My new horses trailer horror closed both lanes of the motorway!

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It was very brave of you.

I agree with chocs for you and the fire department, and would like to add mints for Freckles.

Looking on the positive side (you will be able to soon) everyone who has read this is now aware of the risks and, hopefully, how to deal with them.
You also hav the ideal oportunity to get to know your new baby 'on the ground' before you attempt to ride him. Not a lot of people do that.

Bucket loads of hugs and support is winging its way to you! Chin up and just put one baby foot in front of the other!
 
Goodness what a complete nightmare! So glad he wasn't seriously hurt and what a clever boy to load onto the lorry! You must have been a wreck and I can't blame you!
 
Do you think I should try to load so soon? I was thinking in a few months time when he isn't worried in his new home. Or should I do it sooner and 'nip it in the bud' so to speak?
 
I would try loading and walking through a few times. Although don't let him walk straight through, make him stand and wait until you let him walk out again. Only do it with the trailer attached to the vehicle and very secure.

Be positive and think about being his teacher/leader. If he senses you feel nervous it will make him nervous too.

Actually, all his "not being settled" might be because he needs you to take charge of him and how he behaves. Remember, the boss horse moves the other horse's feet. In other words always have him move away from you, don't you get out of his space (unless in dire emergency!).

I think the check over by a physio for damage after flipping backwards is a very good idea.

The trailer incident sounds awful, thank goodness you all got home OK.
 
Been in this situation twice 2 horses have gone down in trailers on motorway.
Its so scary and there really isnt much you can do without the firemen and vets.

I am now very reluctant to travel anything in a trailor and even then i cant sit in the car whilst they are been towed have to take my own car.

Big hugs to you, its really not a good experience x
 
A quickie update for all of those who have showed tremendous support and best wishes...

Freckles and I spent time out together in the field this morning having a cuddle over breakfast. He walked in much more calmly tonight and calmly stood at his haynet to be groomed and have his tootsies picked out! he is still very sore in places, mainly under his tummy where the breast bar was and on his lumbar which took the brunt of the flip over. He was such a kind, calm boy and it was just what both of us needed to gain some much needed confidence in each other. Ive put a little vest on him tonight to stop the rug rubbing his sore bits and tucked him in bed with a big bowl of grub :)

I am beginning to think that I am going to love this pony with all my heart.

:) very very happy indeed!!
 
OMG!!! What a HORRIBLE experience! I'm so glad Freckles is ok, and my heart goes out to you, you must have been terrified! I felt sick reading it.

Great to read your update though, sounds like the pair of you are starting to bond nicely. :)
 
I'm glad for you both its an all's well that ends well scenario.

Hopefully he will travel better next time you try him in the trailer, however please just bear in mind that there are some horses who really don't get on with travelling in trailers facing forwards and are much happier in a lorry standing sideways on. (My friend has one, and its a total nightmare when he has to come in my trailer in an emergency, its a tough one as to who is the most stressed by the time we get home - him, me as driver or his owner...)
 
I agree with pennyj that some horses simply cant cope with a trailer. hard to explain but a trailer doesnt move round a corner smoothly like a lorry. It suddenly turns at the last moment (due to the hitch being a distance behind the rear axle of the car. Not all horses can cope. My 3rd horse just turned to jelly the first time in one and I had to stop and ride him home. But a lorry maybe its a small price to pay for such a paragon of equine virtue. Pictures please of new hoss.
 
What a terrifying ordeal for you and your new lad. Glad he's not too bad physically, definitely agree with you having a chiro out to check him out. He sounds like a beautiful soul and I hope you can both soon put all this behind you and enjoy each other.
 
Glad you all made it back safely.
A couple of points I would suggest:
1) Once recovered, would try travelling with no partition or breast bar. Some horses do need more room than others. Preferably cross tie with elasticated lead ropes (the american ones made from real bungee cord are ideal for this)
2) Not suggesting this was the issue here, but driving style is also critical, even more so after an incident like this. No braking in corners, only on straight lines and as smooth and long as possible. Only accelerate once in straight line after corner too, you should aim for all corners (especially roundabouts) to be slow and totally steady speed. In a straight line/Motorway as long as the everything is stable you can go as fast as you like (stay legal!).
 
Nightmare, poor you, hope you had a good stiff G & T when you got home. This has only ever happened to me once and it was in a field when stationary and horse managed to scramble over bar when I dropped the front ramp - turns out he was claustrophobic and although he travelled brilliantly I could never leave him alone inside again.
 
