Horse used to lorry, now first time in trailer - any probs to expect?

[Puppy]

My lovely mare is the perfect traveller in a lorry, but tomorrow I am travelling her in a trailer for the first time. Is there any huge difference? Any tips? I am not generally a fan of trailers but needs must, as she's going to the vets for X-rays; thankfully not too far, but it is a rather winding route... Has anyone any tips on the differences/what to prepare/look out for? I'm just a touch worried.

Thanks in advance

 

[Shilasdair]

My lovely mare is the perfect traveller in a lorry, but tomorrow I am travelling her in a trailer for the first time. Is there any huge difference? Any tips? I am not generally a fan of trailers but needs must, as she's going to the vets for X-rays; thankfully not too far, but it is a rather winding route... Has anyone any tips on the differences/what to prepare/look out for? I'm just a touch worried.

Thanks in advance

I don't think there's a whole lot of difference provided your horse hasn't already had a bad experience in one or the other.
Maybe try to mimic the same set up as you use in the lorry - if she's used to partitions, use one, etc. And make sure there's nothing 'rattly' on the trailer.
S

 

[Izzwizz]

Avoid any sharp braking, do it slowly and take it steady round corners and roundabouts. If your horse gets a good ride you will not have a problem in the future. Travel horse on the drivers side and not too much lead rope free when tied up Make sure the breast and tail bar are close enough to your horse to support him/her. I always stop a little way into my route to check horse is ok and that nothing has moved out of place. Put a haynet up, may help and just take your time, the other traffic can wait. I once travelled in my trailer with my mare the first time she went in it, very naughty I know and only for a mile or so. It feels really weird and like your going faster than you actually are. Put overreach boots on the horse all round just in case they stand on their own feet and possibly pull a shoe off, I know a horse this happened to and the boots were a help on future trips.

Good luck!!

 

[SpruceRI]

Go a lot slower round the corners is the main one - trailers really do swing around if you go too fast.

When I switched to a trailer my pony got really upset even though she'd travelled plenty of times in friends trailers. I realised the difference was, in the lorry, I could talk to her and I'd have the radio on, or she'd have been with another horse in the trailer.

So I bought her a radio for trailer, and she was much happier!

 

[Puppy]

I don't think there's a whole lot of difference provided your horse hasn't already had a bad experience in one or the other.
Maybe try to mimic the same set up as you use in the lorry - if she's used to partitions, use one, etc. And make sure there's nothing 'rattly' on the trailer.
S

Thanks. Good point, I hadn't thought to make sure friend brings the partition, shall text him as he may not do... I've travelled her in lorries facing to the side more recently, but she has done facing forwards, so I hope it won't surprise her. She tends to view getting in the box as rather fun, so hopefully she'll feel the same about the trailer.

 

[Puppy]

Avoid any sharp braking, do it slowly and take it steady round corners and roundabouts. If your horse gets a good ride you will not have a problem in the future. Travel horse on the drivers side and not too much lead rope free when tied up Make sure the breast and tail bar are close enough to your horse to support him/her. I always stop a little way into my route to check horse is ok and that nothing has moved out of place. Put a haynet up, may help and just take your time, the other traffic can wait. I once travelled in my trailer with my mare the first time she went in it, very naughty I know and only for a mile or so. It feels really weird and like your going faster than you actually are. Put overreach boots on the horse all round just in case they stand on their own feet and possibly pull a shoe off, I know a horse this happened to and the boots were a help on future trips.

Good luck!!

Cheers! I should have said, it's a friend driving who is a pro qualified horse transporter, so I'm not worried about his towing style, just anything different about being a lorry that may surprise my girl I shall be booting her up, which she never normally budges in a box, and no worried about shoes as she's broken and going for x-rays

 

[Puppy]

When I switched to a trailer my pony got really upset even though she'd travelled plenty of times in friends trailers. I realised the difference was, in the lorry, I could talk to her and I'd have the radio on, or she'd have been with another horse in the trailer.

Thanks. Yes, I've no real reason to worry, as she is such a good girl in the box, but I know they can feel v different and it's been so long since I used a trailer I was worrying a touch. Luckily we aren't going too far, so hopefully no need to stop *touch wood*