How to Help Your Horse During a Stable Move (or Any Big Change)

Three days ago, my horses started a new chapter, moving from a traditional stable where they spent the nights inside (from 16:30 until 8:00) to a new environment where they can finally live outdoors 24/7.

It’s a change I’ve looked forward to for a long time, and one that feels much closer to how horses are meant to live: free to move, eat, and rest in their own rhythm.

But as natural as this lifestyle is, transitions can still be stressful for the body and nervous system. Even positive change requires adaptation, physically, mentally, and metabolically. New surroundings, weather, and herd dynamics can all affect digestion, muscle tone, and mood.

That’s why I always help my horses through stable transitions with a gentle herbal, nutritional, and emotional support plan that eases them into balance.

What I Feed During a Stable Move

To support my horses through the change, I use a herbal and nutritional mix that works gently across the main body systems, from digestion to emotional balance:

• Gut & microbiome: Brewer’s yeast, chia seeds, dandelion, and chamomile help stabilise gut flora and prevent stress-related diarrhoea or bloating.

• Liver & detox: Dandelion supports liver function and helps clear metabolic waste from the previous stable and the new feed change.

• Immune system: Brewer’s yeast and rosehip provide antioxidants and micronutrients to strengthen natural defences.

• Nervous system: Lavender, chamomile, and hawthorn calm the transition stress response and support relaxation.

• Metabolic balance: Chia, yeast, and dandelion help smooth insulin and cortisol fluctuations caused by changes in environment or routine.

• Joint support: Rosehip and chia offer mild anti-inflammatory benefits to keep joints comfortable during the adjustment period.

This combination supports both the gut and the nervous system, which are deeply connected through what’s known as the gut–brain axis, a two-way communication system linked by the vagus nerve. A balanced microbiome helps regulate mood, stress, and immunity, while a calm mind helps digestion stay steady.

Maintaining Routine and Reassurance

During times of change, horses don’t just need physical support, they need emotional security too.

For the first few days at the new stable, I visit my horses two to three times a day. It helps them realise they haven’t “lost” me and that their rhythm still feels familiar.

I’ve also kept their feeding schedule the same as before, they still get their feed in the morning and evening, just like at the previous stable. Small consistencies like this can make a big difference.

Horses thrive on predictability, and maintaining a sense of normality helps their nervous system settle. Familiar faces, feeding times, and calm interaction tell the body: “You’re safe.”

This emotional regulation is just as important as nutritional or herbal support. When horses feel secure in their connection with us, their entire physiology follows.

The Science Behind Calm Transitions

When horses face change, their parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system can become suppressed by stress hormones. You might notice signs like tension around the eyes, shallow breathing, or restlessness when eating.

By using herbs that naturally activate calm states, and by providing continuous movement, routine, and forage, we support vagal tone and help the body stay within its comfort zone.

This approach reflects the same principle behind FlowMotion Neuromyoskeletal Therapy: supporting the body’s self-regulating systems so it can restore balance from within.

My Goal for This Move

My goal is simple: to give them freedom, movement, and calm. After two years of partial stabling, this move is not just a logistical change, it’s a return to balance, something that my horses truly deserve.

And just like with every therapy session I offer to clients’ horses, I see it as part of the same philosophy:

Healing happens best when the body feels safe, understood, and supported.

Have You Moved Your Horse Recently?

Every horse reacts differently to change. If you’re planning a stable move or switching to outdoor living, think about how you can support your horse’s nervous system, through nutrition, routine, and gentle movement.

I’ll soon share more about how stress and body tension are connected, and what you can do to help your horse stay balanced through transitions.

And if you’re curious how neuromyoskeletal therapy can help your horse settle, release tension, and feel at home in its body again, you can book a session here.