Don't know what to do?!

N

nemo_

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 January 2010
Messages
464
Visit site
Sorry if this turns into a long, ranty post but i really have no idea what to do!
frown.gif
We took my pony out to a pc clinic last night, for most of the journey he was rocking the trailer and then went quiet. When we got there, he had fallen against the partition with his feet wedged against the wall. We were able to get him off reasonably easy and he was completely sound and we had a good lesson. He got back on the trailer perfectly and just as we got in the car, he started banging and scraping (carved loads of the rubber off the wall of the trailer!)and he was leaning/ fallen over on the partition again, so we got him up and the same thing happened 2/3 times more. Rally organiser came to help, we took his boots off, she said they has caused similar in one of hers. No change, but he did eventually manage to keep standing. When we got him home, he was over again, got him off, and he seemed relatively unphased apart from dripping with sweat and slightly stiff. He has skinned/grazed his left hip and quite badly bruised (i think?! very sore). This isnt the first time he has travelled badly, last week he was just rocking the trailer (can't see how he's doing it) but for two years in the same conditions he's been perfect!
confused.gif
Any suggestions on what to try? We've done with/without travel boots, haynet/ no haynet,tying him tight or loose and some have suggested no partition, take away the bars etc and of course a lorry (not an option!
frown.gif
). And we're trying to get a chiropractor asap! I'm just have no idea what to do and need to be able to travel as have PUK, and lots of PC/ team events coming up!! Sorry for such a long post!!
blush.gif
Well done if you got his far! Thank you for any advice
smile.gif
 
Sorry, not sure if you meant you have tried no partition? I have found quite a few need the extra room and this solves the problem. Some only travel on the right hand side as well. You may find that you just need to move the back half of the partition and tie it across (if your trailer has this option) That has worked for lots of horses who would only otherwise travel in a lorry. Good luck, it's horrible when they get so upset travelling
 
We haven't tried no partition yet, we're not sure whether it will give him more room to fall over, also because we're not sure whether he's leaning on the partition out of choice
crazy.gif
. Thanks for the suggestions though
smile.gif
we are going to have to take him for a drive at the weekend and try everything!
crazy.gif
 
I would remove the partition and fit a breast bar only at the correct height for the pony.
He may either be leaning on the partition too hard and unless it's solid falling sideways, or have the wrong height breast bar.
Try fastening three straw bales together and to the rings securely across the front of the trailer if you have no bar to fit, and see if he can cope then. Or do that and shut the back doors and travel him loose to see how he stands, some horses prefer travelling backwards and do that when loose. Make sure the jocket door is locked first.
If he feels ok to ride it's unlikely to be anything hurting, more a case of lost his ability to find how to stand.
Take him out driving slowly and creep round any corners to assess how he copes, not to a competition, just to help his confidence again.
 
Have you checked the floor? ours slipped badly in a trailer and when we looked under the rubber the wood had rotted through and you could see the axle!
 
A friend of mine had a horse who would always fall over in a trailer if the partition was in. They got an extra wide breastbar fitted and removed the partition and he never had another problem.
 
Thanks for all the help!
smile.gif
trailer was only serviced in January, and we used it for the first time since then last tues, also after problems last week, my dad cleaned it v. thoroughly and checked it, nothing seems to be out of order...
 
mine hates travelling in trailers with rubber floors, even with straw etc. Now have lorry....

It's odd you mention this as friend used to travel in my lorry no problems, all over the country, then for no reason at all just one day were due off for wales and her mare found it impossible to stand up! Nothing had changed she was in same space in lorry, had been in it countless times, quiet as a mouse....we managed half a mile and turned back and ended up taking both lorries, she now travels backwards and is fine!

Never got to the bottom of it, but would try without partition as if they cant spread their legs as much as they want at the back the alternative is they can fall over.....

Check the floor as above poster said, horses are very intuitive!
 
I would agree, remove the partition. Years ago I used to ride a friends horse who had travelled in a trailer with a partition for at least two years. On one journey she went crazy and actually fell over - something must have upset her, but we had no idea what. From then on she was very bad to travel, UNTIL the partition was taken down and a single breast bar inserted. She was then a very happy traveller. I don't think horses really use partitons to stay upright, they may brace themselves into them (but if the driver is going steady enough there should be no need for the horses to brace anyway), the majority of horses want to spread their feet to balance. I have never known a horse not travel well with loads of space, but have seen a few panic when they can't spread their legs enough. Good luck!
 
Would definitely try without partition but with breast bar in place to lean on. We have done this several times with one or 2 ponies loose in the trailer (through need rather than choice - 2 that wouldn't be separated) Without fail they have all travelled 'herringbone' but you need the breastbar in case they need to lean. Make sure there is plenty of bedding down on the floor too. I would also recommend Arnica for the bruising the poor lad suffered.
 
It is very odd; rally organiser, instructor, a parent there yesterday, all had a story about at least on horse they knew that it had happened to! Am very glad we were there with people we know, that were so nice though. Would've been completely stuck otherwise, with not very horsey dad and me, one of the mums even offer to drive an extra hour in her lorry to get my boy home in one peice! Lorry would be good... just not an option at the moment
frown.gif
...
 
This may sound funny,but my friends horse (an old hunter) had always travelled perfectly until last year. She was fine until vehicle or trailer moved as she would immediately fall down on knees and generally unbalance herself.

She was found to have a middle ear infection which is VERY common in horses,This was cleared up with antibiotics and she has continued to travel perfectly again.

Get vet out and have pony checked over!!
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top