Darcey22
Well-Known Member
I am so nervous of towing with my horse in. Like literally lose sleep tor days before we take even a 3 mile journey. I am ok when no horse is in the trailer, and love driving normally. How do I get more confident?
Anyone else petrified of towing?
- Thread starter Darcey22
- Start date
Hormonal Filly
Well-Known Member
Have you had any lessons or a refresher course? Even if you can legally tow they’re fab because they usually have a big drum of water in them so a bit heavier like towing a horse.
I’ve found it’s something I’ve got more confident in the more I’ve owed my horse. I started off with really short journeys.
I’ve found it’s something I’ve got more confident in the more I’ve owed my horse. I started off with really short journeys.
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
Have a drive round with an empty trailer.
I never minded towing a trailer but was terrified of driving the cattle lorry, mostly because the brakes were so sharp and I didn't feel fully in control.
I never minded towing a trailer but was terrified of driving the cattle lorry, mostly because the brakes were so sharp and I didn't feel fully in control.
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
Hated it, I had lessons but it still made me so nervous! We had a dodgy trailer which probably didn't help, hitching it up would be tricky at times and the brakes kept sticking so we had no idea if it would even move each time! We got rid of it in the end and have a small lorry....although now I'm nervous of it breaking down (it did once)!
Having lessons helps, it was always the reversing I hated the most, plus our pony can be a pain to load so the whole experience was awful for me.
Having lessons helps, it was always the reversing I hated the most, plus our pony can be a pain to load so the whole experience was awful for me.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
If I need to go anywhere, I get my husband to tow him. I can tow a trailer without him in it and I can tow a caravan even with a transit but I can’t bring myself to tow my precious cargo! I get ill
holeymoley
Well-Known Member
You need to get to the bottom of what is it that’s making you feel like that. Is it your towing capabilities? Is it because your horse is inside? Do you worry about the worst happening a lot in general? I practised a lot before I went out with horse inside, even back and forward at the yard or find an industrial estate or something to practise, then trips out on the main road. I know somone who went through the whole lessons and test progress though and just had zero confidence in towing, she sold thr trailer and borrows a friends 3.5t if needed.
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
I did the same except mine is a speed demon and would not slow down for corners which probably contributed to the pony now not wanting to go in a trailer!
throwaway2022
Well-Known Member
I’ve never been scared as such but have definitely grown a lot in confidence purely by doing it! Loads and loads of practice, without horse first if you’re really struggling with nerves. A refresher lesson or two would be a great idea too
tda
Well-Known Member
If it's just the trailer then you need more practice, go everywhere you can with the trailer on, supermarket etc ?
I was very worried when I started, often in tears, imagining that every bang/clatter she had fallen etc, but the more miles you do, the better you will feel.
Also the need to go places with my pony soon outweighed my nerves as I had no one else to take me
I was very worried when I started, often in tears, imagining that every bang/clatter she had fallen etc, but the more miles you do, the better you will feel.
Also the need to go places with my pony soon outweighed my nerves as I had no one else to take me
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Awww thats a shame, I mean If I needed to tow him I would, I would just have to get used to it. Im also a speed demon , that is why I bought a truck lol to slow me down ?
atropa
Well-Known Member
No, I actually prefer doing the towing myself rather than someone else doing it, and to my shame I'm a much better driver when I have a horse on the back than I am just driving normally. Gives me a great sense of satisfaction giving my horse the best journey I can. I allow plenty of time for the journey and plenty of time for preparation of the trailer and car prior to setting off which helps take some of the anxiety out of it. I also keep a bag full of emergency supplies in my boot including mini traffic cones and hazard triangles.
I broke down with my horse last summer, something I had thought would have been my worst nightmare. Turned out I just dealt with it and had put the necessary rescue services and insurances in place that it wasn't too big of an issue. That has given me more confidence that if things do go wrong, I can deal.
I broke down with my horse last summer, something I had thought would have been my worst nightmare. Turned out I just dealt with it and had put the necessary rescue services and insurances in place that it wasn't too big of an issue. That has given me more confidence that if things do go wrong, I can deal.
