Nervous traveller... Me, not the horse!

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Malteaser

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Does anyone else get nervous when transporting their horse? I do, I can't help it. I'm not even sure what it is I'm nervous about because my horse, isn't that bad of a traveller.
I used to go all over with my ponies when I was young but back then my dad drove the wagon and I was always fine. But now it's just me on my own, I feel different about it!
I'm actually a really good, confident driver but as soon as the horse is in, the nerves kick in! Anyone else similar, or do I just need to give myself a good shake?
 
I used to get nervous travelling the big lad - and i am always nervous first time travelling a new horse, or if its a mercy dash to liverpool.

I am happy to be nervous, it jut makes me more aware of the roads and what is going on in the back.... I would much rather be like this than someone whom does not give a 2nd thought to whats on the back.
 
Yes I get very paranoid indeed, and i'm a lot worse since having a baby now my head is just one big 'what if'...a crash or breakdown is bad enough, but a million times worse if a precious animal is involved. I have nightmares about them ending up running around on the Mwhatever....I'm off tomorrow, completely alone. At least I won't have my daughter to worry about aswell :D
 
I know what you mean. I feel much happier travelling in a wagon, and I am actually better if I am driving as I feel I have more control.
I tend to do practice runs to a local arena etc if I have a new horse. I think I would feel better if more car and trailer were more reliable. They are constantly serviced but I seem to be unlucky!
Luckily my horses seem less stressed by the whole ordeal.
 
I am not blaze but I tow stock about 30,000 miles a year and can reverse a trailer anywhere you'd like me to put it. I don't find it at all worrying, and I am exceedingly careful at all times. For me its no different to driving with an empty or no trailer at all and I have had plenty of mishaps over the years!

We now have PRP rescue cover and knowing they will recover the trailer and the stock makes things a lot better.

I have previously been stuck at the side of a motorway for 8 hours with in lamb ewes on board trying to get someone to recover us (!).

Last week I had a problem where the handbrake on the trailer activated on its own. I realised when copious amounts of blue smoke came from the trailer wheels. I had 40 ewes on board at the time and it was 1740 on a Friday night. I stopped and looked at the wheel. Decided from the symptoms that the wheel bearing may have gone and proceeded to get the jack to remove the wheel (double axle trailer) so I could get the sheep off loaded. Then I realised it was the handbrake and with a lot of effort managed to get it down, put a ratchet strap round it to stop it coming back on, drove slowly to the nearest field, unloaded the sheep. On the way there I had phoned the dealer on the off chance someone might still be there (slim!) and I got lucky as someone was, and I was able to dump the blooming thing at the dealer on the way home.

In short to be relaxed you need.

Plenty of towing experience.
Well maintained trailer with a spare, jack and wheel brace which fits the trailer nuts.
Adequate breakdown cover which will recover the animals (most will not!).
Mobile phone and charger

Then just believe in yourself and you will be grand!
 
it's not really lack of experience i worry about, car and trailer are well maintained generally, i do do a lot of towing, it's more just the catastrophic unexpected stuff, that would just be worse with animals involved! stuck in the world's longest jam in high temperatures and no way off the motorway...a proper crash and the trailer tipping up....not that i want to make anyone worry as much as me!
 
Oh so I'm not alone then!
I think for me, it's also fear of the unexpected stuff ie breakdowns, crashes etc but it's also the huge responsibility that comes with transporting your beloved horse and I know that I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her while she was in the box.
I have took out breakdown cover so that's put my mind at ease a bit.
 
DanceswithCows said:
it's not really lack of experience i worry about, car and trailer are well maintained generally, i do do a lot of towing, it's more just the catastrophic unexpected stuff, that would just be worse with animals involved! stuck in the world's longest jam in high temperatures and no way off the motorway...a proper crash and the trailer tipping up....not that i want to make anyone worry as much as me!
Click to expand...

But that's life. If you get stuck in a high temperature jam, open the trailer doors, phone the police. No point worrying about things which are unlikely to happen, concentrate on making sure you are as prepared for the unexpected as possible, then let it go. Worrying, will not stop it occurring.
 
i know it's life but im just a huge worrier! i don't know how to turn it off :confused: i try not to let it stop me doing things, but it is a conscious effort to ovcerride it - feel the fear and do it anyway. i dont think it's fruitless, as it does mean i'm more prepared in case of the worst as i've thought ahead and have equipment etc...
 
Me too! I'm woeful. Terrified when I tow and can't decide if it's better by myself or freaking out the oh as a passenger. Passed the towing test first time and everything, but stupidly terrified - particularly in case the trailer unhitches itself (not sure it can't!).
 
A year ago we rescued a poor little cob that was so full of worms his legs looked as if they were coming out of the same hole. He was very weak but I knew we had to buy him to give him a chance of survival so we loaded him into the trailer and headed for home.

After about 20 mins I looked round to check the trailer and I saw this little chap with his nose pressed against the window. Then the trailer door flew open and we were terrified he would jump out onto the very busy dual carriageway. I was sick with fear and as soon as OH had pulled into the side of the road I jumped out to avoid what could be a terrible accident and nearly got hit by a car. In the meantime two huge lorries overtook us on the inside via the grass verge to avoid ramming us.

I rushed to shut the trailer door but I need not have worried the little chap was going nowhere - he was hung upside down by his front leg. My OH who is a very capable horseman jumped into the trailer and began to dismantle everything to free the pony, who amazingly didn't panic but just lay there trusting us to help him. I was absolutely bedside myself with terror, especially as a kind lorry driver who stopped to help said we were mad to go into the trailer with a horse that was down as when he got up he could injure us.

My brave hero OH however eventually got him free and he got up quietly thank goodness so we then travelled him the rest of the way home incredibly slowly loose in a deep bed of straw. This pony was SO weak from worms that he literally couldn't stand as his legs gave way. WHY DON'T PEOPLE WORM THEIR HORSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway happy outcome for little cob as we found him a lovely home where he is now blooming BUT even after all the miles that we have travelled horses in the past I am now petrified whenever I travel even a small pony because I frequently wonder what would have happened if the cob had jumped out on the dual carriageway that day - brrrr!
 
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