How dare you try to make me more comfortable!

[Identityincrisis]

Urgh, horses!!

So, my horse has travelled great in my new 3.5t box since Christmas, the partition is nice and wide to allow plenty of room, he has lots of shavings as he likes to wee, there is ample air flow…. It’s fab. BUT I noticed he was travelling leaning on the wall and his haynet was in the opposition corner, so he was travelling like a banana, when i rode at the venues he was throwing his head and twisting his neck like it was in spasm so i thought i would try to move his net, i moved it to the same wall he leans on, he stood central and didn’t lean but sweated up. Today, I decided to put the net in the centrally and he travelled like an idiot!! Did not stand still, threw himself around and was dripping wet by the time we got there!!!

Any ideas?? New horse?! (Joking….. honest )

I hate travelling horses so I know I overthink everything but please humour me, I’m feeling delicate

 

[quizzie]

Several thoughts:

Does the net swing around, it could be that he dislikes the movement...can you anchor the net so it doesn't?

Have you tried travelling without a haynet?

Try 2 or even 3 well anchored nets?...or does this take up too much room so he feels trapped?

Have you tried a travelling mirror so he thinks he has a companion?

Are you sure the lorry suspension/tyres/brakes etc are all mechanically sound?

What was the set up in previous transport?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Firstly, I'd get a chiro/vet to ensure there isnt any lasting neck problems that might have leeched further. Get a mini work up to check hocks etc too.
Get someone to drive the box and you travel in the horse space to feel for any unwanted vibrations etc. Double check tyre pressures all round.

Then when horse is good to go, do a short trip without any net. Take one with you to pop in once parked up. Worth a try.

Hope you get to the bottom of it x

 

[Identityincrisis]

Thank you for your gentle feedback

Horsebox - tyres checked last week. Just been through MOT, box is brand new conversion on 43,000 mile van so very new. Very similar setup to old box

Haynets - fully anchored down but i do wonder if they are taking up too much room? He has lots of room behind him but seems to like to travel more towards the back of the van rather than rest his bum on the bulkhead

Horse - he had physio for his neck and she said he was very sore in his back (saddle fit is fine but will get this checked again) but i put the sore back down to his banana antics too

I travelled in the back last week and minimised any noises, he is noise sensitive but this van is quiet in comparison to my old one

He isn’t fooled by a mirror he knows it’s not a real horse

I will try to make the net smaller and try no net at all

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would look into why his suddenly doing this Arabi started leaning on the wall mainly with his back end, a while later he went lame with a suspensory injury so it can sometimes be a discomfort of some sort.

 

[Identityincrisis]

Just some quick feedback, i took princess pony out in the box last night and put everything back to where we started (smaller net) and he came off dry as a bone totally happy i guess i need to just let him stand how he’s happy and not fuss too much