help loading and travelling my mare.

[pudz02]

I dont know if I've put this is the right section.

I have an old style rice trailer front/rear unload, floor is pretty much new and is a really good trailer.
My mare has always been funny about loading some days she walks straight on other days it takes a good 30 mins to coax her on.
However once she's on we never get any sweating or anything that makes me thinks shes worried just the odd loose stool (if i put it politely)
She had an accident in the trailer about 2 years ago where she slipped on a poo and manged to lift the partition and get stuck. she came out of it with a few cuts (and travelled home fine) but nothing major and has since loaded and travelled to another show.
Now I dont get out much with her but hoping to do a bit more with her this year as ive joined the riding club so been practising loading over the winter. I've walked behind the trailer as my dad has pulled off and I've noticed her back end seems to go down a lot before she can get her balance.
The trailer just has chains at the very back. What I'm wondering is if i put in a breach bar at the bar at the back that is adjustable like the ifor williams ones, do you think this would help her? she seems like she has too much room infront and behind and needs something to lean on, so i thought of making it a little more compact for her? do you think this could help?
sorry for the really long post, i just wanted to get opinions on it before I start making changes.
thanks for reading

 

[Auntiesass]

Pudz it's a very scary thing watching your horse travel especially from behind. My rescued welsh section A pony had to travel loose when we first had him and following behind one day all I could see was his little pink nose and two feet trying to peer over the back ramp
However, my older mare used to have your problem. We solved it by doing the opposite to what you might think. We took out the partition, (had a straight breast bar made) and travelled her tied with a lead rope each side of her headcollar. Having pulled away very slowly for a number of times and travelled her very gently she learned to find her own balance as she had nothing to lean on.
Food for thought and hope this helps.

 

[pudz02]

Thanks for your reply
I have thought about that, as a lady on my yard does the same thing, I may see if i can borrow her breast bar and see if she's any better like this? did you find it nerve wracking the first time you did it, we have a trailer park area and we've been loading her at one end and then just driving her to the other so its only 100 yards do you think it would be worth doing this a few times before taking her anywhere we also have a long loop drive which we could take her down to see how she goes.
My stomach is in a knot thinking about it though!
Like you say its awful watching them from behind and actually seeing how they move.
Thanks so much for your advice

 

[Auntiesass]

I have to say, after 20+ years of towing, I still find it nerve racking but I do find that the more I do it the better it gets and if you are relaxed your mare will be. I thinks it is a good idea to do a dummy run a few times and make it fun for her. Just take it gently and a little bit further each time. Every time you bring her off the trailer make a huge fuss - if she's anything like my bunch they love being told how wonderful they are. It makes me feel good too so it's a win win situation.
Good luck and happy towing

 

[pudz02]

Ahh im glad I'm not the only one who gets nervous, thats the worst bit about taking them out to competitions for me!!
Ill do that then and take her down the drive a few times and see how she is.
Oh yes she loves to be told what a brilliant girl she is!!
I just want her to be confident with travelling, as well as me. Then we can go out and about without the worry of how she's travelling!!

Thanks again you've been really helpfull

hopefully we'll get there one day