Help - Major travelling problems

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turpsamd

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Hi all,

I have a four year old horse that me and my Mum bought last year, she had never left her place of birth until we bought her and she has been a nightmare to travel since the word go. Once I started backing her we figured we would take her out in the lorry once a week even if it was just around the block or to a neighbours so that she would get better.

She loads OK, and is fine if someone is with her, but otherwise she goes crazy... her worst trick is rearing up and she has got herself over the partitions many times. A friend suggested travelling her with no partitions and let her find her own balance but she even managed to rear up and get stuck on the rug rack and rip that off the wall.

We have tried her with loads of space, very little space... 9 times out of 10 if we go somewhere she is awful on the way there but OK on the way home... happy to eat hay etc so not stressed.

It reached a low point on Friday when she reared up and kicked one of the lorry windows out... she then had a leg hanging out of the lorry... followed by her head!! I had her double tied at the time too and really didnt think she could get up... I am really at the end of my tether with her as I feel I have tried everything.

I dont have a trailer so cant try her in that (dont think it would make any difference either)
I do have another horse I could travel her with but that horse is a nightmare at shows etc with other horses and I think that would just cause more problems
I travel with the living door open so I can see what bad things she is doing so she can see/hear us... if my boyfriend stands with her she is OK but the minute he sits down she starts trashing my box again.... cant go on like this :-(

Anybody got any ideas??? dont think its a pain/balance issue or she wouldnt travel home happily and she is happy to be left home alone if I hack or take my other horse away for lessons/competitions etc...

A few friends have suggested ACP route which I am thinking might be the way ahead. Others suggested a travel mirror or covering windows up... so any ideas gratefully received.
 
If the other horse travels well, it could be worth trying them together without actually going to a show. The youngster obviously prefers company. Otherwise have you got a friend with a good traveller, who could accompany your youngster?
 
We have had similar problems and sought help form our very experienced trainer.
The problem was - she worked out after about half an hour - a spoilt horse who we had allowed to be naughty.
The problem was solved by loading the horse and tying up as normal. Walking away, and then when the rearing started, beating him. Yes. Not pleasant but preferable to a dangerous horse.

He had worked out that this behaviour got attention. By replacing the naughtiness with pain he soon stopped. When he calmed down he was left in the lorry for about 20 mins.
this was repeated several times. He soon got the idea.
Result is now a "normal" horse (we hope).

Good luck!
 
My boy did this when I first got him it was a trailer though and he ended putting his front feet out of the tailer front window and trashing the whole box anyway now I have had 2 rings put down on the floor and he tied to them so he can't rear up and still tie on each ring of his headcollar I have taken the partition out completely and if I wan't to take the other horse they just travell side by side without a partition, also ive heard a mirror is a good thing I think he taking the p--s good luck
 
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