Fed up, horse a wally and its prob all my fault. sorry a whinge

[Louby]

The horsebox saga continues, went to see a lovely daf conversion today. It really was nice, my only concern was the headroom, it was 7'2 and a bit. My horse is 16.1 so technically he should fit. So tonight we put him in my friends wagon which was 7' 5 just to make sure and he was a right idiot. He used to be a fantastic traveller in a wagon, then I tried him in a trailer as I couldnt afford a wagon. He travelled about 4 times in it, never had a bad journey but got to the stage where I couldnt keep him in it and even tried to come through the jockey door. So it was sold and I gave up.
Ive been so excited as finally I can afford to buy my own wagon but my horse has turned into a nervous wreck, he did load but was dancing about inside and wanted out, whacking his head on the way. So this horsebox is out of the question, I cant ever imagine having the confidence to drive my own horse the way he is at the moment.
Do you think he will get over this, he is an irrational type.

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare decided she doesn't like boxes anymore either

I just led her in every evening for her tea then took her out again and after a few days it got easier and easier (took nearly an hour at first). I'd get him a poll guard if he can bang his head tho

 

[Natch]

Yes he will get over it if you put a little time and practice into it. Borrow a friend's horsebox and use Richard Maxwell or Montry Robert's techniques. x

 

[Louby]

Thanks for the replies, I used to feed him regulary in the trailer to get him used to it but I cant say it really worked for him cos as soon as he'd ate it, he would fly off backwards. He would load again but fly out again straight away.
He never refuses to load, just gets het up and its very nervous once inside. I found practicing putting him on and off the trailer made him want to get out quick and we ended up not being able to get the ramp up without him freaking out. I bought a poll guard but it was at home

so I will take it up for next time.
Thanks again

 

[Cop-Pop]

Is the trailer/box large enough to have him in there with another horse? If he could have a friend with him it might help him chill out?

 

[Louby]

Thanks Yes its a 3 horse wagon, Ive asked my friend for us to take him out with his mate.
Im so mad as he was a dream to travel before the blasted trailer.

 

[Cop-Pop]

Same with my mare - she goes in boxes fine but trailers are a nightmare. Unfortunately I can't afford to run a lorry so trailer is the only option atm

 

[Louby]

Its awful isnt it, I would never have been able to afford and run a wagon for one horse either but I have just inherited a bit of money so decided to fulfil my dream to own one and the damn horse wont have it.

 

[Kenzo]

Don't give up, if he travelled well in the past he can do in the future, just takes time again so think positively about everything you do with him regarding loading and travelling. Look on the bright side, you can finally get your horsebox, your very lucky.

Get your horsebox and let the mission begin. Feeding time every evening in the wagon, that what worked for my other horse (well in the trailer).

He'd travelled in a trailer since being a 2 year old, everywhere, never had problem loading, travelling or coming back from anywhere, never had a accident, never panicked or braked hard, nothing to put him off from going in, but when he got to about 10 year old one day after a pleasure ride he decided nope, I like it here at Escrick Park, lots of grass, other horses I'm not done yet and I'm staying! that's when he discovered that yes he was stronger and could get his own way, he'd walk up the ramp and not budge ...penny had dropped and would only go in on his accord.

Well I thought, I can't be having this, I need to be able to go places and load him myself, after I'd just got my self a 4x4 and was mobile,,,it was great!, so I set about feeding him his bucket feed every evening in the trailer, no walking up ramp and standing exactly where he should equals no bucket feed. He was a cob though and I think he kinda sussed he was going to another show or it involved work but he learned that being in the trailer was actually a nice place, specially if the only way to your horses heart is through his stomach! I did it on my own gradually, asking him to stand in it for longer periods each night without force or any palaver, no shouting, no whips, no lunge lines, no chifneys or any other person involved, just time and patience.

Anyway I sold him last May to another lady on the same yard and he's not travelled anywhere since then, so when we all decided we'd go in the horse box (arhhhhh oh my god he's never been in a horse box before only his own personal trailer!) we where wondering if he'd go in, well he walked straight in lol, despite it being a horse box and that fact that he'd not been anywhere or been accustomed again with some food up to that point...so don't give up, just think of all the fun you'll be missing out on. Get your box, put the work in, get results and give yourself a pat on the back.

 

[*hic*]

QR and briefly - don't feed him all his feed at once in the lorry, make him walk in, stand, let him have a mouthful, then take him out when he has finished chewing and is looking for the next mouthful. Then take him back up, let him have a mouthful, and take him out when he's eaten it. Then up he goes for the next mouthful. Takes ages to get through the feed but seems to drum it in to them - or does in the case of all the ones I've tried it on.

Best of luck