Help ! Horse unable to stand up straight in trailer...

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Fergal0304

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Our 17.2 had been as good as gold travelling in our Bateson trailer. Always goes on first time and absolutely no bother.

Last weekend we were off to a show and every time we went round a corner there was a horrendous crashing and banging. Thought there had been a major trailer trauma but could find nothing. Did a U turn and took him off PDQ. Took the trailer out empty, nothing untoward.

Thought we’d try again today, maybe the partition was loose last week. Checked everything, all secure. Got 100 yards and the first bend and the crashing and banging started. Could not see anything so had a ride in the back with himself. Every turn we came too he seemed to slip over against the partition or side and the noise was him scrabbling try to get his balance (catching his hooves on the side or floor). He seemed unable to stay upright on any turn, any speed. Straight line no problem. The trailer floor is ribbed rubber matting, nice & dry.

He’s been going in the trailer for around 9 months with no issues, so any one any idea why seems to have suddenly lost his balance and what to do?? Apart from trailer rides he seems 100%, healthy, fit and sound.
 
Strange that it should start happening. A friend of mine had a horse that used to fall over in the trailer but when the partition was removed andca double length breast bar put in he travelled fine.
 
I know several horses who have this same issue.
There are from what i gather a variety of causes, one of them being arthritic changes to the legs/body. Simply not as supple as they once were so can't balance the same going round the bends.

I believe another thing can be core strength related. A horse I ride now started doing just as you described several years ago with previous rider (her mum is owner). They were coming home after a competition and she scrambled on every corner, was very sweaty when they got hom and distressed. She can't be travelled in a horse lorry as that means she's facing the wrong way in the herringbone. You can usually remove the partition in the trailer to give the full width of the box. This means they can splay their legs more and also stand diagonally. The horse i ride chose her head to be right and her bum to be left (if i am thinking correctly - opposite to a horse lorry anycase!) She had several years off as she had a foal. she had stopped managing to maintain true canter - arthritic changes? fall in the field? hip popped out - all possibilities as to why. I brought her back into work and so she is stronger now- more muscled and has better balance. We haven't tried her in a single side of horsebox as its so stressful for her to be scrambling but i have driven behind the horse trailer and she chooses to stand on the left hand side but is much straighter - most of the time i think a partition would fit in on her right without affecting her but i obviously can't see her legs.

Depending on the age of your horse i'd consider getting a vet out to check for joint issues. if its likely to be arthritic then i'd be inclined to just try taking out the partition and see if that helps - if it does then i'd continue with that.
 
We had a similar problem with our 17.1 DWB - we used to travel her on the right hand side of the trailer - crashing and lots of noise on even the slightest, slowest turn. I came on here for advice and took note of what everyone had to say, from travelling her cross tied in the trailer with the partitions out and full width breech bars, to travelling her on the left hand side.

Well we tried her on the left and so far (fingers crossed) no problems.

We had always travelled her in a lorry herringbone, and we reckon she got used to leaning on the partition on her right hand side, which would have meant her leaning on the outside of the trailer. H
Now she travels on the left she is leaning on the centre partition.

Might be worth a try.
 
I would try removing the partition and cross tying him.

Sounds like a balance thing - have you had his back checked.
 
Similar problem to yours, we have a seasoned traveller never murmured in either a trailer or the lorry. Suddenly she started throwing herself around in the trailer, leaning on the partition so hard she actually bent the pins. After alot of deductions we got her back checked and turned out she was trying to tell us she had a sore back. Back treated and now back to normal.
Hope this helps.
Good luck
 
I had the same problem last year with one of my mares. She would load no trouble, stand in the trailer no trouble and walk out as if nothing had happened BUT as soon as the engine of the Land Rover stated she would throw herself against the partition.

This is what I did.
1) Had her back etc checked out. Back was well out although there were no other signs.
2) Gave her more space in the trailer which included moving the back part of the partition (Removing the partition completely was not an option)
3) Travelled her on the oposite side of the trailer.
4) Did not put any boots or bandages on.
5) Travelled her without tying her up.
6) Made sure that there was plenty of bedding in the trailer (When the back of the floor gets wet or mucky they can slip)
and finally put her onto "Nupafeed Calmer, she has this every day as maintance and when travelling I will give her an instant syringe (An hour before)
I do not use the calmer as a calmer but because it has magnesium which the muscles need.