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
I would literally cry before travelling my horse! I was fine initially but then horse had an accident in the trailer (went under the BB and got very stuck!) and that just sent my confidence through the floor. I bought a 3.5 van which improved my confidence but I would still shake for days in anticipation (I’m not a nervous person in general but I just imagined all the worst case scenarios!)
my dad and partner who are both very level headed came iut with me which helped as i then felt i had help if things did go wrong but the biggest and most surprising change of attitude was from 1 hypnotherapy session, I haven’t got nervous since! I now go out and about on my own all the time and I’m very confident and happy and no longer have the unhealthy, negative thoughts constantly flying through my head
my dad and partner who are both very level headed came iut with me which helped as i then felt i had help if things did go wrong but the biggest and most surprising change of attitude was from 1 hypnotherapy session, I haven’t got nervous since! I now go out and about on my own all the time and I’m very confident and happy and no longer have the unhealthy, negative thoughts constantly flying through my head
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I’ve never tried. The thought makes me feel a bit sick so I’m impressed at anyone who even attempts it.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
I don't mind towing not done much of it but prefer a lorry any day I was so confident with my 3.5t would go anywhere on my own quite happily.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
Just sold my trailer and bought a 3.5 box. Hating hitching up. Reversing. The feeling of not knowing if horse was ok in the trailer. The lorries over taking. Meeting a vehicle on a narrow road and having to reverse or pull over on the bank.
L&M
Well-Known Member
Another one who gave up a trailer in preference to a 3.5t. I don't find towing a dead weight eg hay scary, but towing a live animal terrifies me. But at least in the lorry I can hear what is going on in the back, have no worries with reversing, and don't have that extra length to manoeuvre.
Spottyappy
Well-Known Member
I hate towing too. however, the best trailer and tow vehicle combination I had, was an equitrek and disco/defender. Those vehicles made towing much easier, as the actual vehicle wasn’t struggling in any way, and all of our horses travelled well in the equitrek.
But- I hated it so much, I’m another who brought a lorry, had a 7,5t initially, but now have a 3.5t, which is so much easier, and much less stress for me.
But- I hated it so much, I’m another who brought a lorry, had a 7,5t initially, but now have a 3.5t, which is so much easier, and much less stress for me.
nagblagger
Well-Known Member
I don't trust many people to tow my horses, i much prefer to do it myself and i think no one can take the same care as i do. My OH mounted a reversing camera (cheaper than a purpose built trailer camera) in the trailer so i can look if i hear a noise. Also i check that the horses are where they are suppose to be before i go in the jockey door as I have had one who had managed to go over the breast bar and was leaning against the door. I could go in safely, with a pre - thought out extrication plan.
I have had owned both, but having a trailer does not cost me tax, insurance or MOT/plating.
Disclaimer: The camera is illegal to look at by the driver while moving.
I have had owned both, but having a trailer does not cost me tax, insurance or MOT/plating.
Disclaimer: The camera is illegal to look at by the driver while moving.
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
I’m ok driving with the trailer attached, it’s the hitching up which gets me stressed every time. But once it’s hitched then I’m fine. I used to barely sleep the night before taking my daughter to a competition or pony club because I’d worry so much about having to reverse it, but doing it lots and talking myself through what I was doing helped calm me down. I also try to go into a zen state, drive as smoothly as possible and if that means I have a queue of cars behind me on a narrow, twisty road then so be it. Both horses are very good travellers in the trailer so that also helps relieve worries - they also both dislike small lorries so swapping it for a 3.5 wouldn’t help.
I still hate hitching it up though ?
I still hate hitching it up though ?
angel7
Well-Known Member
Get a reversing camera fitted to tow vehicle, I can now reverse backwards around corner and stop directly under the hitch. Wind down jockey wheel and plug in off we go, total gamechanger for me.
Darcey22
Well-Known Member
Can you recommend the hypnotherapist? I might give it a try! X
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
I could be she’s in the NE of England, she is registered with FSHA which is a governing body, might be worth a google, I literally typed in ‘hypnotherapist near me’ and she popped up.
