getting my youngster use to going in a horsebox

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winchester

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Right i need some ideas help re getting my youngster use to going in a horsebox.

He was born at home and never been off the yard and have sold him so need to get him use to travelling before we deliver him to his new home.

Last Saturday we went to load him and he walked straight up the lorry and left him with a bucket of feed we tied him up and he was fine so shut the partitions on him and shut the ramp about 3 minutes later he went mad – he got his front legs up on the ledge in front (tack locker) and tried to get out the window and had pulled the tie ring off – so we brought him off again!

We have practiced again twice this week - goes up and down the ramp easily but seems to panic when he realises he is in there. We have been giving him his feed up there but worried about shutting him in incase he panics again,

I am thinking of trying him with another horse on there to see if it will settle him as i don’t think he likes being on his own.

Any ideas how i can go about this – should i try travelling him on a short distance and see how he is?
 
Is he ok being tied up in his stable? If not get him used to that and then try closing one partition and staying with him in the box (if it's safe for you).
fwiw they do tend to calm down once the box starts moving.
If you feel too worried to do this calmly get a pro in to help.
good luck.
 
I think you need to take it all a bit more step by step. 3 minutes shut in somewhere you haven't been before is a LONG time... I think you did amazingly to get him up the ramp and stood in the lorry happily first time. Never mind shutting him in. And for him to load again after his fright I think he is an amazingly genuine horse!

I think there are a few ways you could tackle this.

1) the step by step approach. Practice loading him. letting him stand, have a much and fuss and then unload him. repeat again and again, gradually shutting himin more and more but for litterally 30 secs or so so he understands that being shut in isn't permanent. Once you have him shut in happily you can then move to starting the engine and then once hes happy with this, taking him for a little trundle. This will probably need to be done over several days.

2) load him with a trusty companion.

3) remove all partitions in lorry, close it up and travel him loose.
 
I think you need to take it all a bit more step by step. 3 minutes shut in somewhere you haven't been before is a LONG time
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I agree - you made a real mistake there.

Take him in the box every day, with a small feed waiting for him. Don't tie him up or close the partitions, just hold him whilst he eats - then quietly walk him down the ramp.

You need to do that for a week or so.

Once he is loading happily you can then think about tying up and closing the partitions - and with a good handler in the back, take him on a journey, rather than making him stand on a stationary lorry.

Personally I wouldn't travel him loose.
 
Thank you for your replies!!

amymay said:
I agree - you made a real mistake there.
Take him in the box every day, with a small feed waiting for him. Don't tie him up or close the partitions, just hold him whilst he eats - then quietly walk him down the ramp.
You need to do that for a week or so.
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He goes up eats his dinner and sniffs around quite relaxed and easy can take him off put him on as may times as we like even shutting the partition on him! We have had him doing this for 3 evenings now.

Seems to be if he left on his own he panics so i think i will try him with a friend tomorrow on there - see how he is.

He usually lives out so will try leaving him in the stable on his own a couple of nights see how he is. Fab idea thank you!
 
winchester said:
He goes up eats his dinner and sniffs around quite relaxed and easy can take him off put him on as may times as we like even shutting the partition on him! We have had him doing this for 3 evenings now.

Seems to be if he left on his own he panics so i think i will try him with a friend tomorrow on there - see how he is.

He usually lives out so will try leaving him in the stable on his own a couple of nights see how he is. Fab idea thank you!
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Well that all sounds brilliant - great job.

He will panic if left alone. Remember this is all new, and stabling him won't make any difference. So. Load him up, and take him for a drive. Make sure you have someone experienced in the back with him - and a good driver. He should settle very quickly (most do). A companion is a good idea. But I guess he'll be travelling to his new home without one?
 
No the new owners are lovely and understand that i want to take my time in getting him use to the horsebox and i am delivering him to his new home so i can see where he is going - so can take one of my other horses with him!

Will practice tomorrow see how he does - if he panics should i take him straight off again?
 
My mare was brought to me from Wales, first time off the stud at 18 months old and was practised loading the week before, shut in etc then had 8 hrs journey to norfolk and didnt bat and eye lid. no sweating nothing. not a peep from her on motorways A roads, counrty roads. they get used to it. We shoved a shetland on first time out on her own in the lorry here.
 
Just an update we loaded his friend in to the lorry and then loaded him and left my other half in back with them! We just drove round the field and he was a really good boy - was honestly better when we was actually going than when the lorry was standing still!!

At least it is a start - thank you for all your help!!!
 
Should i give him sedaline when i actually make the long journey or should i leave it and just hope he is trained enough to go without it?
 
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