Advice please on an anxious traveller

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sallyg

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My cob gets very anxious in the wagon on his own. He loads reluctantly but reasonably well at home but sometimes manages to do a sharp exit from the wagon if you don't tie him up quickly. He does prance a bit until you set off but usually travels ok to wherever we're going. Then on the way home he is often very naughty to load, screams his head off all the way and is literally dripping with sweat by the time you get there even after very short journey. :( All this only happens when he is on his own, with a companion he is fine so I don't think it is the actual travelling he is that anxious about, but if it is a separation thing why is he worse on the way home not on the way there? :confused: Also he hacks perfectly well on his own and can be turned out alone without a problem (although he is virtually always turned out with a mate). I'm just about to get my own wagon and would like to get over this so I can have some stress free outings to visit friends and compete without always having to persuade someone to come with me. I'm going to spend lots of time getting him used to the wagon, practising loading without going anwhere, feeding him in there, going for short runs round the block etc etc. Can anyone suggest anything to help him stay calm and relaxed. So far I've thought of trying instant calmers and lavender oil, does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone have any experience of using a mirror or anything else to help?
Thanks
 
It can sometimes be the lorry/trailer that causes the problem- have you tried him in a different one? I knew someone who had a similiar problem with an Ifor trailer and he was a horrible traveller but in my Bateman he was fine - the suspencion is different so we put it down to that. If he is on lorry, how is he travelling (i.e herringbone or straight). If in the trailer on his own, try taking out the partion and see if that helps. If at all poss, do you have any nice friends who have a travelling camera you could stick in the back so you can see what your boy is doing?

I have a small haylage net waiting on my trailer and tend to load and disappear quickly. Luckily I always have piggy horses so bribery works for me!
 
Have you thought about investing in one of the equine mirrors, not sure how much they cost but I do no of a working hunter pony who refused to travel alone and with the mirror she now travels happily, thinking her refelction is another horse. Good luck!
 
Thanks for the reply. He's exactly the same in every wagon I've taken him in. He also always has a very smooth ride whether it is me driving or the other people who have taken me to places - I'm very fussy about who drives him and have turned down offers of lifts with people who I know don't drive well!
 
Some ideas for you.
Feed him in the wagon every day for a month, let him come out when he wants to. That might help with the anxiety.
In the short term if the weather isn't too cold you can douse him all over with water before a journey so that his body heat dries him out rather than sweats him up.
I believe horses can be distressed by feeling an unsafe floor when traveling but you say he is the same in all lorries and trailers so probably not an issue here.
One other option is that he is tied too tightly for comfort; We had one pony that liked to look behind him and would get stressed if the rope was too short to allow that.
 
Travelling is tremendously stressful for horses - some cope well, some OK and some terribly! It sound like yours copes OK with company but finds it all too much on his own. I am sure you will get lots of suggestions - mirrors, covering windows (to reduce visual stimulation), radio playing, checking for issues with lorry/horse and I would encourage you to try all these.

However some horses do need a travel companion to feel secure in what is a very stressful situation for them to be in.

I hope you can find a way to overcome it.
 
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