I had an enormous voddie and a dominoes pizza! Getting more and more settled by the day, so happy with him. Thanks everyone for all you help, support and kindness.
 
Oh hun.

Sorry, not read all the replies, but wanted to tell you that you are not alone in not checking when you hear a noise :(

I brought my horse back from the vets. Coming up the A1 I head a bit of a bang, thought nothing of it, then thought something of it and pulled over onto some sort of parking area. Walked round the whole rig, could see Dizz's bum where is should be, but didn't look inside! Maybe I thought it would disturb her, I don't know :(. Couldn't find anything loose or missing, so set off again. But it niggled me that there had definitely been an unusual noise, so pulled in again as soon as I could. This time I opened the jockey door....

The partition had moved and come away from its moorings and had Dizz trapped in effectively the back quarter of the trailer! I think that she got her head under the breastbar and caught it on the way up, maybe panicked, pulled it out of its moorings.

I couldn't get her out (A1!). No-where close by to get the rig to and sort her out. She was sweating a bit, but calm, so talking to her all the time, I pulled the partition back into place and tied it in with binder twine. She was fine. No marks on her. Sweet dried quickly. I gave her a rub and a few minutes cheerful chatting and rubs of her neck, then we set off again. I was worried that the movement would cause her to react, but she was fine. Got home and none the worse for wear. Next time we needed to go somewhere, she loaded first time, so no lasting effect on her either, though my ears were pinned back listening for strange noises!

So hunny, very pleased indeed that you were comparatively all okay in the end, but don't dwell on it if you can help it. ***** happens. You dealt with it. You've learnt from it. Move on and enjoy your horse :) :) :)
 
That is horrific, I'm glad you are all ok

I've heard a few incidents and from some of the reply's it is common, why don't they make the bar so that if you pull the pin out it releases down rather than having to lift it, in my old bakewell trailer there are large pins either side of the breast bar which you can lift out, it wouldn't matter if the horse was on top of it as you don't have to lift it, it would just push forward in this instance, I think the the ones you have to lift up to realease is a definate design fault, my friends Ifor williams definately shuts that way. I've seen a horrific head injury from a pony going over the front bar
 
NOISYGIRL said:
That is horrific, I'm glad you are all ok
I think the the ones you have to lift up to realease is a definate design fault, my friends Ifor williams definately shuts that way.
Click to expand...

All the newer Ifors (mine is 7 years old and has it) have an outside quick release on the bar using an allyn key. I always carry this in the car with me and if anyone borrows the trailer I make sure they are aware and have one too.
 
You said his belly is still tender. Have you given him any Arnica yet? You can buy it in tablet or cream form but I'd use the tablets if he's sore.
Try the chemist or Boots.
Obviously you have to increase the dose. I quadrupled my horses when she hit her head. The bruising was much less than the vet expected and she recovered more quickly.

It's a natural remedy so it won't interfere with anything else he's taking.



As for waiting a few months to try the trailer again: What do they say about falling off a horse? Get right back on! It's got to be true for horses too. The longer they don't get back to 'normal' activity, the harder it is. I whole heartedly agree that you need to be 'chief' too. Put on a brave face and do it for him even if you're struggling. All the best!
 
after an incident like that, I imagine whilst a horse would get over it with time and patience, I would be very tempted to get a lorry.

We lost a whole axle in a lorry on M23 few years ago with two on board, all were unhurt and still load fine to this day. Lucky we were!!

However, I still rate a lorry over a trailer especially for bigger horses, you just feel more of what is going on, I hate trailers in some cases, especially with iffy travellers as they are so "detached", you can so easily miss things unless you have CCTV.

We dont have that in the lorry but its so easy to check on them via the living to horse area door and you hear more as well as feeling stamping, slips etc.

Hope your new boy recovers quickly and well done to the services!!!! :D
 
V I am so so happy you are both ok!
And so happy you love him. You had an awful day on Saturday and I felt so awful for you.
You have my number feel free to call me anytime.xx
 
What terrible experience for you all and I am not surprised you are still in shock! Glad it has ended well and your new horse sounds a star. It has made me think to check the height of the breast bar etc. with each horse so a warning to us all. All the best and hope you and your new horse can start enjoying things soon xx
 
Freckles got distressed this evening when he caught site of another horse running in its field and got very aggitated. Lots of box walking, spinning, shaking and finally A LEG OVER THE DOOR!!! Smacked the door with my dustpan and he got back, any ideas how to stop this anxiety or help him to settle? Poor boy, he was doing so well. Anything you can share would be beneficial, thanks
 
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