Originally posted by shellonabeach
It's not really behaviour related but I would, as an equine behaviouralist, appreciate your opinion.
Actually, this is more behavior based than you realize, for several reasons. First, horses are creatures of habit. In this, they prefer familiars, constants, and are made uncomfortable by change (but don't go thinking just yet that you shouldn't move him again). Second, horses are herd animals. They don't just identify with being around other equines, but they identify with individual beings that they have been around. Horses, dogs, goats, people that they have been around, have had active, mainly positive interaction with have a huge impact on them. They do get very attatched to individuals and identify their herd, which equates safety and comfort to them, by those individuals.

So, these things taken into consideration, lets look at your relationship with Ross, versus leaving him where he is.

I have had my boy, Ross, for 8 years now.
This alone is a significant issue. You have had this horse for a huge part of his life. You are probably more constant to him than anything he has ever had. Certainly you have been absent for much of the latter third, but you have become a constant and a big part of his life, and therefor herd during the first 5 years.

Also, you have always returned. True, his environment has changed, horse friends have come and gone, but you have always returned. You have even taken him out of situtations where he obviously was not having good interactions with other beings who were temporarily involved in his life. Horses do not just forget people when they dissapear for a while, especially with an interaction as long and presumably possitive as you have been with him. I am sure he knows you and who you are to him.

Now, as much as horses hate change, they can be very adaptive if they have a sort of a support system. Wild herds roam hundreds of miles each year. They will come to strange territory many times in their lives. But what helps them overcome that fear of the unknown is their family, the herd they are with. Horses can find tremendous comfort in a less than ideal situation if they have someone they trust and is grounding for them to help them feel a sense of constant. Now this doesn't necessarily mean you will have to baby him day and night every time you move him, but if he knows you are going to return sometime after you leave him, he will be content with that as a constant. It sounds like the situation that you would be moving him to would be perfect for him to get more time with you, and that you will be able to interact with him often enough to possibly avoid emotional problems that may well surface if he ends up feeling like he has lost you, which may be what has happened in the past.

Now, another thing to consider, horses are open space animals. They need space, God made them this way. Our comforts tell us to stable them, to confine them. But instinct tells them to keep as much open space around them as possible to be able to keep and eye out for pretitors. Horses are adaptable, but when compared to ones who are stabled more than 12 hours a day, loose horses are much more relaxed, maintain weight better, have less respritory ailments, and have fewer vices. It sounds like the yard nearest to you will not only allow for more free time out for himself, but he will get more exercise and interaction with you to come work with him regularly.

Now, a little experience of my own to help you feel better.... I had an Arab gelding since he was 21 days old. I was definately a constant in his life til he was 9. In the end, I then went through a rough divorce and had to board him at my best friends. Through the 9 years that I had him, I moved from Idaho, to Washington State, to California, to Texas, back to Washington, then around that state about 4 times before he settled at my friend's. After my divorce I was forced to sell him, fortunately to my friend, who fell in love with him. I couldn't stand to go see her though because I felt like I let him down. She was having her problems with him, he liked to play games that she didn't know how to play, but it was all in fun. But, when I finally mustered up the courage to go see him and her, after nearly 2 years, he NICKERED! when he heard my voice. He KNEW me, and was very excited to see me. I rode him some, and he was as perfect as he ever was for me, which made my friend jealous, but she laughed it off. She understands that I was his biggest constant in his life. He definately liked her and responded well with her, but I took presidence over her when I was there.

So, no, I don't think you would be selfish in any way to move him again, and to keep moving him, just as the herds of the wild move, so long as he can be with you. He will find his comfort in knowing you are there for him.