Transporting horses- travel backwards or forwards?

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Shadowdancing

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Hi all, what's the current thinking on best direction of travel for horses? Before I started looking at boxes I seem to remember reading articles that found horses travelled better facing backwards as they were best bracing themselves on their forehand or some such argument I can't quite recall. Most of the ones I've viewed have horses facing forwards but a couple have the facility to face backwards.

Is there still some discussion? Anyone know what the strongest argument is at present? Thanks very much for any input!
 
Backwards, horses will naturally align themselves in a herringbone pattern if left unpartitioned. From personal experience, my horse travels best sideways (herringbone), travels well backwards, but really struggles if travelled forwards.
 
I would prefer to travel mine backwards- if you slam on the brakes they will slide to the front of the trailer/box. I would prefer a big bum squishing into the wall rather than them possibly coming over or through the breast bar and damaging their head.
 
neither of my two like travelling backwards and one hates it with a passion and tries to go up and over the 'wall'

They are both happy travelling forwards with a breast bar and the same pony doesnt try to rear up
 
My lad is a good traveller either forwards (in my trailer) or backwards (in my friend's box), but was really unhappy going sideways when another friend gave me a lift one day. Came off unhappy and sweated up and we struggled to re-load him for the return journey. I think they have their own preferences. Maybe you need to see what your horse is happiest with before buying your new transport.
 
Totally depends on the horse, mine won't travel forwards. I had to buy a slant load trailer. I've not tried backwards..
 
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