Lorry Nightmare

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CrossKeys

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Can anyone offer help? I have finally bought own lorry to travel 13 year old heavyweight. We are happy hackers, hunt occasionally, non-competitive. Thought this horse had settled and is generally a joy, will go anywhere when out. In hunting or show conditions is excitable but manageable, just wants to go home and knows the way as we hack to everything. Has travelled well in trailers and lorries with company, alone when being professionally transported abroad, and alone once with me driving but with front feet striking and sitting back until on the move. Once out of lorry or hacking for home is immediately sensible and calm. Travelled today with another quiet horse, loaded him first was upset until other horse aboard but still some kicking and rocking. Ok on the move, nice hack, reluctant load but no playing up, just not moving up the ramp. Loaded after couple minutes. Some kicking while moving, dropped off other horse, kept engine running, shut ramp and drove 2 minutes to field alone, quiet until opened ramp then just exploded in lorry ending up front legs up to girth level over partition away from ramp i.e. further into lorry, kicking, jumping as if to get back half over too, thrashing, rocking, finally getting back over to stall originally in where I was desparately opening gate, once out immediately calm, eating grass. Checked over, seems fine, walk ok but will show more tomorrow maybe, eating, wants dinner wandered off calmly into field, me in pieces, never want to see that again.
 
Partition width or angle not right for him?
Is it herringbone, has he been OK herringbone before?
 
Try bigger partition width. My mare falls all over the place with normal width but without partition in trailer she is fine. I would try and give him/her double the width of normal stall and see if any different.
Mine shreds her travel boots and scrabbles up the side walls with a partition in but as soon as she is unloaded is absolutely fine? She doesn't move an inch with a double space even though she does not use it all. Try that.
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Sorry I can't offer any help but my mare is a terrible traveller, she hates it, she has trouble standing corners and as soon as you stop she starts pawing and banging, I am a nervous wreck towing now and take all corners at the slightest angle I can and use up all the road and never seem to get over 30 mph even though I seem to be out towing once or twice a week. But she's calm as a lamb once out and usually loads up no problems. Sometimes I just think its being in that enclosed space sends them a bit potty and the anticipation of getting out especially as his friend has gone out a few minutes before.
 
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Sorry I can't offer any help but my mare is a terrible traveller, she hates it, she has trouble standing corners and as soon as you stop she starts pawing and banging, I am a nervous wreck towing now and take all corners at the slightest angle I can and use up all the road and never seem to get over 30 mph even though I seem to be out towing once or twice a week. But she's calm as a lamb once out and usually loads up no problems. Sometimes I just think its being in that enclosed space sends them a bit potty and the anticipation of getting out especially as his friend has gone out a few minutes before.

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Try without a partition and you will be amazed at how much better yours will travel. There are so many posts on here with the same problems travelling and after taking out the partition they are different horses. I thought I was the only one with a problem traveller until I read that lots of people have the same problem and how much better they travel in a bigger space.
 
Is it a mare? Just that i find my mare gets more attatched to her 'friends' whilst in season where as quiet as a lamb other times... Obv doesnt get quite as bad though... So it was fine until you put the ramp down, is there any chance that you could maybe drop it off before its friend next time until it is a bit more used to the lorry?
 
I am sure you are quite right and have thought this myself - I just need to get a breast bar that goes right across - I am unwilling to try it without any breast bar.

Sorry - I didn't mean to hijack this post!
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I know it may seem daft but do you travel your horse with a haynet? Only because sister's horse Sunny was bad on the lorry, swaying, striking out with his front legs every time we stopped, even at traffic lights or a junction. Problem solved by always travelling him with a haynet.
Obviously not as bad as yours but just a thought?
 
Hello and welcome
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I'm not surprised you got upset - a big horse thrashing about is no joke.
Firstly I would check that your horse has enough room, both height and width and is not squashed in anyway. If travelling herringbone, give him/her as much room as possible. Always give a hay/haylage net and consider getting a mirror.
We have a big mare who had never really travelled before we had her apart from when a professional transporter delivered her for us. We had a lorry made to accommodate her rather large size. Initially, we took her out for very short trips - to start with she used to sweat up and be very unsettled. We took her every other day, sometimes we just loaded her and let her stand in the lorry eating her net and then unloaded her again. We also put a mirror in for her. By doing all this and gradually building up her trips out in the lorry, she became very used to it all and now travels brilliantly without getting stressed at all.
Check your lorry first of all and then start with "little and often" and be patient!
 
Thanks all, have spent today trying to load a sound (thankfully) but slightly scared (not surprisingly) and sweating big boy onto a completely empty wide open lorry. Got him on 3 times with encouragement and Codlivine Crunchies! Obviously gave himself a fright yesterday. Will progress with your ideas from here. xx
 
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