For those who travel without partitions ..

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canteron

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Would this help my mare?

Have recently changed from a box to an equi-trek with a CCTV. After a particularly harrowing journey, I have been trying to regain her confidence and travel her on her own in a very large partition for short journeys.

She wont stand though and insists on putting her bum into the partition, making her very unstable - it is horrendous seeing her bang around.

If I cross tie her (loosely) in the middle with no partitions would it help? Would she learn to stand on her own feet and not lean into something?

Depressing problem as have places to go with her and can't afford to change back to lorry!!

Thanks
 
Yes, horses travel very well with nothing at all. Even left untied is often helpful. They learn to balance and can stand diagonally/herringbone which is more like lorry travel. Try it.
 
This is the only way my draft horse will travel, in the back of a lorry lorry, loose, like a travelling stable.

It is worth a try but, as you hae said, you will still need to xtie with a trailer for safety.
 
I would say definately try with no partition. I have had the experience of 3 horses who were awful to travel in a trailer with a partition in, when the partition was removed and they had more space all 3 of them travelled with no problems at all. You will need to buy a single breast bar (or if you have a handy partner he may be able to make one!) Good luck.
 
I feel for you as Im in the same position and have also just sold my wagon due to lack of use and now I just want to get out there and do something :(. I would love to replace it with a trailer but after awful experiences of one before it terrifies me to even try and I just know it wont be a goer.
I did email Equitrek a few years back to ask about stability if the partition was removed, I was concerned as the ramp being on the side and the trailers being so high off the ground but suprise suprise they never got back to me.
Please keep us updated and good luck
 
Thanks GG Rider, Oberon and Monkeymad - that is really reassuring and has given me the courage to try it ...... the CCTV thing is great but it makes you so aware of how badly some horses travel and explains why they hate it. They aren't being naughty, just can't balance, so lets hope this give my mare the courage to balance on her own 4 feet!

Louby - I emailed Equi-trek as well asking advice (they claim to have done all this research) and they didn't reply either. Maybe we should gang up??
 
Definitely worth a try, it is the only way Murph will travel in a trailer. He is cross tied and positions himself the best way to balance. Do make sure you have a full width breast bar though.
 
my mare only travels without a partition - loads herself and not a peep unless i take a corner a bit fast or go over a bump = then i get told off with a single protest kick :rolleyes: (and when i say a corner too fast - i'm the one who has to keep letting people past as i have to go so slowly :o but at least it keeps her happy!)
i've never tried with partitions - last owner said she panics so i'm not going to even bother trying! she is a loong and wide mare though - i can't even use a breaching bar in my 505 - only a breast bar as otherwise she doesnt fit in (she's only 16hh :eek:)
 
Its great you have CCTV to be able to keep an eye on her. My mare WILL NOT travel safely with no partition. Even when she is cross-tied fairly short she will move about far too much causing the trailer to sway. I am not talking about moving to balance herself. She is a nosey madam and a bit of a fidget by nature, and she insists on trying to peer out of each side window and behind her - so even when the trailer is at a standstill she's moving around to see whats going on. With a partition in place she settles with just the one view from that side window and doesn't move as much.
 
Lizziebell, thats very interesting - my girl is very nosey as well and that might half her problem, equitreks have tooooo many windows perhaps? maybe I should blank a couple out? Thanks for that word of warning, I will take it very slowly.

Misinterpret - thanks, it is interesting so many horses travel better without partitions.
 
Millie used to be a nightmare to load and travel in the trailer.

we have blocked the 2 side windows (Ifor Williams) and taken out the partition and she now loads and travels like a dream.
 
A horse I used to own would stand diagonally with his bum pressed agaist one side. He would travel fine with a partition, but prefered without. My last horse did not travel well with a partition, he would fidget constantly, but without one he never moved. He would just stand in the middle of the box rather than diagonally. I have never cross tied, but all mine were fairly well travelled before I had them.
 
Ooooh, great to hear its been tried in an Equitrek, I never used a partition in my Ifor but it didnt help my current horse, seems only happy in a wagon. I was worried that the size of him throwing his weight arround would or could cause an issue in an Equitrek.
Wanted to add that I would have blocked out the grooms window for def with my horse, I dont think seeing traffic coming up would help him at all :)
 
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