am i being silly?

S

somethingorother

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 June 2008
Messages
5,395
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
Share horse is going on thursday :(

He's not travelled for over 4 years. I have done some work with him and can now get him half in the trailer (with a big bucket of feed) but that's taken ages and now he has to go on thursday. When he's out of his comfort zone with it he pulls back and rears and i'm worried he's going to bang his head hard.

Is it worth me travelling a long way to go and buy a poll guard to use once on a horse that i won't see agin? I am worried about him, but am i being overprotective?

Also would you try sedaline or anything? Or would you just put a lungeline round his bum and get it over with quickly?

Or could i make some sort of improvised poll guard?

My head's a mess, please suggest things to make it easier? :(
 
Don't be there when he goes, then you won't have to see him.

Is he being moved by professional transporters? They usually manage to get the most awkward of horses on in my (limited) experience.
 
No, he's going in his owners trailer. And she is all for the pulling and shoving tactic. I guess it doesn't matter if my hours of loading work gets ruined though, he's unlikely to need to travel again except for vets etc.

I want to see him safely on the trailer, for my own peace of mind quirky.

Wondering what the chances of me getting a poll guard ordered online before thursday.... Nearest tack shop is miles away.
 
Seeing as its the owner taking him then there isn't much you can do about it, I agree don't be there as it will upset you if something does happen and that may upset him too.
 
I had to 'rescue' two big horses from a yard a few years ago. I had about half an hour notice. We only had a small trailer, and no kit really (very long story) I put a car washing sponge under the headpiece of each headcollar, not perfect but some extra protection so better than nowt!
 
Applylass, i really like that idea!! Thank you! They will have a laugh when he comes off at the other end though lol

As for those people saying don't go to see him off... would you not want to be there to load your horses?? He's not mine but over the last 18 months i have done more with him than anyone else. His owner has numerous other horses hence the need for a sharer (recently 2) so doesn't do much with him at all. I love him as if he were mine and i want to at least see him safely loaded. Although i am edging towards wrapping him completely in several layers of bubble wrap and just rolling him on!
 
somethingorother said:
Applylass, i really like that idea!! Thank you! They will have a laugh when he comes off at the other end though lol

As for those people saying don't go to see him off... would you not want to be there to load your horses??
Click to expand...

But he's not yours. You may love him as if he was your own but you have no responsibility for him whatsoever.
If the owner decides to beat him into the trailer, I suspect there is very little you can do about it, hence my stay away comment :).

If I was moving my horse and I had a sharer, I'd expect them to say their good-byes prior to, not as I was doing the already stressful move.
 
Ive had enough responsibility over the last 18 months when i've had to look after him and pay for him. I think i've earned the right to be there when he goes. And if anyone tries to beat him i don't care who they are i damn well would do something about it. Not that she would. Hence me wondering whether it will be better to try to coax him in with feed and get the bars up quick or to just try to drag him in and get it over with. No one will be beating anyone. And all i want is the best for him, i'm worried sick about him.
 
You're not being silly. You're being responsible. You sound like a lovely sharer and here's to hoping you'll have your own to worry about one day soon!
 
It's a very long and complicated story, but it's not his owners choice or mine.

I managed to buy a nice leather poll guard on amazon wih 1-2 day delivery so he won't have to look like a wally coming off the trailer with a sponge on his head lol. Can always ebay it after he's gone. Not used to travelling horses, have never really gone anywhere exciting with any of my shares/ loans. It's not a long journey though so hopefully he shouldn't be stressed for long. Thanks for the replies

ETS if anyone has a large amount of bubble wrap spare i may be interested though ;)
 
My pony HATES loading, but I've found that making myself as small as possible inside the trailer seems to makes him more comfortable, and he comes straight in. I dont know what happened to him before he came to us but by bending to put the feed bucket down I found he stepped forward. Therefore by crouching with the bucket between me and him and not looking him in the eye he comes straight in every time. Might not work for you, and I dont know if I'd try it with a horse that rears, but could be worth a try.
 
Thanks for the tip kellybee, i usually sit on the floor next the feed bucket and he tends to come in, grab a mouthful and reverse out. Any attempt to convince him to stay results in him trying to go up. Was planning on having all spring to work on it though and then get out to do some shows in summer so it's a shame that we have to rush it now as he is slowly getting more confident.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top