Some v basic trailer/travelling questions??

Cobiau Cymreig Wyllt

Cobiau Cymreig Wyllt

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Trailer novice here, reporting in for basic training...
whilst have been third-in-command on lorry with showjumpers (many moons ago - helped load, unload, travelled to shows etc etc) and 2nd gun on trailer buying-trip to Ireland (returning with 2 on board on the ferry) so not completely new to concept but will be doing it first time soon without an experienced hand. (Not driving but completely trust/roadworthy, excellent driver and has driven a trailer before but unhorsey OH is).
Pony is on loan and owner is travelling with us but doesn't have transport and doesn't drive so not expecting her to necessarily know the score either...
Travelling one 11.2 sec a 25 miles soon - have seen him unload out of trailer before in apparently unflappable fashion (and loaded same way ).
So, as travelling one:
:confused:Presumably no partition, breast bar? (Will be *gulp*hiring an Ifor trailer, which is sim to one I went on Ireland trip in)
:confused:Travel on right-hand side?
:confused:Cross-tie? or...what?

Am thinking to do travel boots and tail guard..?
What else would you do?
(except give me a magic calmer and the pony a stiff drink, oh no wait a min, something amiss there...:D)

Over and out, choc brownies and earl grey all round
 
myrddinwyllt said:
So, as travelling one:
:confused:Presumably no partition, breast bar? (Will be *gulp*hiring an Ifor trailer, which is sim to one I went on Ireland trip in)
:confused:Travel on right-hand side?
:confused:Cross-tie? or...what?

Am thinking to do travel boots and tail guard..?
What else would you do?
(except give me a magic calmer and the pony a stiff drink, oh no wait a min, something amiss there...:D)

Over and out, choc brownies and earl grey all round
Click to expand...

I would leave partition in, have breast bar on lowest setting. Travel on rhs. Tie to a quick release clip - one lead rope should be fine.
I wouldn't use travel boots unless the pony is used to them.
I would use a tail guard.
Open front ramp before loading to make it more inviting.
Practice opening and closing and using catches etc on trailer before catching the pony!!
Keep calm, allow yourself loads of time and then it will all go smoothly!
Good luck
 
Ah thanks for that - yes have been caught out fumbling with catches before now whilst being shouted at to let the ramp down for a thrashy stallion and get the hell out of the way!! *shudder* must have blocked that out of my trailer-memories for obvious reasons!
Travel boots - hmm yes, was being belt-and-braces due to pony on loan I suppose, but you're right, he's probably never worn them
 
Ah yes, will point that out.. he is being very patient when I say things like 'drive like you've got an egg on the bonnet' and has even refrained from pointing out that I can't even drive in snow, never mind hitched to a trailer with a live animal in it!! :rolleyes:
 
OP I can't pronounce your name, but I love how you write and your humour!

I wouldn't worry too much about a tail bandage/guard on a diddy pony - our section A was about four feet from the back of our trailer! If you use boots (and I would) make sure they fit - they often slip on these diddy ponies, which is worse than having nothing on..

What kind of Ifor are you hiring? If its one of the bigger ones, we found that the little ponies couldn't reach the haynets when they were tied at the front. so we tied a small haynet in the centre - onto the actual central partition, which was much better for them.

Tie them up so that they can't turn around or move about too much, but so that they can reach the hay and are in a comfortable position.

Obviously (hopefully) shut the top door. You sometimes see people driving horses around with them open, which scares me to death - I had a welsh section B jump over the front bar and bottom door once - thankfully when it wasn't moving...

You sound like you've covered everything, so don't worry!x
 
heheheh here's the approximate phonetic pronounciation for anyone who cares! MUTHIN WILLT - the TH of Muthin is hard sounding.(sorry, can't do anything approximate for the double L -its kind of like a CL sound but more like a THL really....)
And for anyone who is remotely interested, it's the original Welsh name for Merlin the Wild.

Yes it did occur to me that his short-a**e may not get anywhere near the back of the trailer but as he has a very lovely tail I did think his owner might be justifiably cross if I didn't look like I was taking care of it!

