The First 14 Days After a Move, Thrive Stability Checklist

The First 14 Days After a Move

Thrive Stability Checklist

The first two weeks after relocation are the foundation period. Your goal is not performance. Your goal is stability. Use this checklist to reduce stress load, support regulation, and set the horse up to thrive.

Days 1 to 3, Arrival and Reset

Environment

• Provide a quiet, safe space with minimal disruption

• Allow the horse time to observe and orient

• Avoid unnecessary traffic, novelty, or intensity

Forage and Water

• Forage first, immediately and consistently

• Ensure constant access to clean water

• Monitor drinking and manure quality without overhandling

Handling

• Keep demands low, short calm interactions only

• Light hand walking is appropriate

• No intense schooling, no pressure tests

Key Goal

• Nervous system downshift, comfort, familiarity

Days 4 to 7, Routine and Predictability

Rhythm

• Feed at consistent times every day

• Turnout and handling at predictable times

• Keep the environment as steady as possible

Avoid Stacking Stressors

• Do not introduce multiple changes at once

• Delay major training expectations

• Keep concentrate changes minimal and structured

Social Integration

• Monitor herd introductions carefully

• Recognise that new social dynamics add stress

Key Goal

• Build routine, reduce volatility

Days 8 to 14, Confidence Without Overload

Threshold Awareness

Watch for early signs of rising arousal:

• Elevated head and locked neck

• Shallow breathing or breath holding

• Tight back and hurried steps

• Fixed scanning, reduced blinking

• Sudden overreaction to small stimuli

If these appear, reduce intensity immediately.

Training Approach

• Keep sessions short and calm

• Focus on softness, not achievement

• Introduce novelty gradually, one step at a time

• Finish before the horse becomes depleted

Movement

• Turnout and gentle movement support regulation

• Avoid excessive confinement whenever possible

Key Goal

• Confidence under threshold, availability for learning

Feeding Stability During Transition

Nutrition should support steadiness, not volatility.

Thrive Feed Required Transition Protocol

Thrive Feed must be introduced using the Thrive Feed transition method.

Do not mix Thrive Feed with sweet feed, grain mixes, or any other concentrate feed.

Required Changeover Steps:

1. Stop all other concentrate feeds

2. Feed forage only for a full 24 hours

3. After this 24 hour forage interval, begin Thrive Feed at the recommended daily ration

Always ensure free choice forage and constant access to clean water.

The Thrive Principle

The horse does not fall apart from one thing. Horses fall apart from stacked change.

Reduce load before you add expectation.

A regulated horse is a trainable horse.

A comfortable horse is an available horse.

That is where thriving begins.