Stampy horse in trailer!

DragonSlayer

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Loads perfectly, no hopping about....just that bloomin' awful *STAMP STAMP STAMP* that drives you up the wall....not all the time, but annoying when it happens...

We have an IW with rubber matting so never added shavings or straw...would this help or anyone got any other suggestions?

Longer journeys planned next spring, don't wanna be hearing THAT every so often!
 
Put shavings in, those rubber floors are treacherous if the horse sweats up or does a poo/wee. I skated from back to front once on a warm day and I've got hands to grab things.
 
Is horse booted? Mine stamps and farts about if you put travel boots on, and arrives sweated up at destination. Travel him without and he is fine, no stamping, scraping or sweating.
 
IS the horse in question new and bit broad in the beam? My big girl travels perfectly unless she feels that the partitions are set too narrow for her when she stamps, scrapes and generally is a PITA - an easy fix in a lorry but not so simple in a trailer unless you can take the partition out.
 
I wait to be shot down for this, but how about hobbles?

Sounds a bit dramatic, but would prevent any repetitive concussive/strain injuries to the horse and protect your trailer at the same time....

A friend of mine went this route and after only a few journeys the horse forgot the habit and now travels hobble, and pawing, free.
 
I don't know if it will be the same as mine, as he does it with his backs. But he hates travel boots and just stamps his feet wearing those. He is ok, with the older style ones, but the new more fixed shape ones he can't cope with and stamps his feet a lot! May not be that but worth a try, we just use bandaging now :)
 
Is horse booted? Mine stamps and farts about if you put travel boots on, and arrives sweated up at destination. Travel him without and he is fine, no stamping, scraping or sweating.

I use bandages as I feel boots make them too hot, with her wearing shoes....like to think legs are protected! COULD be a trier though, to see...

IS the horse in question new and bit broad in the beam? My big girl travels perfectly unless she feels that the partitions are set too narrow for her when she stamps, scrapes and generally is a PITA - an easy fix in a lorry but not so simple in a trailer unless you can take the partition out.

She's not a heavy-weight, and certainly in the 510, there seems to be oodles of room, but with her being used to a lorry normally, you might be right! (SSSshhhh....in discussion with OH about getting lorry again, he wants to get out and about with us, his horse travel with no partition, and as you say, can be easier to give more room in lorry...)

I wait to be shot down for this, but how about hobbles?

Sounds a bit dramatic, but would prevent any repetitive concussive/strain injuries to the horse and protect your trailer at the same time....

A friend of mine went this route and after only a few journeys the horse forgot the habit and now travels hobble, and pawing, free.

This has been suggested by others, as been proven to work....will put some thought to it!

I don't know if it will be the same as mine, as he does it with his backs. But he hates travel boots and just stamps his feet wearing those. He is ok, with the older style ones, but the new more fixed shape ones he can't cope with and stamps his feet a lot! May not be that but worth a try, we just use bandaging now :)

Gonna try some different things, see if it's that that's bugging her!

Many thanks all. :D
 
Glad I might have helped the lorry cause. I only realised when my mare destroyed someone's portaloo thrashing about, she'd assumed that as the mare is smaller than her 17.2 she'd be fine in a smaller space. WRONG, she doesn't like feeling cramped and as a part Shire she is in no way a dainty beast.
 
Can the horse reach his/her hay net easily? I have a 510, I tie one net high up to the ring above the breast bar and another to the bracket in the nose area by the front window so horse can choose which to pick from. Neither are particularly accessible but that is a trade off with the front unload design.

Also how much room fore and aft between breech and breast bars is there with horse in? Some prefer to be snug, some prefer to have more space. Perhaps play around with that.

Agree that horse may be protesting against travel boots, if you use them.

Also the centre pole of my 510 rattled fit to bust at the attachment point in the roof until we inserted inner tube in the gap to deaden the noise, it really was the most horrendous racket, maybe noise is upsetting the horse?
 
Ah, just seen your post where you say you are in discussion with OH re upgrading to a lorry.

In that case, do not try any of the above, just tell OH that horse is clearly unhappy in a trailer and would be much better off in a lorry, and that the two of you could go out together then......
 
One of mine paws the floor sometimes until we go then he quietens. used to bang at the venue but with the front door open is now calm. Just getting out and about seemed to help with thos things.While travelling he was very unsteady on bends if travelling in half the trailer and wrecked two pair of travel boots. So bandages on back or nothing if a short trip. If he is alone I either use full width bars and take the centre partition out or have just tried him with the back half of the partition hooked across and the full width bar at the back. he can then take up a wide stance if he needs to but I dont have the faff or removing and replacing the partition (which I hate!)
 
Check the horses back, OH's cob was very stampy in the trailer and it turns out his pelvis was out slightly. My ned was stampy in the trailer as he wanted to be off, 2 trips out with a calm patient non stamoy friend and he seems to have got the message too!
 
my girl stomps lots until we start moving and my boy paws the floor until you start moving as well, but luckily don't do it all the time. agree with trying all the above suggestions, if it is constant it must be very irritating
 
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