Otto started being an idiot in the trailer

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Ottinmeg

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Took otto out last week in friends ifor trailer and Otto sounded like he was falling all over the place round corners and kept kicking the ramp. Took him out in our trailer (Bahill ) today. He was still kicking hell out of the ramp (how he managed to kick half way up the ramp when his bum actually rests on the ramp i don't know) he wasn't such a plonker going round corners but that may be because my partition is solid and goes right to the floor. I can only think that maybe his travel boots have suddenly after 2 years of no problems started to irritate him. I took the back strap off on his side in case that was annoying him but it wasn't that. Anyone got any ideas as to why he is suddenly being a pillock in the trailer?
 
No idea why he has suddenly started but I had one do exactly the same and the only way I could travel him was to give him the whole trailer, with a full width breast bar, then he would stand almost on the diagonal with a wide base to balance himself.
No problem if you only want to take one horse but impossible if you want to take two!
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Would be worth a try.
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Oofa is a nightmare to travel with the partition in too, especially one that goes right down to the floor as he likes to spread his legs! I have an Ifor and the bottom half of the partition is rubber, so he can still spread his legs a little with the partition in, but I have to take it very steady round the corners with him. I have no idea why your horse has suddenly started doing this unless he has recently had a bad experience travelling?
 
i can't think of any situation where he has had a bad experience. I did think of trying him alone ,then realised i don't have a full length breast bar! He has travelled in the trailer a few times on his own and with others and he has been fine although he is a tight fit. Will have to try a few more options like no boots (or just brushing boots) and see how we get on. thanks for advice
 
I'm sorry you have had problems with your horse in the trailer. The problem is not the horse but the trailer. I will bet my life it was the Ifor Williams 505 with the aluminum floor.
After purchasing a new one my horse who had always travelled well in an old Rice went barmy, he was leaning on the partition with all his weight and climbing up the walls, it scared the life out of me. We took him out and fortunately we still had the old Rice put him in there and he was like a lamb.
After much research and lots of tears and phone calls to Ifor Williams ( awful after sales ) we came to the conclusion that the floor vibrates and sends the horses mad.
However it only seems to effect TB types, my fat cob was not remotely bothered. I have come across many more stories of this nature, so I'm afraid your answer is not to travel him in an Ifor Williams and stick with your Bahill.
I replaced the 505 with an Indespenion with a wooden floor and have not had a single problem since. Ifor Williams were not at all helpful and suggested counsilling for my horse!
 
thats makes some sense reggie, Otto is IDxTB , the welsh he travelled with on both occasions couldn't care less either. Today he was in the Bahill and periodically kept kicking at the ramp.He wasnt as bad as when he was in the ifor and when he went in the ifor for the first time we never heard a peep out of him. Im selling the Bahill as it isnt really big enough for him and was planning on getting an older rice. Will stick to that plan and see what happens.
 
That is interesting re the Ifor floor, but I have travelled all sorts of horses in my Ifor, and had no problem whatsoever. These include a psychotic TB that hates everything and everyone, mares, foals, youngstock, even a Suffolk Punch.... Nothing has had a problem with it.

I would be very tempted to suggest removing the travel boots. After years of rigorously using boots to travel my horses, I was told and shown scientific papers, that suggest it is potentially the most dangerous thing you can do. Much better to bandage, or use brushing and overreach boots. If Otto was my horse, I would put brushing boots and overreach boots on him, and take him for a quick drive around the Green, just to see if it made any difference.

I would also suggest getting a physio/chiro out, as hollyf has already said, a horse suddenly becomming uncomfortable in the trailer can be because it is putting strain on his pelvis/back to keep his balance.
 
Oh dear
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hope you soon sort your travel problems out.
Ditto the suggestion of using brushing boots, my horse panics with travel boots on - maybe you're right in thinking that yours have become loose ? Great fun this travelling lark
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my horse travels well but really sweats up so have just ordered breast and breech bars and a revolving roof vent for my trailer (£££££'s) to see if that makes him more comfortable
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Might also be worthwhile having his back checked ?
 
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