To tie up or not, travelling in lorry.

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Moving yearling pony, who has travelled twice in a single IW trailer, untied, with (rightly or wrongly) a human as company. kindly been offered a non HGV (?) 4 box herringbone with full partitions, (as often used transporting mares and foals). Now, currently due to owners recent use of said box, all the partitons are in place - ie not in state for mare and foal.
My yearling is travelling with my horse, who is fine at 'lorry style transport'! but really scratching my head about whether or not to leave her loose in her 'space' or tie her up. I am currently thinking leave her loose, she will find her own balance and if she stubbled she wouldn't be ''hung''. Right? OR do I tie her up and treat her like a normal grown up horse?
Ideas and thoughts please!!
 
I too would tie up but is the horse used to being tied up? I bought a 15mth old last year and transported him in our 7.5T lorry on his own and we tied him up. As far as I knew he'd not been in a box for at least mths. We did leave the door to the horse bit open in case anyone needed to get back for any reason.
 
i'd tie up, just incase little madam got scared and decided that it's a good idea to jump over partition and cuddle the older horse, don't tie up too tight so that she can still find her own balance but rope can actualy help her with that, so i'd tie up
 
if she's used to having a headcollar on & being tied up at home on occasions, then tie her - if possible on pillar ropes.

If for any reason you do decide to travel her loose then do ensure she is wearing a headcollar, tho I'd really advise tying up if possible.

Make sure you can access her safely - and also swiftly, keep a sharp knife to hand too. Get someone in there to untie & stand with her before unloading & they ought to be in protective clothing too (hats/gloves/boots etc). She WILL find her feet when travelling - honestly :)

Hope it goes well for you
 
She does tie up, but we don't do it everyday.
The lorry partitions are full, so it would be quite a feat for her to leap!
I am sure it will be fine, but I am quite nervous about it... the unknown and such!
 
Also, best to load her first or second? Does back of the lorry give a smoother ride generally, or make little difference?
 
i had a 7 month foal delivered on a 5 hour journey untied in IW trailer - came off perfectly happy, not sweated at all - just glad to see grass.
 
cool mix said:
Also, best to load her first or second? Does back of the lorry give a smoother ride generally, or make little difference?
Click to expand...

I would load her 1st if she is confident to go on, then have 2nd horse ready to follow as soon as partition closed. Then tie up once 2nd horse is on (just have rope thru tie point till then)
Easy to do if you have grooms door to living/front as yearling can have person near to hand till ready to travel off. (near, not in with her!)
Try to just watch yearling & leave her to own devices if you can - so many want to be close in - or keep fiddling with them which can make youngsters nervous.

My only reason about loading 1st, is that if she hasn't done much travelling, her legs/muscles will be tired on arrival. Going further into the box means she has more room when partition is opened to turn properly & walk off box, rather than a handbrake turn on wobbly legs.

Edited to add - I see its a 4 horse box? Pop her in space 2, leaving space 1 at the front for person observation. Then put companion horse in space 3, leaving the back section free. (well, thats what I'd do!)

Hope it goes ok :)
 
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