Bottom Scrubbing Journeys in trailer! Help!

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Pennybell2

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Can anyone help or have any ideas re. my thoroughbred mare, who, when travelling in my friend's double trailer with another horse is determined to sit on the ramp and severely rubs her bottom and also the tender areas under her tail! I have tried everything I can think of including buying a special quarter guard from Equine Medical Supplies which fits underneath the tail with the tail guard on top but on a 5 mile trip she still managed to rub the skin almost to bleeding point either side of her tail. If my friend drives any slower, we would almost be at a standstill. Has anyone else had this problem ? I have travelled her in a turnout rug with tail flap but to no avail. We did try the return journey last time with the breech bar moved up a notch to make a gap between that and the ramp, as the mare has room at the front, but still moves back as far as she can. That seemed an improvement but I am reluctant to try a longer journey until I can sort this problem out. She has travelled a lot in her life and is now 23 but I have never had this problem before. I know she would be better in a lorry but I am afraid finances won't allow this. Would be grateful if anyone has any ideas?
 
How about if you stiched satin /silk on the inside of the rug. It would be very hard for her to cause enough friction to rub and hurt her skin.

On the more forceful side the only thing i can suggest is to put something on her side of the trailer that may give her a short sharp shock or maybe even the upturn of a very hard prickly broom so when her bum comes into contact with it, it may stop her.

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind

Good luck
 
When she is in a trailer with the partition in she is probably (my experience) using the back ramp for balance, i.e. leaning on it, sitting on it. She cannot spread her legs properly to brace herself so it is actually quite dangerous. If you imagine yourself on a moving train with your legs close together not holding onto anything you get the idea! She needs more space perhaps. Ideal mode of travel would be in trailer with partition removed, single double breast bar (and double back chain) so she can stand at an angle and/or spread back legs out to brace against the movement. It may be she's a little more stiff of late so its just started to happen.
 
What about a thick piece of foam on the ramp where her bum goes, so that she can sort of sink into it......

If she is using it for balance, which sounds likely, it would be unkind to put something prickly there as she may then fall over
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A cushion off of an old sofa might be a good idea???
 
Travel her on her own with partition removed and see what happens,sounds like she thinks she hasnt enough room to brace herself properly!My lad has to travel on his own as he scrabbles about like something possessed and looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards,even with tail protection it looks like a toilet brush when he gets out!!
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I have thought of stitching something under the tail flap, not sure whether silk or fleece etc. I am sure the problem is because of her slight stiffness of late and as suggested she travelled ok in my own trailer on her own straddled cross ways, but I have sold mine now and can only go anywhhere with my friend and her horse. Have considered sponge on the ramp, but as it is not my trailer this might not be appreciated!. Thanks for all your replies, most of which echo my own thoughts.
 
I would most definately think about alternative arrangements(i know it is not always practical,i now have to tow a trailer,NEVER
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done it and am cacking myself,lol,would have loved to go along with friends to shows but i cant do it
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),before she decides going out in the trailer is an unpleasant experience and refuses to go anywhere near it!I would love to be able to hitch a lift but 5mph is not an option,lol!
 
One of mine used to do this.

I used one of those thick and tight Neoprene velcro do-up tail guards and sewed heavy duty plastic across the outside of it and then tank taped the same heavy duty plastic on the outside of the ramp and then chucked it over.

Unfortunately at the time I had a hessian covered ramp, with just a breeching strap rather than a solid bar like the Ifor Williams have so you can move them forward off the ramp a bit.

Ultimately, she was a nervous traveller, and actually having the whole trailer to herself didn't help her nerves all that much, she was used to travelling herringbone in a lorry.
 
Murphy really struggled to travel in a trailer with the partitions in and rubbed his hip and quarters raw because he was leaning. We now travel him without a partition but also use a Comfortzone travel rug. This is a mesh rug with reinforced padding (like neoprone)on the shoulder hips and tail and quarter area. They are not cheap, about £60 when we got ours but we have found it invaluable, we use it on its own in warm weathr and over other rugs in winter. Have had it nearly 4 years now and is still in good condition. If you do a search for Comfortzone you should be able to find their website. Hope this helps.
 
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