All this together has worked for me. My mare does Endurance and 2 weeks after doing the above we travelled the 150 plus miles with no trouble and then later in the season we went to Builth Wells (Royal Welsh Show Ground) 160 plus miles again no trouble.

Has your horse fall or slipped at home or had any muscle soreness that made it feel worse.
 
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Hi Guys,

thanks for all the replies and advice.

The fact that its just started does make you think it may be health related. I dont think its arthritis is he's only 9. May be worth getting the vet to check him over especially his back.

We'll have a go with trying to give him more room, the partition is fixed in the middle third but the front and rear section do pivot. We'll check that out.

We may try him in a rear facing horse box, people say thats the best way to travel.

Mighty frustrating when you want to start getting out inearnest !

Thanks again...
 
I had a pony years ago that suddenly started doing this and we thing he had had a scare on a very windy day travelling.

We had an old rice where you could move the rear end of the partition over to help with loading. Found that if we left the partition over at the back (pony stood on right hand side but partition by back end moved over to the left) he could spread his hind legs and hey presto problem solved.

I would not take the partition out all together as they horse should travel up on the camber of the road (right hand side) to balance the trailer.
 
Have you checked your tyre pressure on the trailer?

My boy was travelling fine and then one day I travelled him for about 45 mins, there wasnt any slipping or banging but when I got him out the other end of the journey he had mild colic.

It transpired that I had a slow puncture and he could balance properly in a slightly "wallowy" trailer.

Puncture fixed and tyres pumped back up to correct pressure and no problems since!

Hope you get it sorted.
 
Hi,
my horse does this when I travel him on the left side of the trailer. It´s bizarre, it looks like he´s not even trying to stand up, his legs just collapse under him.

If he travels on the right however, he´s absolutlely fine. Luckily he´s the larger of my two so he´s on the correct side.

I would understnd if he had trouble when the trailer was turning due to the camber in the road(ie around roundabouts) but he´s just as bad in straight lines.

Also he´s the same in any trailer so it´s nothing to do with the vehicle.
 
I began to have that problem with my mare it was terrifying! I now travel her alone with single breast bar haven't had any problems since :-)
 
sugarpuff said:
Have you checked your tyre pressure on the trailer?

My boy was travelling fine and then one day I travelled him for about 45 mins, there wasnt any slipping or banging but when I got him out the other end of the journey he had mild colic.

It transpired that I had a slow puncture and he could balance properly in a slightly "wallowy" trailer.

Puncture fixed and tyres pumped back up to correct pressure and no problems since!

Hope you get it sorted.
Click to expand...

Likewise, my pony recently started panicking in the trailer. Happened for 3 journeys.

4th attempt at going out one of the trailer wheels seized on the drive. On jacking it up and taking the wheel off I managed to turn the drum by hand and could feel it 'sticking' slightly on every rotation.

Have since had the brakes replaced on that axle and the other axle checked.

Since then I've taken her out in my friends newer trailer, and my own and she's still rather nervous, though out today in a friends' lorry with her horse she was absolutely fine. I'd boxed up to friends' yard so had to tow home and Rosie was absolutely fine on the return leg and back to munching her hay which means 'relaxed'.

She's going to take some time to trust the trailer again. Sorry Rosie :(
 
I'd second everything that everyone else has said - will just take time to work out by process of elimination what is wrong. My mare travels far better on the left hand side and as we have a fairly modren trailer which is really low to the ground the balance with the camber of the road really isn't an issue.
Another thought though - my old instructor knew of a pony once which had balance issues - turned out to be an ear problem! Makes sense though as we need our ears for balance so I guess horses do too.
I'm sure your by will be sorted in no time, good luck :)
 
This also happened to me last year!

I took partition out and travelled him with a full width breast bar no problems since.

Good shout about the tyres though. I did check mine and had it serviced - all ok so it was probably just a balance thing, a corner took him off guard probably and he was cautious ever since.
 
My girly had a scare in a trailer a few years ago and now refuses to travel in one. She will only travel backwards in a van conversion type lorry now. I haven't tried her without a partition in a trailer as can't tow myself so was always hitching a lift. Hope you get it sorted
 
This is an increasingly common problem!!! And there seems to be as many causes as there are people involved with horses!!! Here in New Zealand there is available a float (trailer!) with flared sides that gives the horses more room to spread their legs and this seems to solve the problem 100% of the time. So I would suggest for a start that you don't shut the divider and allow the horse more room in the float (it is a double??). Perhaps even take the divider out alltogether? Otherwise tie it right back to the empty side and see what happens. I am looking forward to hearing what happens!! Good luck.
 
