Horse won't go on my new horsebox

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Rusvergald

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Hi I have just bought a more 'mature' beautiful oakley horsebox it's 8ft wide and has 7'9" headroom and 5 windows and 2 roof vents ... it does however have tack lockers so i'm having to make the diagonal very wide ...one of my id x tb 16.3h went on first time after 3 attempts we had a chilled ride he went to go back on to go home started going backwards sideways down my ramp which is quite steep fell off edge but then walked up was fine travelling we stopped for about 20 mins on way home to have food he was fine got off at home not sweated he was fine. Went to put him on yesterday (week later) took me 2 hours to persuade him to come on i walked on and off 5 times then had my son put ramp up we went around the block he pawed every time we stopped at lights. When we got home 15 minutes later he walked off box i teied to get him back on and spent another hour negotiating! Its disheartened me i feel hes claustrophobic thinking of taking tack lockers out or atleast one where he stands... was thinking about getting him a syringe calmer too? Any thoughts? Hes 21 years old and up until 2 years ago travelled probably 2/3 times a week! ... it was my dream to have a box so gutted as hes the horse I really wanted to take in the box! Any help gratefully appreciated.
 
Rusvergald said:
Hi I have just bought a more 'mature' beautiful oakley horsebox it's 8ft wide and has 7'9" headroom and 5 windows and 2 roof vents ... it does however have tack lockers so i'm having to make the diagonal very wide ...one of my id x tb 16.3h went on first time after 3 attempts we had a chilled ride he went to go back on to go home started going backwards sideways down my ramp which is quite steep fell off edge but then walked up was fine travelling we stopped for about 20 mins on way home to have food he was fine got off at home not sweated he was fine. Went to put him on yesterday (week later) took me 2 hours to persuade him to come on i walked on and off 5 times then had my son put ramp up we went around the block he pawed every time we stopped at lights. When we got home 15 minutes later he walked off box i teied to get him back on and spent another hour negotiating! Its disheartened me i feel hes claustrophobic thinking of taking tack lockers out or atleast one where he stands... was thinking about getting him a syringe calmer too? Any thoughts? Hes 21 years old and up until 2 years ago travelled probably 2/3 times a week! ... it was my dream to have a box so gutted as hes the horse I really wanted to take in the box! Any help gratefully appreciated.
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Get a horse behaviourist, I can recommend Grant Bazin if you are in the Midlands.

He will help you with loading issues.

Bailey used to stand with two feet on the ramp in a 'I will not go on the trailer' attitude after 7.5 yrs of practically knocking me over in eagerness to go on.

His ears would be relaxed, his head droopy and his lower lip dangling, two feet on the ramp/ two off. Hardly terrified. Grant sorted him out in the end.
 
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Did you get box checked pre-purchase? Tyres, suspension, flooring, ramp?

If so and all good put your son in back and drive around block to see if anything feels off or is rattly.

Is ramp much steeper than previously? An older horse may feel sore going down a steep ramp. Get horse checked by vet and if horse isn't in pain, park where ramp is less steep to start with.

If box mechanically sound and horse not in pain get someone specialised in loading in to help before it becomes ingrained behaviour.
 
Nicnac said:
Did you get box checked pre-purchase? Tyres, suspension, flooring, ramp?

If so and all good put your son in back and drive around block to see if anything feels off or is rattly.

Is ramp much steeper than previously? An older horse may feel sore going down a steep ramp. Get horse checked by vet and if horse isn't in pain, park where ramp is less steep to start with.

If box mechanically sound and horse not in pain get someone specialised in loading in to help before it becomes ingrained behaviour.
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Some great points Nicnac but I'd not advise the bit about son in the horse section whilst in transit from personal experience. Instead buy a cheap dash cam and set it up inside, or tape your mobile to the inside of your box with gaffer tape and film horse in motion.

I was in the back of my trailer when my horse went down in 1996. It was not a good place to be, luckily he didn't panic, and i was 'safe' the other side onbthe partition but if he had of panicked I'd have been seriously injured.
 
I'd be getting a vet out before a behaviourist. Travelling can be hard work for a horse and a lot can change in a few years in terms of being physically comfortable travelling particularly with an ageing horse.

If all checks out physically, then I agree checking out the horsebox and getting g a behaviourist involved would be the next steps.
 
If it is a lorry not a trailer (by dimensions would seem so) then son can stand at the internal door and watch the horse travelling (presumably hes not a small child) . I did this a few days ago for a bad traveller to see what she was doing. She was in a partition not up against the door.
 
