Trailer Travelling Advice - Wits End !!

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DressageDiva1962

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My lovely 15hh mare is an absolute nightmare to travel, this is her only problem other than this she is perfect. She cant seem to be able to balance at all, in the last 3 journeys we've gone through and destroyed 3 pairs of over reach boots, 2 sets of bandages and 2 bandage pads !!! The back of the trailer resembled a steam room today when we arrived at our destination. I'm seriously thinking of never travelling her again, which is a shame as she loves going to different places and she never hesitates going into the trailer, she practically drags me in.

Any idea's, I've tried the NAF magic calmer today and it made no difference whatsoever.
It has been suggested we take the partition out but I'm worried she'll fall over.

Thank you.
 
Is she travelled with a companion or by herself?

Have you tried travelling in the back of the trailer to see what's going on? Without the horse is useful so you can experience any bangs and crashes.
 
Take the parition out. Often the problem is that the stall is too narrow and they like to stand with their legs further apart. They can also stand crossways over the whole of the trailer, which is also more comfortable for them. Horses don't lean on the partition to balance as we do, they normally prefer more space.

At least try it and see what happens.
 
Take the partition out!!
I can confirm it works. For some reason some horses can't balance in a confined space, and our logic doesn't match theirs on this one, and we tend to think because they are struggling to balance they need sonething to lean on. I bought a horse years ago, and it took me forever to get home because it kept flinging its body against the partition and leaning. Someone must have told me about this, because the nex time I gave her loads of room (lorry at the time) and she was happy, quiet as a mouse and unstressed at the end of the journey.
First time you do it, drive carefully to let her find a place in the trailer that she is happy to travel in, you should be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck.
 
Have you tried travelling her wihtou all the protection? Soemtimes, if this starts to slip or unravel it will send them into a panic. Also, when turning and going round round-a-abouts it helps to go at a snail's pace. NOt convenient for other traffic but it keeps the horse happy.
 
Yes, I agree with taking the partition out or moving the back end over a bit and securing somehow to enable the horse to spread it's back legs - helps it balance better - bit like you on the underground - easier to stand with legs slightly apart than together....
 
Agree with the above, take the partition out and see how you go. My sisters mare would travel very badly in an IW 505 trailer with the partition but was fine with it removed. She was happy to travel in the bigger old IW 510 with the partition in so it was obviously the lack of room with the partition in the smaller box that upset her. Do not travel in the trailer with your horse, dangerous enough if they are good travellers but mad to put yourself in an enclosed place with a horse that is in a panic. Good luck.
 
Agree - Try with the partition out. I had a horrific experience with my old horse, he got wedged and panicked big time. I was terrified of traveling him after that but without the partition he could spread his weight and was fine
 
Another vote for taking out the partition. My mare did this and once the partition was out, it was like travelling a different horse - and no, she never fell over! It does help if you cross tie her though as that way, she won't try to turn round.
 
TBB said:
Agree with the above, take the partition out and see how you go. My sisters mare would travel very badly in an IW 505 trailer with the partition but was fine with it removed. She was happy to travel in the bigger old IW 510 with the partition in so it was obviously the lack of room with the partition in the smaller box that upset her. Do not travel in the trailer with your horse, dangerous enough if they are good travellers but mad to put yourself in an enclosed place with a horse that is in a panic. Good luck.
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Mine is exactly the same as yours! I wouldn't say he travelled badly in the 505, in fact during journey I could never hear him, but he would poo massively,thank goodness we were never in the turn out class. I then travelled him in a friend's 510 and he is a much happier boy and we arrive with a clean tail. They're all so different!
 
Try without thw partition. Charlie travels fine with no partition and has no problems with balance. When he has travelled with a partition he was not happy, as he likes that bit of extra space.
 
Yep, mine is a terrible traveller.... or was!

No partition for her - she likes to stand herringbone style ;) And I think the real solver was towing with a different car. I used to tow with a great big old open back pick up that was extremely bumpy and gutless - now I tow with a much better and smoother 4x4 and the difference for her must be amazing as she stands pretty much stock still now and doesn't arrive lathered in sweat from head to toe! She still neighs at the top of her voice for the whole journey though ;)
 
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My old horse would only travel on the left side of the trailer (not the correct side when travelling alone). On that side he was happy as larry but if you put him on the right he fell over. Ditto not travelling with him in the trailer, but sometimes it's helpful to get someone to drive for a distance behind you as they can often see what's going on from behind.
 
:) we were forced to take the back partition out on the way to an event after Barry kicked it to pieces (literally!!) thank god we had put hind travel boots on him that trip or he would have done some serious damage to himself. Got full width bars after that and he is better but has to have a large holed haynet and still gets cross if there are larger vehicles travelling just behind us. He too loads like a lamb so isn't scared - reckon that he just thinks that a trailer is beneath his dignity. :D:D
 
Tass said:
My old horse would only travel on the left side of the trailer (not the correct side when travelling alone). On that side he was happy as larry but if you put him on the right he fell over. Ditto not travelling with him in the trailer, but sometimes it's helpful to get someone to drive for a distance behind you as they can often see what's going on from behind.
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Ditto this ^^^

After going through several pairs of rear travel boots and lots of banging and clattering, we tried bandages ('cos they don't slip down) and travelled my girl on the left.

Suddenly all was calm and peaceful, we can now travel anywhere.

Bizarre! not sure why the left is better, but on the right she was falling over and swinging her legs around.
 
Again ditto removing the partition. Horses don't balance by leaning on the partition or the sides of the trailer, they balance by spreading their legs. I never use a partition when travelling one Horse. This way they can stand the way they want to (usually diagonally).
 
had same problem .take the partition out ,she needs to splay her legs and may stand slightly across .yuo must use full size breast and breech bars and i cross tie.
 
Yet another vote for removing the partition. My horse also used to arrive at shows dripping in sweat and take 2hrs to load. Since removing the partition he's an angel and travels beautifully. He likes to be tied quite loosely so he can arrange himself herring bone. He also spreads his legs really wide and likes to be able to turn his head and look behind him from time to time. Strange but it works for him. It is a bit of a pain now that I've got 2 horses though, but would never go back to making him share. New boy travels fine with or without partition so have partition+ full width breast bar and only takes a few minutes to changeover.
 
I have had several horses that don't travel well but are fine without a partition. I always cross tie them but they are fine as horses seem to find better balalnce when they have their legs splayed out and are standing herringbone slighlty.
 
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