really really sweaty horse advice please

asommerville

asommerville

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having finally got him over going into the trailer, the issue now is that whem travelling he sweats, think looks like hes had a bath, he also comes out of the trailer shaking like a leaf. we are going down the route of taking him small circular trips and straight home and i do think hell get used to it...but id like to get him out soon too. my thinking is that when he does fun stuff and goes home after he wont be so worried. atm tho id need to go anywhere and be there ages before to dry him. is there anything else we can do?
 
Stating the obvious, clip him, at least take off some of his neck to enable him to dry more quickly and possibly not get so hot in the first place.

If he is shaking he probably is unsteady when travelling and obviously worried, has he got a good amount of bedding down, a mirror may help if he is alone, feeding him a little at the end of the journey before unloading to help him relax.
 
asommerville said:
having finally got him over going into the trailer, the issue now is that whem travelling he sweats, think looks like hes had a bath, he also comes out of the trailer shaking like a leaf. we are going down the route of taking him small circular trips and straight home and i do think hell get used to it...but id like to get him out soon too. my thinking is that when he does fun stuff and goes home after he wont be so worried. atm tho id need to go anywhere and be there ages before to dry him. is there anything else we can do?
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To be that genuinely scared never forget the huge amount of trust your horse has put in you by loading in the first place!!

Small trips are the way to go and as often as you can manage. Has he a companion to travel with? We 'borrow' a small pony for one of ours that is as anxious as yours, and it makes a massive difference having her there.

Also agree with putting down plenty of bedding, if he sweats as much as ours then rubber mats will get slippery and he will need plenty shavings or straw... and some used bedding from his stable will also help as it will smell of him.
 
Does the trailer have a partition in? Try without. My mare used to come out dripping (although she did also make quite a bit of noise moving in the trailer). I bought full length breech and breast bars and took the partition out and she travels brilliantly and stays bone dry.
 
i have taken the partition out and bought full length bars, so we cant take a companion. i did look at a mirror so will have another think about them thanks. my heart breaks every time i unload him and hes so upset, i think he thinks hes moving house when he goes out in the trailer! its difficult as despite the state that he gets in i can literally unload him and put him.back in again! will also have a look at calmers for him, poor wee soul he could be out having so much fun :-(
 
I had a mare like that. She was a funny thing, loaded like a pro, but obviously didn't enjoy the ride and sweated. Even clipped, she had to be travelled without rugs and the vents had to be open. She was better with company. She did get better over the years, but was a worrier anyway.
 
One of mine sometimes sweats excessively in the trailer, she doesn't move a muscle whilst travelling.

I've worked out it is usually the trip after something VERY exciting. So if I go for a flat lesson after hunting, I can almost gaurentee she will be dripping, because she thinks its more hunting!
 
Another though, slightly alternative, lavender is meant to be calming, sponge him with lavender wash before he goes in, he will get wet anyway so if he starts off wet it wont make much difference, you can get oils so possibly have a cloth soaked in it, or any other oil he may find relaxing.
 
he doesnt move a muscle whilst travelling, tbh i havent tried him standing in it on his own, if im with him hes fine and closing the door is fine too. i honestly think its the thought of where hes going that scares him (i know i sound stupid) be positive ill try anything so will hunt some oil out :-) i can do alternative (also thought about hanging up a towel or a soft toy in his stable and taking it in with him - see im mental!) :-)
 
If you think that's what it is would it be possible to hack him somewhere local, maybe a lesson or something, and load him there to transport him back home? Just an idea!
 
I had a livery like this once. They tried a homoeopathic remedy from Crossgates of Settle called AAA. If I hadnt seen the difference with my own eyes I wouldnt have believed it! Worth a crack?
 
I have a similar situation with mine, although she loves going places, and tows me up the ramp!! She sweats and shivers and shakes like an idiot whilst travelling, and we endup with a puddle underneath! I would say clip so he dries quicker, try some rescue remedy, or calmer of some description, andget him on the lorry as often as possible. Mine got markedly better when she was going on the lorry everyday to go to the gallops. Also, try leaving a haynet with him, so he has a distraction. Practise and patience is the key.
 
i havent travelled gim with a rug on as worried he over heats, suppose if i left the wundow open it might be ok? im looking at calmers at the minute too :-) my thinkng is that he goes in, goes a wee run and then goes out and straight back in again so i suppose he could be worse and there is no problem with the driving i reckon. the only time he didnt sweat was when i gave him a sedalin as it was a MUST move at the time. but im not giving him that every time :-)
 
I tend not to rug mine unless it is very cold, although as its a lorry, and I can access them whilst travelling, I will often nip back, check them and rug when she calms down.
 
I am interested in this thread as my TB is exactly the same!

He was difficult to load when I first got him but now we have a good trusting bond he walks in no problem at all.
But - whenever I take him anywhere, the moment he is in the trailer he starts quaking and trembling. He sweats so bad that condensation drips off the trailer roof and the puddle underneath him is enormous!
I can't take him to dressage comps as he is a mess when I get there and it takes about an hour of swapping coolers and fleeces to get him dry!
 
Not a helpful answer but just to share another one - have an ex racehorse has raced 30 plus times, long journeys. He loads find, you don't hear a peep out of him but he sweats buckets. Have only been out a handful of times and each time has been hot. He seems to sweat a bit less on the way home and the journeys he has been on whilst short have been round country lanes so not the easiest for a horse to balance to. Am hoping he will improve the more he gets out and about. Travels with nothing on, just over reach boots. Is the same with company. This is in a lorry not a trailer so we open all windows. May try the lavendar wash if it is sunny next time take him out.

Have also read in a horse magazine recently that research shows that they settle better on longer journeys which probably makes sense because once on the motorway or main roads there is going to be less balancing etc needed by the horse as not so many corners or gear changes.
 
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