I wouldn't worry about the behaviourist or the vet., If this is a "mature" lorry I would get everything from the chassis upwards thoroughly checked out. If everything is in good order I would put all the partitions back and let the horse travel loose, put a camera in (or travel in with him) and watch how he travels, what position etc
 
Thank you so much for all your comments.... I do have a camera in the horse area and he is standing fine other than pawing ... headrooms really good its light and as I say loads of windows.
My other boy is travelling fine eating hay and no issues at all ... the one that played up on first journey when we stopped was quite happy munching hay too. I do feel he's testing me but i also feel its tight when he's turning to go herringbone hence i'm going to take 1 tack locker out where he goes (if i can sort this problem out). The other boy is clydesdale x cob hes heavier but shorter coupled... hes absolutely fine going on and off.
Also the first time i went to try him it took 3 attempts and he went on straight for my son then which makes me think hes playing up more than anything also because the 1 and only time i took him when i took him off the box he hadnt sweated up and was perfect on his ride.
Any other suggestions? What about a calmer syringe? Only issue is even if i get him on what if he won't go back on when we've been out .... what a nightmare it was my dream to have the box and i really wanted this particular horse to go on he's fit as a fiddle and fine in himself. Im in south wales if anyone dies kniw a behaviourist??
 
Rusvergald said:
Thank you so much for all your comments.... I do have a camera in the horse area and he is standing fine other than pawing ... headrooms really good its light and as I say loads of windows.
My other boy is travelling fine eating hay and no issues at all ... the one that played up on first journey when we stopped was quite happy munching hay too. I do feel he's testing me but i also feel its tight when he's turning to go herringbone hence i'm going to take 1 tack locker out where he goes (if i can sort this problem out). The other boy is clydesdale x cob hes heavier but shorter coupled... hes absolutely fine going on and off.
Also the first time i went to try him it took 3 attempts and he went on straight for my son then which makes me think hes playing up more than anything also because the 1 and only time i took him when i took him off the box he hadnt sweated up and was perfect on his ride.
Any other suggestions? What about a calmer syringe? Only issue is even if i get him on what if he won't go back on when we've been out .... what a nightmare it was my dream to have the box and i really wanted this particular horse to go on he's fit as a fiddle and fine in himself. Im in south wales if anyone dies kniw a behaviourist??
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he’s not “playing up”, if he’s fallen off the ramp he’s understandably had a shock and scared himself!

if he’s 100% healthy, and the box is too, then it’s about letting him get confident again and realise he’s still safe up there. go back to basics like he’s never done any of it before, reward any movement forwards and remove the pressure unless he starts moving backwards again. once he’s happy going on, give him a feed/something tasty on there, and get him off again. possibly worth taking him for a 2 minute trip round the lane with your other horse, to give him confidence, once he’s happy loading.

a behaviourist is a wonderful idea, but if he’s willing to work with you, and you’re willing to go at his pace and do it little by little, you can definitely work on it yourself. set him up for success and make it all light and easy, even if that means rewarding 2 feet on the ramp and then getting off and re-presenting him!
 
My experience is there is no quick fix.

Calmness patience practice and time is the main part of any solution.

The other part is technique (my technique is to not let the horse turn away from the box, reward every step towards it, sometime the less you expect, the more you get?

Once on, make it a nice place to be, feed, come off go back on again.

Actually, having your son in the back with horse is not a bad idea if the box is stationary! (Progress to having engine running, note the stress points). It could help the horses anxiety about being there for a period of time, if the horse eats either food or hay you are starting to win!
 
Asha said:
I dont think Nicnac is for one minute suggesting she puts her son in the horsebox while the horse is in there. More like give your son a ride in the horse area alone and see if he can hear/feel anything out of the ordinary
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Oh sorry Nicnac if I interpreted it that way.
No offence. 🙂
 
Nicnac said:
YES son on his own 😁
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Yes we were mad with what Dad and I did really. We were just so intrigued. Dad was literally crawling around an industrial estate. He turned a really (and I mean REALLY) slow left and Biggles went down.