Many thanks for all the suggestions.

I'll certainly make sure the tyres are up to the correct pressure. I think it ought to be mechanically sound as it was serviced just six months ago.

Funnily enough our Bateson trailer also has a rear part of the partition that can hinge to one side, so we can certainly give that a try too.
 
After checking all the mechanical issues, definitely see the vet. Maybe a pelvic rotation? Hopefully purely a trailer mechanic thing.

I heard of a poor horse that went on it's side to the RVC today. :(
 
Plucked up the courage to venture out last weekend.

Checked trailer, all tyre pressures good, local mechanial chap checked - thumbs up (was serviced about 6 mths back).

Our lad went on no bother, made sure all secure before setting off. Drove very gently, walking pace around corners, dead slow on roundabouts etc. And all was OK, No more sounding like the trailer was being demolished.

Arrived looking good & unstressed, fine at the show. So time to go and he decided no way was he going back on. Tried bribing with mints, putting another horse on first, wouldnt set foot in the trailer (now 25 miles from home).

Had to get the yard owner who's a whizz at Parelli. Spent 20 odd miins walking him around, getting closer & closer. After about 15 attempts he just walked of his own accord. Reckoned he must have a scare a few trips back thats left him scared of going on again. Reckons it'll take a few more ultra cautious trips to show there's nothing to be scared off.

We'd better get a Parelli crash course meantime...
 
eggs said:
Strange that it should start happening. A friend of mine had a horse that used to fall over in the trailer but when the partition was removed andca double length breast bar put in he travelled fine.
Click to expand...

This - take the partition out and allow him to use the whole trailer, you should find he will be okay then. I have a horse that needs to travel like this.
 
I have exactly the same problem with my 8yo who has travelled fine in a lorry and a trailer all his life so far. No changes in towing outfit, suddenly started scrabbling wildly with front feet but only when going round corners. I was googling for a possible explanation and found the following post on a different thread. Interestingly his problem, now I think about it, coincided with my starting to travel him in his equilibrium 'hardy chaps' one of which has a wee piece missing now from the inside hoof area.... Can't wait to see if travelling him without boots helps! I had never given this explanation a thought.....

punk said:
Horses learn by association - so........ any bad experience can mean panic by association.

Re travel boots, they do sometimes slip down.

Horse then moves, and puts one foot on the oppposite travel boot, thus making it impossible to pick that foot up to move it to steady on a corner - thus causing panic.

The same goes with partitions that are solid to the floor, where the horses' attempt to spread their legs is blocked - thus creating panic.

Same in a trailer - the centre partition may have rubber, but the side of the trailer won't, and if they try to spread that way they are blocked - causing panic.

It can only be one little thing that has happened, that you haven't even noticed, to upset their confidence - and who can blame them!!!!!!!

Take time doing really slow journeys, and very very slow round corners - possibly with someone around to reassure.
They DO usually regain confidence.

Take time to see it their way!

We have a horse that is 18 and has travelled all his life wonderfully. Suddenly started panicking. We found that the back pin on one partition (by his tail) had come loose, and it didn't feel as secure as he was used to. It was still safe - he just did not think so - and panicked!
Click to expand...
 
How old is he? Had experience of this but it didn't have the best outcome and I don't want to be a harbinger of doom!! In this case it was arthritis in the front legs. Horse still trotted up sound.

I would try him on a few different vehicles (rear facing etc) and if that makes no difference (like previous poster said, give it a few tries because they can pretty much panic in anticipation and just fling themselves down) try him on a dose of bute for a few days and see if that improves things.

If he's better on the bute, get him physio'd, and if that doesn't help, get your vet to do a soundness work up.
 
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This was the first sign I got that my boy had arthritis developing in his hock, he couldn't balance therefore climbed the wall in the trailer and he actually went down :( I now have to travel him with the partition out and full breech bars and he's as happy as Larry perfect traveller :) he's also fine in a lorry :)
 
Our roads are far worse now. Pot-holes everywhere - might not help although I know we try our best to avoid.

Main point I wanted to say is I wouldn't travel in a trailer with a frightened horse. I think it is so so dangerous. I appreciate why you did it and I'm generally pretty relaxed about things but after some horror stories that's a no-no to me.
 
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