Oo yes, doors shut, (ramp up, even!) have remembered that in theory but will no doubt have to add it to my 'epic journey' checklist!! Help, hapless traveller at large.

Think all the Ifor's are available and more or less same price to hire, if I remember rightly...

Oooh there's going to be plenty to go over...and over....and over...at 3-4am between now and next Tuesday!!
Poor bl***y pony will probably end up driving whilst we're all in the back nervously chewing the haynet!!!!!!!!!! God, imagine if you could get them to do that, whole new meaning to 'Ride and Drive' they'd be worth a fortune!!!!
 
and with something that wee in the trailer, it won't make much difference to your car either - when I towed my friends sec A to a local show, Mojo made absolutely no difference and I couldn't feel him at all in the trailer!
 
myrddinwyllt said:
heheheh here's the approximate phonetic pronounciation for anyone who cares! MUTHIN WILLT - the TH of Muthin is hard sounding.(sorry, can't do anything approximate for the double L -its kind of like a CL sound but more like a THL really....)
And for anyone who is remotely interested, it's the original Welsh name for Merlin the Wild.
Click to expand...

Off topic, I am extremely interested...... My Section D's passport gives him the name C******* Myrddyn. At his former home he was known as Mervyn (yuk with a capital Y!) and I changed it to Merlin when I bought him.

Back on topic, good luck with the travelling - is this a pony that you are taking on loan?
 
Can I just mention one problem if you travel a small pony without partitions. I have a shetland, if I travel him in my trailer, I have to travel him backwards, otherwise he walks under the breast bar, and on one memorable occasion, he decided to kick the jockey door open !

If it's a small pony, make sure he cannot turn around in the trailer and get to the jockey door, they are not designed to stop a pony pushing them open.
 
Flummoxed said:
Off topic, I am extremely interested...... My Section D's passport gives him the name C******* Myrddyn. At his former home he was known as Mervyn (yuk with a capital Y!) and I changed it to Merlin when I bought him.

Back on topic, good luck with the travelling - is this a pony that you are taking on loan?
Click to expand...

That's interesting - so yes, basically 'Mervyn' is a name that has it's roots in the original name Myrddin, and Merlin of course, is the english version. We call our boy both as when you pronounce the Welsh version properly, it's actually not that different.

And yes, the pony is Loan-view-to-buy for little girl - excited?? Much! ;)
 
I would also tie to the front bar, not the side tie ring as a small pony can't move their head very well when tied up to the side, and can get the rope caught over their head. Remember to take baler twine to put on the front bar. Soak the haynet as don't want to not be able to get away from the dust otherwise. I tie the haynet to the front of the partition, using the 'spare' breast bar fittings and some baler twine as you can bodge it to be accessible but not too in his face. Small holed nets best as in any worse case scenario - which is most unlikely as he sounds like a good traveller - he can't get his foot in a hole.
And a bottle of rescue remedy for you!
 
I'd suggest you try to get a small trailer. I travelled and 11.2hh in my 510 and even with the bars on the lowest setting she could have easily squeezed under them if she'd wanted to.
If you're anything like me you will check and re-check all catches at least 3 times before setting off!
 
Hmm ok..so...to recap:
partition in - check
tie ponio to front bar - check
baler twine - check
haynet tied to side - check
rehearse catches in advance - check
check catches - check
rescue remedy all round - check check check!!!!

Think the only hire options are ifor 505/506 so not much choice there. i know he's travelled in a 505 before without problems..but that was a much much shorter trip. This is 25 country miles so best part of an hour even without trailer. But he is quite sensible and relatively unflappable so, he'll probably be the least stressed out of any of us!

Suppose will always have the option to stop, get out and - check!
 
I call the catch check my pre flight checks!
I travelled my 11hh welshie around in a 505 and he was fine, as long as he was tied to the front he couldn't get back far enough to get his head under the breast bar. Can't wait to see ponio pics.
 
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