Calmer for Loading

[kelly_s1]

Hi,

I'm having trouble loading my horse, he is fine once in and travels like a star but it's the getting in part I'm struggling with. I had a blow out last weekend and I think it has frightened a little and I'd like to make the journey as comfortable for him as possible.

Any suggestions on something I can use but still able to ride the other end and that's quite fast acting?

Thanks,
Kelly

 

[JillA]

Any calmers that act that quickly are likely to be low level sedation and it is illegal to travel a sedated horse - they can easily lose their footing and/or panic. I'm afraid lots and lots of training is the only way - clicker training or reinforcement training without the clicker works really well, but he has a fear to overcome so you need to be especially patient.

 

[kelly_s1]

Thanks for your comment, I don't want to sedate him otherwise I would just get Sedalin from my vet but just to settle his nerves as I know there is an issue especially after the blow out. I have owned the horse 4 years and have been very patient, he is a stubborn boy!

 

[Laafet]

Any calmers that act that quickly are likely to be low level sedation and it is illegal to travel a sedated horse - they can easily lose their footing and/or panic. I'm afraid lots and lots of training is the only way - clicker training or reinforcement training without the clicker works really well, but he has a fear to overcome so you need to be especially patient.

It's not illegal to travel a horse sedated. However it should not be undertaken lightly and best left to the professional transporters. I doubt a calmer would help in this case anyway, it is likely to be better fixed by training.

 

[be positive]

It's not illegal to travel a horse sedated. However it should not be undertaken lightly and best left to the professional transporters. I doubt a calmer would help in this case anyway, it is likely to be better fixed by training.

Pleased to read that as I have travelled sedated horses, I have used sedalin, under advice, as well as bringing horses home from the vets while still under the influence and rather wobbly they travelled perfectly well.

It is unusual for a horse that travels so well to still be difficult loading after 4 years of owning him most enjoy going out and learn to go in especially if they travel comfortably, could he be finding the ramp steep and a bit hard to push himself up, if it is a lorry? Some rescue remedy may help or trying to park so the ramp is less steep and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Carlosmum]

Practice, practice, more practice and patience. I have recently had loading problems after changing trailers the previous one being even more difficult. Put a feed bowl on the ramp & let horse feed, move it slowly up , I leave the breast bar down while loading to give them a chance to be far enough forwards that I can get the back bar up. If he is refusing to load onto the ramp, back him away & work him, lunge, yielding from you etc keep it going for a few minutes with lots of energy, return to the trailer & ask again, ultimately you are looking for the trailer to be a quiet peaceful place & off the trailer to involve work. Don't load & go but allow horse to stand & feed with haynet before unloading & repeating.

 

[JillA]

Well I was told that by a partner is a large transporting company in the SW of England, she would know, her husband is a national driver trainer. I suspect it might be EU legislation but it is there nevertheless. It is very dangerous to transport a sedated horse.

 

[kelly_s1]

I have tried all of the above trust me, had a parelli person out, he goes in fine but it's hit and miss as to when, it's a lorry without a partition in, I've tried him in many lorries/trailers and he is the same with all, he is just being stubborn and don't get me wrong I do feel there is an slight issue.

So can anyone actually suggest a calmer that works

 

[Laafet]

Well I was told that by a partner is a large transporting company in the SW of England, she would know, her husband is a national driver trainer. I suspect it might be EU legislation but it is there nevertheless. It is very dangerous to transport a sedated horse.

We handle horses for Europe and much further afield, have had vets on numerous occasions to sedate via IV for very difficult horses, one had to have a double dose and he was on his way to Japan via Amsterdam. We've all got our transport certs for travelling horses over long distances and I can assure you it is not illegal.

 

[be positive]

I don't see why a calmer will help if he is just being stubborn although earlier you said he was nervy, if there is a physical problem it will make no difference, if he gets stressed it may help him relax but if he is more relaxed it may just take even longer to get him in, you really need to know why he doesn't want to go in or something you can do to make going in the easiest option consistently, there will be a key to getting him onside, part of that will be deciding whether he is nervous or awkward as the two will require very different approaches.

 

[TigerTail]

Try Equifeast's optimal - its tryptophan which basically is the happy drug so not a calmer as such but makes them think they are ok with whats going on. Give them a ring and they may send u a sample out

 

[PollyP99]

I have tried all of the above trust me, had a parelli person out, he goes in fine but it's hit and miss as to when, it's a lorry without a partition in, I've tried him in many lorries/trailers and he is the same with all, he is just being stubborn and don't get me wrong I do feel there is an slight issue.

So can anyone actually suggest a calmer that works

I understand that calmer cookies have successfully been used for unwilling travellers. They are as name suggests a biscuit looking serving, used in racing, fed from the hand.

http://www.*********************/category/horse-calming/

No idea why that's been blocked, google calmer cookie company name is equine science.

 

[kelly_s1]

Where can you buy Equifeast's optimal from? Thanks

 

[TigerTail]

As I said - Equifeast ! A google usually finds these things....

http://www.equifeast.com/equifeast-catalog/united-kingdom/optimax

 

[Myhorseeatsmoney]

So your horse got frightened. Put a hay net up in your trailer and a few pieces of apple in a bucket and give him some time to work through his fear. Unless a vet administers sedation I don't trust it, I have seen too many horses snap out of it when least expected and it's dangerous. I would rather take 1-2 hours one day and allow my horse the chance to feel safe to load than have a fight on my hands every time. There is a clip on you tube where a man cracks a whip and his two horses galloped across the field and loaded themselves. That's what I am aiming for and I won't get it if they are sedated