Importing a Yearling

[PonyGal08]

I would like to hear fellow COTHers experience and/or advice when importing a yearling or other youngster. What made the long trip easier on your baby? Thanks everyone!!! :)

[rideagoldenpony]

I have brought in a number of yearlings over the years, and in my experience, that is the best age to bring them over. They are old enough to be past so much of the baby vulnerability, but young enough that they handle the change pretty well.

I've had the hardest time bringing over older animals. It seems to be a lot harder on them -- maybe due to the extra quarantine, etc.

All of my yearlings have always done really well and handled things well. The other plus to a yearling is the brief quarantine, which makes the project more inexpensive overall (vs bringing in something over 2).

And if you are interested in sharing transport, there is a load coming into Canada this summer or fall, and I have a mare coming into Los Angeles, somewhere in that same timeframe. PM me for details.

[Iron Horse Farm]

I had no issues bringing a yearling over, however, when I brought a weanling over she was supposed to come over with a group and then got bumped to a plane ride alone. She arrived quite rattled, but still settled in quite well.

[PonyGal08]

Thanks everyone! My friend has a lovely little filly coming from the UK next month and so I thought I would see if there was anything she could do to make it easier on the baby. The filly has lived her life in a field with her other baby friends so we're hoping to make the transition easier. :) My friend was concerned about ulcers and was thinking about getting some Ulcer/Gastrogard. Also did you just find a feed that was closest to what your youngsters were eating before, fed that, and then transition to what you wanted them to eat?

[rideagoldenpony]

Mine have always gone from the breeder's farm to the importer's farm -- then done quarantine there, then done quarantine on the US side -- so the consistency of feed is all over the place. I've always just put them on what they are going to eat here when they have arrived, and they have done fine.

I don't think a round of ulcer treatment would hurt. It is very, very stressful for them. Some handle it better than others. This time I put mine on SmartGut from SmartPak when they arrived, and it seemed to really help my yearling filly who was very stressed out from the experience.