Calming a youngster for travel to a new yard. Calming cookies?

[Sphvinx]

Hi there

So i have a 1.5 yr old youngster. He has been moved twice in his life, once from the stud and another to a new yard. We are needing to move him again (out of our control). The last experience he had was not great as the lorry we borrowed was full of stuff and he had to be put in right at the end... he wasnt able to actually go into the lorry as such. He is a pretty chilled lad but i just want to make sure he is as calm and relaxed as he can be so the event is not stressful for him. I am unable to practise loading with him before he goes so was wondering what peoples experience with something like calming cookies is?
Thank you in advance for you help

 

[AmyMay]

How can you travel not ‘in the lorry?’

Did he actually have a panic?

 

[EmmaC78]

We tried calming cookies on a horse that was bad to shoe and they didn't really make much of a difference.

 

[Widgeon]

How can you travel not ‘in the lorry?’

Did he actually have a panic?

I assume the OP means he had to go up the ramp and immediately turn to stand sideways. Is there any chance you could borrow another horse to travel with him - i.e. one that is known to be a good traveller?

 

[ihatework]

If I felt I was dealing with a youngster that wasn’t going to travel well I’d probably just go straight to 1ml sedalin, will take the edge off without sedating too heavily.

 

[dorsetladette]

How did he actually travel last time? if he travelled fine I wouldn't worry to much.
My youngster won't eat calming cookies. We have used magic calmers syringes with some effect on him. But in all honesty its more about getting them used to doing things and making it normal. our youngster goes out as much as possible in the lorry even if its just a run around the block to run the lorry out - he goes too.

 

[exracehorse]

Calming cookies don’t work.

 

[Cortez]

I’ve never used sedation to travel a horse. If you just load him quietly and drive carefully he shouldn’t be too stressed. It’s something that horses have to become accustomed to.

 

[Ratface]

My previous horse experienced a traumatic sea and land crossing. When he arrived, he could barely stand up (due to his emaciated state and being on the lorry for hours without lairage). The following year, when he was in much better physical and mental health, I hired a recommended 3.5t lorry, driver and groom and we did a small trip each week. The first one was an eighth of a mile and back, as was the second. The distance was very gradually extended until he was happy with thirty miles each way. He now lives on the Welsh Borders, having arrived there in a completely relaxed state. An expensive rehabilitation plan, but necessary. He might have needed emergency veterinary in-patient treatment and having loading problems wouldn't have been good.

 

[Identityincrisis]

our youngster goes out as much as possible in the lorry even if its just a run around the block to run the lorry out - he goes too.

I REALLY wish more people would do this with babies/youngsters. It would be so much easier on horses if they were loaded/unloaded and taken for little journeys with their mothers and tgen quietly continued so it becomes a normal thing

 

[dorsetladette]

I REALLY wish more people would do this with babies/youngsters. It would be so much easier on horses if they were loaded/unloaded and taken for little journeys with their mothers and tgen quietly continued so it becomes a normal thing

Oh thank you. I grew up with not much money (still the same now tbh) and have always have 'broken' or troubled ponies as they are cheaper and my parents could afford them. As we got Robin as an 8months old baby we are doing everything in our power to make sure he grows in to a well rounded pony that is comfortable in any situation. Currently the world is a very exciting place for Robin and he is loving his adventures whether in the lorry (with a travel safe to keep his feet on the floor and not on the tack locker, looking out of the window) or on foot through the forest. He's becoming a bit of a handful now hormones are kicking in, we will be fixing that soon now the weather has cooled, but not unmanageable and I think this is down to the handling we have done with him in the last 12months - plus the brilliant start his breeder gave him.

It's easy to mess a pony up and takes consistent effort to bring up a well mannered, well balanced pony.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi there

So i have a 1.5 yr old youngster. He has been moved twice in his life, once from the stud and another to a new yard. We are needing to move him again (out of our control). The last experience he had was not great as the lorry we borrowed was full of stuff and he had to be put in right at the end... he wasnt able to actually go into the lorry as such. He is a pretty chilled lad but i just want to make sure he is as calm and relaxed as he can be so the event is not stressful for him. I am unable to practise loading with him before he goes so was wondering what peoples experience with something like calming cookies is?
Thank you in advance for you help

can someone from the new yard travel with him??
Choose someone who is used to transporting youngsters, which is most transporters

You can use calming cookies or ask vet for some relaquine