Horse stressed travelling and at competition

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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Having had some good outings in the summer, I took my cob to BD yesterday and he appeared to be a bit stressed. He doesn't love travelling, but loads well and travels well - but yesterday was shaking on the trailer (not badly, just a bit of a quiver). Only travelled half an hour, and then he was a bit stressed at the show too, which he has been to several times before and wasn't busy. Explosive diarrhea started when I was plaiting up at home, before loading, standing at the trailer, in the warm up and in one of the tests. He used to be like this when I first went out (3-4 years ago now). Not sure why it's come back? He's never had an unpleasant experience travelling or away. It could just be the time of year (a few friends were having nightmares at the show too).

Being a cob he isn't throwing himself around and being an idiot, but I know when he's feeling a bit stressed and I don't want him to feel like that :-( Just wondering if the solution is just to get out and about more (we tend to only go out every couple of months, usually to a competition). Or whether there's a calmer I can give him on the day to take the edge off the stress but not affect his performance. He is very unstressed in the rest of his life.
 
I don't think I'd be changing too much on the basis of one bad day, but mine get better and more relaxed the more often they are out and about. The weather has suddenly changed here and sometimes the season changes set horses off a bit, I think I'd give it another go for a low key outing (arena hire or lesson?) and see if he is any happier next time.

My oldie got the splats every time she thought she was going on the lorry, but she was excited rather than worried.
 
i used valerian liquid with a very stressy exracer and got great results with it. its not competition legal, but might be handy to use for a few test trips.
 
milliepops said:
I don't think I'd be changing too much on the basis of one bad day, but mine get better and more relaxed the more often they are out and about. The weather has suddenly changed here and sometimes the season changes set horses off a bit, I think I'd give it another go for a low key outing (arena hire or lesson?) and see if he is any happier next time.

My oldie got the splats every time she thought she was going on the lorry, but she was excited rather than worried.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'm probably worrying too much! Will try again...
 
You could try calmer cookies from equine edge. Recommended to me for mine who gets fidgety and paws the ground at events when he's tied up outside the lorry. He does seem better with these - less anxious but doesn't impact how he goes. My OH says he's def noticed a difference in his behaviour (I'm conscious it could be working on me as a kind of placebo so I think him noticing it is more compelling!).

Obv try and work out if there is a reason why e.g. change in routine etc., but if it's a bit of anxiety, something like a same day calmer could help.

I initially thought mine would get better with more regular outings but he goes out a fair bit and he hasn't improved, so I don't think it's that.
 
Or Rescue Remedy, either in the water bucket the night before or apply in the morning. It is brandy based, so it will make the horse wrinkle his nose!

I used it on a stress traveller who pawed the floor continually. After using Rescue Rememdy she didin't any more - but she might just have got used to travelliing, who knows …………………………….
 
A second vote here for Rescue Remedy. I used to put a drop on a piece of hollowed out carrot 10 minutes before loading, then again after loading and before driving off. We used this from Spring through to Summer one year as she became unhappy going down hill. After a short break we loaded again and I realised I had not used the R R, however pony had traveled absolutely fine. After that I never needed it again and we went many miles around the country for TREC competitions.
 
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