I went, actually fell asleep ?? and thought well that was a waste of time, until I went to travel a week later and was noticeably calmer then it improved with each journey
I went, actually fell asleep ?? and thought well that was a waste of time, until I went to travel a week later and was noticeably calmer then it improved with each journey
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
I get anxious about it, yes, probably because I don't do it that often these days.
HorseMaid
Well-Known Member
I turn into a bit of a lunatic when I know I've got to tow and it all becomes about the safety checks and kit checks, I lie in bed the night before going through what I need in my head as if I'm about to fly a passenger plane to Australia. Worrying about whether the lights all work, tyres are at the right pressure, if the brakes are working properly, is the floor sound, have we got lunge reins and tools to dismantle the breast bar if the worst happens. I drive like a snail and have a militant loading and unloading routine as my mare has been historically a crappy loader. Stuff like reversing and hitching up doesn't phase me quite as much but yes, I do find it very stressful.
I have a couple of friends who are far more "relaxed" about the whole operation and for that exact reason I much prefer to be the one doing the driving ?
I have a couple of friends who are far more "relaxed" about the whole operation and for that exact reason I much prefer to be the one doing the driving ?
Winters100
Well-Known Member
What are you towing with? I have never liked it, and still don't, but since I bought a big brute of a car it has become much easier and less stressful.
chaps89
Well-Known Member
I can’t stand the thought of towing full stop, Nevermind with a horse on board. It’s why I ended up with a 3.5t, I had no issues driving it at all
mustardsmum
Well-Known Member
The only way to get confident towing is to tow. Take a buddy who can reassure you your horse is still upright. Weirdly I would rather the horse be contained in a trailer than in a 3.5 lorry or one of the transit van conversions!
Darcey22
Well-Known Member
It’s a Jag f pace and a hb506 trailer, so decent enough x
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
Agreed, I feel they're only really suitable for ponies.
ThreeFurs
Well-Known Member
I should be terrified. Eight years ago my horse and I were in a catastrophic trailering accident. We were on the way to a comp when a girl driving towards us on the other side of the road veered into us as she was looking at her phone. Flipped the trailer off my ute and it somersaulted off behind my vehicle. With my horse in it.
Long story short, after an elaborate rescue process, he walked away from it with some minor cuts over his eyes, and I was ok too. Could have been very different if I'd tied him up in the trailer. As the trailer ended up standing on its flat ramp end.
In processing the accident I had to accept the conscious and unconscious fact that trailering is a necessary evil if you want to have a 'social life' with your horse, and get to positive things like clinics, forests, beaches etc. Here in Australia in bush fire season horses also need to be moved out early of dangerous areas on 'extreme' danger fire days, so there was no way I could just stop doing it. My horse lived [and without any trailering phobia] So there were many years of trailering for us both after the accident.
On the other hand, the horse I had after this one, a 4 yo wb mare, decked me a couple of times, felt explosive, and put the fear of God in me! I was overhorsed I think [and she had an old shoulder fracture nobody knew about until 2 years later]. But getting back in the saddle after selling her wouldn't have been possible without Hypnotherapy.
While your looking for someone face to face, Confident Rider person Sharon Shinwell has a free download on her web page
https://www.confident-rider.co.uk/
Long story short, after an elaborate rescue process, he walked away from it with some minor cuts over his eyes, and I was ok too. Could have been very different if I'd tied him up in the trailer. As the trailer ended up standing on its flat ramp end.
In processing the accident I had to accept the conscious and unconscious fact that trailering is a necessary evil if you want to have a 'social life' with your horse, and get to positive things like clinics, forests, beaches etc. Here in Australia in bush fire season horses also need to be moved out early of dangerous areas on 'extreme' danger fire days, so there was no way I could just stop doing it. My horse lived [and without any trailering phobia] So there were many years of trailering for us both after the accident.
On the other hand, the horse I had after this one, a 4 yo wb mare, decked me a couple of times, felt explosive, and put the fear of God in me! I was overhorsed I think [and she had an old shoulder fracture nobody knew about until 2 years later]. But getting back in the saddle after selling her wouldn't have been possible without Hypnotherapy.
While your looking for someone face to face, Confident Rider person Sharon Shinwell has a free download on her web page
https://www.confident-rider.co.uk/