pony climbs out of trailer

[[169135]]

Hello, I have a rising 6 year old rescue mare. I have had her for 4 years and she has always been a nightmare to travel. No matter if its a box or trailer she will try and climb out. I have her in a trailer one and we hadn't even gotten off the drive of the vets before her backlegs were out the top of the back ramp. Now she goes forwards and over the breastbar. I don't own my on trailer so I use a friends. She loads absolutely perfect so she isn't petrified of going on the trailer but she just goes crazy as soon as the ramps starts to close. I can not put another horse on with her as she is a kicker. Any friendly advise is appreciated

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd suggest getting someone like Steve Young out to help you. Sounds like she's a bit claustrophobic in there, what is she like if you shut her in a stable? ie top door shut?

When I had a pony who panicked with the ramp going up we let him watch it going up and down while looking in from the front ramp. He never really got past his loading/travelling issues but it became manageable.


I'd also recommend getting your own trailer as if your friends trailer is damaged it may spoil your relationship with them.

 

[[169135]]

I'd suggest getting someone like Steve Young out to help you. Sounds like she's a bit claustrophobic in there, what is she like if you shut her in a stable? ie top door shut?

When I had a pony who panicked with the ramp going up we let him watch it going up and down while looking in from the front ramp. He never really got past his loading/travelling issues but it became manageable.


I'd also recommend getting your own trailer as if your friends trailer is damaged it may spoil your relationship with them.

Thank you for your reply. She doesn't have a stable - she lives out 24/7. We seem to have had a break through. We took everything out of the trailer and just worked getting her on with one ramp closed at a time and then eventually walking away from her and then closing both ramps. she did kick about at first but every time she stopped and was quiet she was rewarded. She soon got the hang of this and went for a little drive just round track around our fields and was quiet as a mouse. Next step will be introducing the partition and another horse!!

 

[dorsetladette]

Thank you for your reply. She doesn't have a stable - she lives out 24/7. We seem to have had a break through. We took everything out of the trailer and just worked getting her on with one ramp closed at a time and then eventually walking away from her and then closing both ramps. she did kick about at first but every time she stopped and was quiet she was rewarded. She soon got the hang of this and went for a little drive just round track around our fields and was quiet as a mouse. Next step will be introducing the partition and another horse!!

wow you've achieved a lot in a week. Be careful not to push to far and overwhelm her.

I use a travel safe harness for my youngsters to avoid any rearing accidents in the lorry. I'm sure if you spoke to them they could advise about trailer fitting too. Here's a link. It takes all the stress out of travelling ponies likely to rear or climb.

Equi Travel Safe- For Safer Equine Travel

Equi Travel Safe- Helping prevent horses from rearing or jumping onto the breast bar or lockers in horse boxes and trailers.

www.equitravelsafe.co.uk

 

[[169135]]

wow you've achieved a lot in a week. Be careful not to push to far and overwhelm her.

I use a travel safe harness for my youngsters to avoid any rearing accidents in the lorry. I'm sure if you spoke to them they could advise about trailer fitting too. Here's a link. It takes all the stress out of travelling ponies likely to rear or climb.

Equi Travel Safe- For Safer Equine Travel

Equi Travel Safe- Helping prevent horses from rearing or jumping onto the breast bar or lockers in horse boxes and trailers.

www.equitravelsafe.co.uk

absolutely. She is my pride and joy I wouldn't do anything to to push her too far. She took everything in her stride, and was greatly rewarded. She is now having some down time to process what happened and what she has learnt from the experience. I have spoken to the equitravel safe people and unfortunately they don't do anything for trailers yet.

 

[Exasperated]

absolutely. She is my pride and joy I wouldn't do anything to to push her too far. She took everything in her stride, and was greatly rewarded. She is now having some down time to process what happened and what she has learnt from the experience. I have spoken to the equitravel safe people and unfortunately they don't do anything for trailers yet.

That’s fantastic! Your first post - sounded far more intractable, so well done you!
Was going to mention some friends’ ex feral pony, which loaded fine but panicked travelling, was ‘solved’ by using their livestock trailer (high closed ramp, so stock can’t abscond), filled with straw, she travelled loose in just a headcollar with piles of hay in the corners.
Accessed by side door at the destination, cool as a cucumber every single time, altho she tied up perfectly on their yard at home.