HELP!Good loader but is impatient to get out of the lorry!

charlie80

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I need advice guys,

My horse is a dream to load, but when we arrive at shows and are parking the lorry, he gets so excited he kicks out while waiting for the ramp to be lowered. (He does sweat up also)
As he is more than happy to go in the lorry Im assuming that he is just excited. He does travel well once we are moving, its just the issue of waiting while we put the ramp down! Although he has just turned 7, he has not done a lot. (The previous owner did take him hunting)
I have bought some Equine America So Kalm Plus and am feeding this on a daily basis while I am showing him this season, and I have also got some Super So Kalm paste to give him before I load him. (Have not tried the Super Kalm paste yet)
Personally, I do believe that his behaviour is because he is still green and he gets excited, he does not show signs of being completely terrified, more like "Im here!yey!let me out so I can see things mum!Wow!"
We are going to try and travel him in the end section of the lorry, and move the partition wide to give him extra room, my thinking is that as I am putting the ramp in the lorry down he can see things around him better, and he will not feel so cramped in if he were to travel in the first or middle partition of the lorry. Plus, he will be unloaded first.
Does anyone have any tips on how I can reduce the kicking and make my horse a little more patient! Can anyone recommend anything that will help calm him for loading, he is a star in the show ring, I cant fault him, but I wish he would just be patient in the lorry!
Thanks a lot
Charlie
 
Mine sometimes kicks when we get somewhere (though not ATM - he is full of grass and feeling lazy) but I've found that he is worse if he can hear my voice - if I walk away to book in etc he shuts up - I've crept back and he has been standing there quietly.

I noticed exactly the same thing with my friends mare yesterday - she was making quite a racket while we were having a cup of tea and talking, when friend went off to do some shopping and I waited with horses, the mare never made a sound but started again as soon as friend came back!

Not sure if it will work for you but good luck
smile.gif
 
One of ours is impatient on arrival but if we take him out, walk him around and let him see where he is etc then pop him back in - no probs - stands fine -worth a try - or maybe you have already?
 
Thanks guys, for the advice, it was really getting me down as all other horses in the yard behave perfectly when waiting to come out of the lorry! its nice to know that i am not the only one!
I think that I will try letting him see things and popping him back again as I have not tried that. He has lost a shoe at the moment so cant do anything!(typical) but the plan is to really work him next week (when he has his shoe back on!) and at the weekend give him some of this Supa Kalm and then pop him in back part of lorry and take him somewhere for a ride and bring him back home again. Theres just no point doing it now as he has not been worked so he has to much energy!
I think at least if he is worked hard for a week to keep him busy and then we try him in end partition it will be better.
More advice greatly appreciated!
 
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