My mare isnt happy traveling!!

[kellybrown]

Over the past few months my mare has become very unsettled in the tralior! this is somthing that has just started to happen she has always traveld fine.i have her back teath etc checked all the time and saddles all fit fine to. she loads fine every time but once in and moving begins to get very unhappy, i have tried a number of things but seem to be hitting a brick wall,do you have any ideas what i could try doing with her.Any help or ideas would be great.

 

[scotsmare]

Have you changed your trailer?

 

[kellybrown]

we have a 505 and shes always been fine in there both on her own and with others, shes always had the partions in and has always been really good.out of the blue once on the move just cant keep her balance! ive had breast and back bars made up to see if that works but still not alot of change!

 

[Louby]

This happened to my friend and eventually he would throw himself on the floor as soon as he loaded. She had to take out the partition and put full length breast/breach bars in and hes fine now.
You could first try tying the back part of the partition to one side giving her more room to spread her legs helping balance. My other friend has to do this, its quite a common problem.
Good luck

 

[kellybrown]

thanks alot i hve tried the bars but still no change really how does your friend tie their horse up?

 

[damsel]

Just try and do short journeys around the block so she can steady herself and get used to travelling. You could also try without a partition as she might find an easier way to stand which might settle her.

 

[kellybrown]

dosent matter how long or short and ive been trying for almost 3 months now! eekk it just happens out of the blue

 

[hadfos]

Sadly my lad is the same

,only fault he has but is the worst 1,lol,cannot hitch a lift!!!Take out partition or at least the back section!
He panicks as he does not have enough room to spread his legs to balance himself,unlike some he has done this from being a yr old

,however there seems to be more and more horses these days taking a dislike to limited room for their backend in a trailer

 

[hadfos]

[ QUOTE ]
we have a 505 and shes always been fine in there both on her own and with others, shes always had the partions in and has always been really good.out of the blue once on the move just cant keep her balance! ive had breast and back bars made up to see if that works but still not alot of change!

[/ QUOTE ]
if she is scrabbling about she is panicking as she feels she cannot get her hindlegs wide enough to support her

as i said above,plus if you watch my lad travel in a trailer he stands diagonally across it

,but he dosnt shift an inch

 

[kellybrown]

how do you tie your boy up at the front? as with the full width bars she seems to find it easier!

 

[hadfos]

I have tied him from both sides with quick release fittings,not tight,equal distance,however now he will tavel with just the back part removed i tie him to 1 ring loosely

 

[kellybrown]

i think if she is tied up both sides mybe she will balance better as she cant move to much, she seems to turn her head around alot and i think things stem from that mybe? is it ok to travel her like that all the time i really dont want to unsettle her anymore than she is, thanks by the way your ideas are helping and knowing there are other people out there with lovely horses that just dont like to travel.....

 

[hadfos]

easier if i say make sure she has enough both sides so she can turn her head to the side

,wont feel to restricted....if she has too much space with 1 rope she may be inclined to try and turn in the trailer

hope this of some help,my lad travels fine in both the ways i have described and he cannot travel in a trailer with another,he fine in a lorry as he is stood a different way on

 

[hadfos]

As long as you have a breast bar for her to lean against then yes,never travel without 1!!they need them for braking

pleased to be of some help,no you are most definately not on your own,amazing how many travel well for yrs then suddenly have panic attacks about space

 

[kellybrown]

thanks alot i will try all the things you have said we always travel her with the full width bars but now will try tieing her up both sides.thanks so much again.

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

My mare was the same, would only travel in Ifor without the partitions so we got full length breach bars and she was loads better.
We now have an Equitrek and she travels even better in that.
Try taking out the partition, I am sure you will be amazed at the difference

 

[BigBird146]

Sometimes travel boots freak them out, have you had new ones? Mine certainly doesn't like walking with them on his back legs, so just put brushing boots on his backs now and travel boots on his front (they don't use travel boots at all in most other countries!)
Also, you could try a trailer mirror as this seams to work in settleing some down.