correct quantities, ask your vet for advice.

2. Check water troughs twice a day to ensure they haven’t frozen over.

3. If your horse grows a thick coat for winter, don’t overgroom it. This will strip it of the natural waterproofing oils that it produces.

4. If your horse wears a rug, remove it once a day to check for rubbing, sores and overheating.

5. Beware of your paddock becoming poached by choosing a well draining field for winter turnout, moving water troughs around periodically, or if possible, rotating grazing.

6. If kept outside, provide some shelter for your horse that can withstand strong winds and driving rain.

7. If your horse is kept inside, ensure any barns or stables are well ventilated – poor air quality can lead to respiratory diseases.

8. It might be too cold for you outside, but your horse still needs to exercise! Try to still ride as much as possible during winter and if not, make sure you turn your horse out every day.

9. After exercise always walk your horse to allow it to cool down slowly, otherwise it can become chilled.

10. Be prepared for the worst weather. Can you get to your horse in extreme conditions? If you can’t, ensure there is somebody who can help.

Stick to these basic tips to ensure you are looking after your horse this winter, and if you are still in doubt, get in touch with your vet who will be able to offer you some more detailed advice.

Moving your Horse this Winter

Are you looking to move your horse to a winter location that has better facilities for the more challenging conditions ahead? If so, NRT International can provide professional horse moving services, whether it’s a mile down the road to a different paddock or across to the other side of the world.

Give us a call today on 01638 663155 to find out about the services we offer. Alternatively, click here to get in touch.

Horse passports are a legal requirement for all horses and ponies in the UK and unlike human passports, they are required even if a horse never leaves the paddock. In fact, they are more of a general identification device than a requirement for travel.

Within the EU, horsemeat is regularly consumed and therefore horse passports were originally introduced as an EU Directive to protect the human food chain. As a horse must never travel without their passport, even to slaughter, they are a means of ensuring that no horse that has been treated with certain medicines is slaughtered for human consumption.

The penalty fine for owners not able to produce a valid horse passport could be up to £5,000, so it is important that you make sure you are compliant.

When you need one

Under current legislation, all foals must have horse passports and microchips within six months of birth or before 31st December of their year of birth, whichever comes later. 

A horse’s passport should accompany it at all times. It must be present when a horse is moved to a new home, sold, transported within the UK, transported out of the UK, used in competitions, used for breeding, given medication or vaccinations, sold or slaughtered. 

There are some exceptions, e.g., when a horse is stabled, out to pasture or moved on foot, however even in these cases, the passport must be produced within three hours of the authorities asking for it.

Never buy a horse without a passport or you will be committing an offence! Also, when buying a horse, always make sure that you thoroughly check its passport to ensure that the horse’s description matches up.

Updating your horse passport

Whenever a horse is bought or moved to a new location, its passport must be updated. You can do this through the original Passport Issuing Agency that the document came from.

It is the buyer’s responsibility to update their new horse’s passport and this must be done within 30 days of purchase. This timeframe is the same for when a horse is moved to a new address and it is the responsibility of the owner to make this change.

Moving your horse with NRT

Whenever you need to move your horse, you will need not only the horse’s passport, but also other valid documentation ready to present at borders. Here at NRT International, we can advise you on exactly what documentation you require and how you can go about getting it. Once everything is in place, we will take care of all the official business required when crossing.

So if you are planning to move your horse, get in touch with NRT International today for full guidance and advice. Call us on 01638 663155 or click here. 

If you would like to find out more about horse passports, visit the Government website here.