My horse keeps almost falling over in the float, please help

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emma._.gilling

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So I brought a new horse about 6 months ago. Her previous owners always trucked her but luckily she was fine on a float.

Our float was pretty old and it was time for an upgrade. We got a new float, which was a straight loader just like our old one. We were very happy with it and had everything we wanted. When we first put my horse on she scrambled a bit but was then fine... Then after a couple more trips, she started getting worse and worse. We decided to take her to a chiropractor and in the end we had to call a vet to give her a sedative, as most of the way there she was trashing around shaking the whole float and when we got her off, she was dripping with sweat. Turns out her hip and her pole were out and she has just completed her 6 week rehab.

Today we decided to go for a short drive with her on the float and put her friend in as well to keep her calm. This time I stood in the float to see what she does while my mum drove. We did a few loops at the top of the drive way and she was pretty good except when we first started moving she stumbled a bit then regained her balance. We then decided to go down the drive way, that's when things went sideways (literally). She lost her footing, fell into the center partition and had all four feet on one side up against the wall. She thrashed around, shook the whole float like she did when we went to the chiropractor. I signaled for mum to stop and help me but since we were on a slope, all mum could do was put on the brakes. Thankfully after her thrashing around for about a minute, still having all her weight on the center partition, mum started moving again and my horse managed to rebalance her self. As soon as we could we got her off and put her back in the pasture.

Does any one have any ideas on what we should do? She does it with or without company and on straights and corners. I don't wanna risk going anywhere encase she actually falls over. We have thought about taking the middle partition out, but what if she stumbles again and has nothing to lean on? Anyone got any ideas?
 
She's what's called a "walk walker" but it's a mystery why she's doing it in the new trailer and not the old one. Is it bigger?

There are two solutions. The most common is to take out the partition or move it so that the space is too large for her to lean on one side and get her feet on the wall.

The second, if she is not claustrophobic, is to put bumper pads on the partition or narrow it right down by moving it, so that she can't tip herself over to lean on the partition and get her feet on the wall. This worked very well with one of mine, who after years of travelling fine in my lorry started to wall walk.
 
Take the partition out and add a breast bar (and Breech bar) and cross tie. My old cob did exactly this, partition out he was fine. We eventually bought a rear facing box (didn't have a partition, I didn't get one made) and he travelled happily thousands of miles with no issues.
 
another one who says take the partition out and cross tie. I had a similar mare and she was better travelling instantly
 
I’m another who had a horse who could not balance in the trailer. I was advised (possibly on here!) to try taking the partition out and replacing with full width chest and breech bars. It sounds counter intuitive but it worked. No problems after that.
 
neddy man said:
To my mind the amount of slipping seems excessive, what is the floor surface of the trailer is she barefoot or shod?
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Wall walking isn't really about slipping NM. Mine just decided to do it one day after travelling in the same vehicle for three years. They lean their body on the wall/partition and then walk their feet up the opposite wall.

If you make the walls too far apart for them to do that, they usually travel fine. I couldn't move my partitions, they had been set to hold a very destructive horse. So instead I put thick foam bumpers either side of him, touching his sides, and that stopped him tilting himself over to do it. Again, he travelled really sweetly once that was done, it had never been about slipping.,
 
Float is a Scottish word for cattle/ horse lorry but not sure about the scrabbling unless she would travel better herringbone. Mine do the wall walking thing in rear facing transport. Or more acurrately try to lie down
 
windand rain said:
Float is a Scottish word for cattle/ horse lorry but not sure about the scrabbling unless she would travel better herringbone. Mine do the wall walking thing in rear facing transport. Or more acurrately try to lie down
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It's also used in the US for 'trailer' - maybe Australia too? I suspect the OP is in the US given the reference to 'pasture' as well (I read all the Saddle Club books as a kid, can you tell? :D).

OP - I'd also try taking out the partition, many horses prefer more space to balance themselves. Good luck!
 
Thank you ycbm for the explanation, E G didn't mention wall walking and I just read it as the horse slipped lost its footing and her feet slid to the side then she scrambled to stand upright again that was my reasoning that maybe it was an unsuitable (maybe checkerplate) flooring. Thanks again ycbm we learn something every day
 
neddy man said:
Thank you ycbm for the explanation, E G didn't mention wall walking and I just read it as the horse slipped lost its footing and her feet slid to the side then she scrambled to stand upright again that was my reasoning that maybe it was an unsuitable (maybe checkerplate) flooring. Thanks again ycbm we learn something every day
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It's genuinely weird to watch one do it, it makes no sense at all!
 
we use the word float here is aus ?

I’ve had success with swapping the side the horse stands in the past, or opening up the divider.

It can be very frustrating and scary when they do it, sometimes they start because they can hear a noise, might be worth checking every thing is greased and the wheel bearing’s, tyre pressure etc. is ok too.
 
Mares struggle more with straight partitions due to their pelvis - interesting fact I learn't due to going through exactly this and both being mares.......
I had one who was fine with a partition then one day couldn't cope and started scrabbling and eventually fell over and made a mess of her legs. With her she was an easy solution as I just moved the back half of the partition open so she had the extra space for her hind legs to be very slightly herringbone. The 5yo has just never coped from day one with partitions of any kind so we don't have any for her. She is a big horse, was very weak in herself and she stresses herself out which then makes her balance worse - with farrier I have had to work really hard to get her balance and she has to be done in a very particular way with no stress as it just takes her a long time to find her balance and sort her feet. I think being in a trailer with a partition just exacerbates this issue and makes her panic.

I have now got a herringbone trailer which has made a world of difference to the older mare and all travel really well in it. Though I have not tried the 5yo yet as she has been a very tricky horse in just go an open trailer. Now I have her travelling and loading well, I probably should try again but need to be set up for success and that requires time.
 
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