Poor George - Trailer Mishap and No camp for us :(

Gleeful Imp

Gleeful Imp

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Just feel the need to share! This is the short version!

Took George to event on Sunday in a trailer, we usually go in wagon (also front facing). Travelled there fine, but coming back all hell broke loose after literally 1 minute in trailer. Settled him, set off again.

Next turn we did (very slowly) trailer goes demented. Found him with all 4 feet wedged against the side of the trailer (almost literally in a straight line) and his body wedged against the partition. He was terrified. Pulled travel boots and shoes off, shaking from head to toe.

I cannot remember anything between going into the jockey door to get to him, to when we unloaded both horses and I was stood holding them! I have no idea how we got him upright again.

Decided to try travelling him on the other side of the trailer to get home (on the understanding any issue and try and find a horsebox to come get him), and the fab lad just went straight in. He travelled better, not great, but safely. Never never never again. I spent Monday quite literally in shock.

Result - he's stiffened up over following couple of days and is sore, slightly lame and vet advises few days rest. So thankful that's all it is.

Which means, no horse camp at Somerford Park for us tomorrow :(, and likely I've lost my camp £ as last minute withdrawal.:(

Most important thing is he's ok but I was soooooo looking forward to it. But, at least we live to fight another day!
 
I am very sorry to hear about your lad. My mare did exactly the same thing some years ago on the way home from a hunter trial. It mostly occurred on right hand bends she would lean against the partition and push her feet away and panic. She had previously been a brilliant traveller. I spoke to some experienced people and they suggested I travelled her without the partition. She was fine after but this meant I could only take one at a time. I bought a lorry after this and and never had any problems at all. I did make sure she had plenty of room though.
 
Brighteyes - excellent idea, thankyou - have sent some threads off see if anything comes back! We were at Antrobus RC ODE which turned into a disaster - 4th after dressage (good boy) 4 faults at SJ (ok) but he napped and rodeod like a hooligan on XC so I retired after the 1st fence as I wasn't sure throwing a rodeoing nappy horse at even at 2ft 6 XC fences was wise!

You live and learn. :(

Think I may give up trying to be an RC eventer, enjoy our Arena Eventing and Combined Training which George loves and flies round! I am also giving up trailers, in future its the wagon only or not at all :)
 
This happened to my 13.2hh once. He'd always been great travelling, and would walk straight on, but we had a very old Bahill trailer with a dodgy partition. He leant on it, it gave way, he got stuck underneath. We stopped, let the ramp down (was a rear unload), pony promptly leapt out, broken headcollar round neck, and galloped off down road...

We caught him :D but ever since he's been terrified of travelling with a partition. We've got an iFor Williams now, and he'll travel fine without a partition.

In the past week or so, we've had to start him with the partition again. yesterday he went straight on, and we drove him for a couple of miles, and he was fine, up until we went to get him out...he promptly fell over. When the trailer was stationary and the engine was off. AAH. Well anyway, we took him in again earlier today, and he started the falling over, but we persisted, and after about 4 minutes he calmed down, stood quietly and came off fine! (Although we never actually drove the trailer)

We're hoping, when he gets calmer in there, we can finaly travel with a partition again :)
 
check your rubber matting.i have an arab who has travelled the length and breath of the UK in a trailer without a problem. one day we popped him in a friends trailer to take him about 10 miles down the road. at about the 2 mile stage on a perfectly straight road, going at a perfectly smooth and consistant speed all hell broke loose in the trailer. stopped opened the jockey door and 15hh of arab came out through the jockey door.

Turned out that the rubber mats had stretched and were sliding ontop of the aluminium floor and when the arab felt this he freaked out.
 
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