How to box

[Slave2Magic]

I really want to get my mare to a few shows next year but she doesnt like travelling. Ive only boxed her once and that was when I bought her. She drips in sweat so is genuinely scared. Whats the best way to make it pleasant for her?

 

[kerilli]

loads of time and patience. if she'll load okay, then i'd load her, feed her a few carrots, take her out. then progress to feeding her her tea in there, and then take her out. get her used to it being a pleasant, not stressful, enviroment. if necessary, put a good traveller in with her, one that will just yawn and stand there like a lamb! groom her in there, fuss her in there, sit and read a book for 10 mins and just let her stand there, if she's calm and it's safe.
when she's fine about this, i'd take her for a 5 min drive, no more than that. tons of praise. then 10 mins, etc etc. again, maybe with a good traveller with her, if possible.
if you've got a horsebox not a trailer, having someone standing in the jockey doorway or in with her (if it's safe) to talk to her and reassure her, isn't a bad idea.
time = reassurance to a horse, and time spent doing all this will pay off in future. very best of luck.
i wouldn't sedate her, since you want to be able to take her to shows and compete her, obviously!

 

[Slave2Magic]

She wont even go up the ramp. What I dont want is loads of people shoving and pulling her. Maybe take it really slow and bribe her in?

 

[_jetset_]

If you're in the UK I cannot recommend getting Richard Maxwell out enough to load her... My IDxTB had not loaded for 4 years because she wouldn't go up the ramp and was terrified. Since having him out, I have never once had a problem loading her

I would not hesitate getting him out to another horse if I ever had the problem again. I had a few 'experts' out before I discovered Richard Maxwell, and I wasted a lot of money on that. But Richard was worth every penny.

PM me if you would like any more info on it

 

[jipdog7]

Is there any chance that you can borrow another horse which is a good traveller to show her the ropes as it were? We have often found that if one horse is already in the box another will follow as they think they are missing out on something!