Hi, all! I'm brand new to this message forum and am currently looking to adopt my very first PMU horse - how exciting! I moved to California a few months back and no longer have acreage, thus I'm looking for an ideal spot to board my soon-to-be new horse. There are several options in my area -- some with full-care combination stall/turnout, some that are pasture-only, some that are stalls with small attached paddocks, etc. -- and I was wondering if any of you experienced PMU adopters have any suggestions as to what the ideal boarding situation would be for a new PMU horse? I'm looking at adopting a yearling draft cross and want to make the transition as easy as possible. Would I be better off starting out with pasture-only since that's what most are used to? (Here in Northern California, the climate is exceptionally mild, so no worries about bad turnout weather.) I'm also a bit concered that if I have some sort of stall/turnout arrangement, it might be difficult to move my new horse in the first few weeks/maybe months from stall to pasture since she won't be halter broken when she arrives. Any advice y'all are able to give I sure would appreciate it

Thanks!

Kristin

I adopted a PMU yearling 2 months ago, he too was not halter broken and had been on pasture from birth. He was really skittish when he arrived. I board him in a small paddock with a three sided shelter. It gives him room to move around and provides cover from the elements. Now that he is halter broken, I turn him out on pasture for awhile during the day too. This arrangement is what has worked out for me and my "youngster". He's thriving and a joy to work with. Good luck with your new horse!

Thanks so much for sharing, Tink! That's really great that your yearling is thriving. What kind of horse is he? The yearling I'm looking at adopting is 3/4 Percheron, 1/4 Quarter Horse. I'm so excited! She probably won't arrive until end of October per the rescue organization as they're waiting to get a full load to come out to California. So, right now I'm trying to get all the arrangements in place well in advance of when she arrives.

I've been interviewing places to board, and I've decided on a place that's only a 5 minute drive from where I live. The set-up is very similar to what you had for your yearling, Tink... I'm getting a 3-sided enclosure in a paddock, but the paddock is quite large, so I'm wondering if I should start my girl off in a smaller area? They have another one that's a bit smaller that the stable owner has offered to let me use during the adjustment period, but there's no shelter in it. Granted, I live in Northern California where it's incredibly mild, but still, I'm debating the best way to go... I might see if we can "section off" the back part of the paddock. Any thoughts?

Hi,

I adopted a yearling (that was actually 5 months when I got her) from UPF 2 years ago. When I got her in the beginning of November I had her in quarantine for three weeks in a 24X24 paddock with only one side paneled. I too live in No. Calif. I had Bella halter broken within the first week. Even though she was pasture born she was incredibly docile. She is a Perch/TB cross and at 2 1/2 yrs is 15.2 hands and an incredible little sweetheart! Good luck with your new little one. I remember the excitement of her arrival!

That's great that you've had such a positive experience with your PMU filly Thanks for sharing, Nikki. I'm so exicted! I just found out this morning that I've been approved and my new filly should be arriving sometime around end of October. I'm absolutely thrilled beyond words. I've been wanting to adopt a PMU horse for years now, and it's an amazing feeling to have that dream become a reality.

My yearling is a thoroughbred/percheron mix. He was pretty nervous and jumpy the first week or so after he arrived. I let him adjust to his surroundings and the climate the first week,my just being a "presence" in his new world but not much else, so the extra room in the paddock was a good thing for him. After he climatized and was used to my being around, I divided the paddock in half so I could work with him easier in the smaller space. It didn't take long to halter break him. He has such an even keel temperment, it's hard to believe he's the same horse as compared to when he first arrived! Since the summer sun is hot here, he needed the shelter. Maybe having the larger space in the begining might be helpful and then temporarily dividing it into a smaller area to work more closly with her. It's hard to know for sure! Do the owners of the boarding stable have any suggestions? I'm excited for you about your filly. Good luck and keep in touch!!