In the end he made the trailer 3/4 v 1/4 width with the bigger area for the horse and extended the breast bar forwards and we never looked back. If that last sentence makes any sense! 😃
 
Rusvergald said:
Thank you so much for all your comments.... I do have a camera in the horse area and he is standing fine other than pawing ... headrooms really good its light and as I say loads of windows.
My other boy is travelling fine eating hay and no issues at all ... the one that played up on first journey when we stopped was quite happy munching hay too. I do feel he's testing me but i also feel its tight when he's turning to go herringbone hence i'm going to take 1 tack locker out where he goes (if i can sort this problem out). The other boy is clydesdale x cob hes heavier but shorter coupled... hes absolutely fine going on and off.
Also the first time i went to try him it took 3 attempts and he went on straight for my son then which makes me think hes playing up more than anything also because the 1 and only time i took him when i took him off the box he hadnt sweated up and was perfect on his ride.
Any other suggestions? What about a calmer syringe? Only issue is even if i get him on what if he won't go back on when we've been out .... what a nightmare it was my dream to have the box and i really wanted this particular horse to go on he's fit as a fiddle and fine in himself. Im in south wales if anyone dies kniw a behaviourist??
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Sorry about the emoji. Brushed it in error and can't remove now. Anyone, is there a way please??
 
homepaddock said:
Sorry about the emoji. Brushed it in error and can't remove now. Anyone, is there a way please??
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I think that if you hover over the emoji you can change it. I’ve been guilty of accidentally putting inappropriate emojis on in the past due to fat fingers, but have been able to change them later.

I’ll trial it on your post 🙂.

ETA yes, click on the unwanted emoji you want rid of and it goes, you can replace it with another if you want.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I think that if you hover over the emoji you can change it. I’ve been guilty of accidentally putting inappropriate emojis on in the past due to fat fingers, but have been able to change them later.

I’ll trial it on your post 🙂.

ETA yes, click on the unwanted emoji you want rid of and it goes, you can replace it with another if you want.
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Wonderful! It worked. Thanks Tiddlypom. Yes, same problem...fat fingers on small phone :rolleyes:.
 
Please check over the box thoroughly!!
Friends big horse started refusing to load having previously been fine and the floor had come apart from the inside of the box. Other horses were not bothered but the weight of the big horse meant it was moving and totally unsafe.
Also get vet to check horse so many sore horses find travelling painful and start to say no thanks.
 
Please check over the box thoroughly!!
Friends big horse started refusing to load having previously been fine and the floor had come apart from the inside of the box. Other horses were not bothered but the weight of the big horse meant it was moving and totally unsafe.
Also get vet to check horse so many sore horses find travelling painful and start to say no thanks.
 
angel7 said:
Please check over the box thoroughly!!
Friends big horse started refusing to load having previously been fine and the floor had come apart from the inside of the box. Other horses were not bothered but the weight of the big horse meant it was moving and totally unsafe.
Also get vet to check horse so many sore horses find travelling painful and start to say no thanks.
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Definitely - thoroughly check the box!
Have the matting out and rigorous inspection of the flooring for any give or weakness, also ensure your matting has anti slip ridging and is then securely back in place - eliminate any insecurity there might be for a travelling animal. Proceed with purpose and confidence!
There are umpteen videos, books, magazine articles in circulation from various equine gurus, re loading / travelling horses. If you want to hire a behaviourist for your own confidence, fair enough, but ultimately you’ll be dealing with him on your own, and are more likely to gain that confidence from overcoming this yourself. Have a good read up, you’ve got the box and the horse to practise, try giving yourself some time to put into action. Good luck, happy outings!
 
It’s tough when a good traveler suddenly struggles, but don’t lose hope. Since he’s fine once loaded, the issue is likely the ramp or confined space. Try removing a tack locker to give him more room, practice loading with no pressure (just walk on/off and reward), and maybe use a calmer for the first few trips. A less steep ramp or better grip could also help. He’s older and set in his ways, so patience is key he’ll likely come around with time. Hang in there.
 
When the horse travelled previously was it herringbone? If not, then the change in position could be causing discomfort. Please do get your horse checked over.
 
I had one that refused to load onto our lorry. I could never work out why.
Until years after a different horse pulled a shoe and half his foot off and I rand Mr P for him to come and get us in the lorry.
He arrived, minus head collars ( my fault I didn’t think to say) so I stood in the back and held the horses.
I was shocked at how noisy it was back there. Everything squeaked and rattled. Because I’d travelled on it loaded I was able to assess where all the noise was coming from and sort a lot of it out, I do still to this day have disposable baby nappies lining the metal locker doors though to stop them rattling!
It’s definitely worth travelling in the back yourself.
 
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