10/21/2024
New Home Syndrome - The Resource📖
Back in July I wrote an article proposing a new term be introduced into the equestrian vocabulary. - New Home Syndrome.
I did this with the intention of drawing peoples attention to something that is easy to overlook - the stress a horse experiences when they move homes and the physical, mental and emotional ramifications of this upheaval.
When people encounter the stressed versions of a horse they can come to the incorrect conclusion they have made a terrible decision, the horse was misrepresented, or they are complete failures of horse owners or riders. In fact, most people I encounter who have problems with a horse have had the issue with the horse from the beginning of their partnership. Therefore, even though they had the horse for years, the impact of stress from that move has manifested into chronic issues.
I am not saying that people do not buy the wrong horse, or horses are not misrepresented and people can indeed be part of the issues...it is just that a good proportion have just not transitioned well and this has not been on anyones radar!
Anyway, I am pleased with how the idea has been taken up. The articles have been shared thousands of times, it has been published in magazines, discussed in podcasts and I have even been contacted by a number of studs and trainers who include now the article in education packs they send off with their young horses to their new homes. There is even a free webinar coming up and I will post details in the comments.
Because I have been inundated with requests for help and advice I sat down over the last couple of months and put together a resource. The resource presents a way to understand what happens to the horse, how stress compounds and can become chronic. Then a strategic way to approach the issue, practical things you can do and the holistic way you have to view the situation. It also takes a good look at us and how an unfamiliar horse can trigger the human side of this issue which I have dubbed New Horse Syndrome. How a stressed version of a horse, can very easily turn our world upside down and make something we love become not fun at all.
Anyway, I released the resource yesterday and it was great to see feedback coming through already. I thought I would share it with you. This was from Anna H from Australia:
"Thank you for developing the new home-horse syndrome resource. I quickly bought it when I saw it and inhaled it in one sitting last night. Makes SO much sense and has made me realise that my horse's previous home wasn't the right environment. They were ticking all the boxes for the compounded and chronic stress. I moved them recently and felt anxious about the decision, but it's been the best thing I could have done for them. They're adjusting to the new facilities. I'm now following your 4-6 week training program and plan to take my time with the adjustment. Thank you for creating this valuable resource".
For people that asked for my help in the comments I promised I would let you know when the information is out. So here is the heads up!
I will write detail in the comments section for those interested :)
Thank you to everyone that shared the original post 🙏
