Problem Traveller

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loopiesteff

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Hello, new here so please don't bite!

I bought Penny (4 y/o at the time, 15.2hh TB) back in July 2009. She'd flat raced, but after the syndicate decided she wasn't doing well over long distances (despite the breeder saying she's a pure sprinter), they decided to sell her on. A polo yard in Reading bought her, trained her up, and played her for half a season, which is why I bought her, as I needed a medium/high goal polo pony. I didn't have transport so got professionals to transport her from Reading to Cambridge. She arrived absolutely fine in the lorry, and stepped off gracefully. Then in November 2009, she had to go for surgery to Rossdales in Newmarket and my friend kindly offered to take her in her trailer. Well, Penny almost killed herself, and my friend. She rocked the trailer from side to side on the A14 the whole way and was completely drenched with sweat at the other end. Once she'd had her surgery, we decided to get her sedated just to get her home safely.

In October 2010, I moved yards, which was only local (20 mins). We decided NOT to use a trailer after the trip to Newmarket, and put it down to Penny being a "lorry" girl rather than a "trailer lover". Loaded her onto the lorry first time, tied her up. Put the ramp up. Everything fine. Got out the drive way and all hell broke loose. She started thrashing around, rearing up, turning round. She went down and got stuck under the partition (those rubber flap ones) and generally was finding every possible way of killing herself. Had to abort that trip, and get the vet out to sedate her again. She arrived at the new yard extremely stressed, drenched in sweat, and completely "wired". Got to the new yard and was all settled. Then in November 2010 I acquired a new horse, Bob. He's 13, intermediate eventer, advanced dressage etc. Been there, done that. Not bothered by ANYTHING. End of November, had to move back to the previous yard again (money issues). Bob travels absolutely fine, so we thought that maybe it's because Penny was on her own, that she freaked out. But to be safe, we got the vet out and gave her a little sedation, about half the amount than the previous times. Bob and Penny went in the lorry together. Got to the yard, she hadn't thrashed around at all, hadn't sweatted up at all and was quite content (sedation hadn't really done much as she was still very alert).

So, my issue is - what's the problem?

She loads absolutely fine, tie her up fine. Then once you get moving, she freaks out. But didn't with Bob. So maybe it's being on her own she doesn't like. But that doesn't add up as when she came over from Reading she was on her own. I thought she may have been sedated but she was very content and happy in there, plus the sedation wouldn't have lasted for 3 hours.

Also, as she's raced - she's travelled all over the place - and they CAN'T sedate for obvious reasons, so just wonder how the hell they managed it? Unless they just ignored her...

Any ideas?

Sorry for the long blurb!

Thanks
Steff
 
They are funny creatures sometimes, I think they change their minds about whether or not they like travelling for reasons we sometimes cannot fathom. I've had a few like yours, who have had a few months of not wanting to load or travel. Maybe a few outings with Bob where she stays calm and relaxed will get her back to how she was initially? I really hope so :) It sounds pretty extreme and rather scary!

Oh and hello! Welcome! Sorry I nearly forgot my manners there!
 
Oh scary doesn't come close. I was a complete nervous wreck, I've never shaked quite that much in my life. When I got out the lorry - you could see the outer wall bulging out...

Thing is - she's going off to a polo yard in February for the polo season so will be travelling a lot - and just want to try and find out the reason before she goes.
 
I have a similar problem with my ex-racer! He loads fine into the lorry but as soon as you close the partition he throws himself against the side of the lorry and continues to do this for several minutes until you get going! He also screams his head off for a lot of the journey! I've put a stable mirror in the lorry which seems to have helped. Also persistance seems to work too! I think that this is all an insecurity issue as my boy hates being away from his friends! I refuse to take a companion in the lorry though as I usually go to competitions alone and coping with 2 would just be too much - and I don't want to start something and set a precedent! So try again - if only for short journeys. And maybe a mirror??
 
Firstly, she isn't being bad, there will be a logical solution in there somewhere.

I had equally horrible experience with my horse - solved by taking the partition out (of the trailer) and she was fine. In a horsebox I have to give her a generous double partition. So first port of call give her as much space as you possibly can - you can always start closing it down later.

Horses need to spread their legs when travelling (partitions are NOT there to secure horses OR for them to lean on). I think once a horse has had a bad experience when it couldn't spread its legs they can get clautraphobic, so you have to go to the opposite extreme.

If that isnt' the solution, you then have to start working through everything, however illogical it seems.

Such as :-

-Is the ramp solid when she walk up.
-Are the tyres pumped up properly
-Are there windows both sides she can see out of and if so is one side distracting her, etc
-Have you tied her too short
-Is the floor solid and secure
etc, etc, etc


Sorry to go on about giving the horses masses of space (try taking all partitions out that will tell you) but I discovered the hard way that in 9 out of 10 cases that solves loading and travelling problems!!!

Final point, a CCTV trailer cameras is fantastic for reassuring yourself and pin pointing what is making it all so difficult for her.

Good luck.
 
Is she travelling in the first space next to the cab or grooms area, as the other poster said they need to be able to spread their legs so if they hit a solid wall it can send them into a complete panic!
 
I had a similar problem although not as bad with my horse, travelled fantastic in a lorry, loaded himself, stood on the wagon all day if need be happily munching and watching the world go by. But I wanted my own transport, couldnt afford a lorry so bought a trailer. I knew he had never been in a trailer before so was so pleased he loaded first time. We set off and he scrabbled everywhere (no centre partition so lack of room not the issue) Hubby is a chilled man but said we had to stop to see what was going on. Everything was ok and we continued. I put it down to change of direction from herringbone to forward facing and that he would in time get used to it. He wouldnt load on return journey but we got him in and he was nervous but ok. Got a few lifts off a friend in a wagon again and chilled horse was back but when we went back to my trailer he was having none of it. He would load but try anything to get out despite breat bar being up, unloading forwards he would run out squashing me, backwards at high speed whacking his head on the roof and attempted going out of the jockey door .... scary. Hubby walked away at this point and said enough was enough. We tried an Equitrek but I couldnt get him in.
So I sold the trailer and bought a wagon, took us over an hour to load him, he was a nervous wreck but we took him out every week to try and get his confidence back. He is better but I dont think I will ever get the horse I had back before the trailer episode.

I think your horse has scared herself and lost confidence, I would take her out regular in a wagon with another horse for a while if possible and then try her on her own again.

I may be posting a similar thing soon :(:( as its over a year since hes been anywhere and Ive just got another wagon so fingers crossed.
 
When she arrived from Reading she was right by the living bit.
When we tried to move her to the new yard we had her by the living bit with a fair bit of room.
When we moved her and Bob together, Bob was by the living bit, then we left a gap, then had Penny right by the ramp.

The lorry had CCTV in it - that's why we could see her thrashing around, going down etc. Almost wish I couldn't see it :( it had windows that she could see out of, nothing was going on that'd wind her up.

She loads absolutely fine which is the odd thing... You'd think she'd remember that she didn't enjoy it!
 
So the first time she had a problem she was by the living area? this could be the reason then and she is remembering the panic, hope this is the case as she will hopefully settle down, can she go for short rides in the lorry (up the drive and back) to see if it helps to calm her? You could also try a light sedation, its not ideal but might help her get over it?:)
 
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