Traveling

[Bevjane]

Hi all so after some advice, my OTTB had an accident in my lorry the day I brought him, he got himself over the breast bar and got stuck resulting in a front pedal bone fracture, after 10 months of box rest and turnout he’s finally coming sound ??, during this time he’s been to the vet several times but useing a horse transport company, 7.5 t travelling herringbone, he’s always a little unsettled when he starts off but then sets his legs and travels fine, now it’s time to get him in my lorry again, it’s a 3.5 t forward facing, because we have no idea why he did what he did im frightened to death to try him, I’ve brought an equi save system so he carnt go over the front again, but I’ve lost all confidence in traveling him and I don’t know what to do, I feel sick of the thought of driving my lorry with him in it, I can’t tell you how traumatising it was, I still have nightmares, he maybe fine but what if there’s something about the lorry that makes him flip again! I’ve had the lorry 8 years and my others travel fine in it, carnt see anything obvious that mad him flip ? any advice would be much appreciated ??

 

[sunnyone]

You have my sympathies OP, having had 1 horse rear and damage the roof of a trailer, and my share of low speed traffic accidents.
For yourself only brave pants will help. My brave pants come with heating turned down and music turned up in a vehicle, so as I chill but concentrate.
For the horse, I'd start again, as if it was a foal and build from there. Day 1 load, unload. Day 2 repeat. Day 3: shut in with hay net for X minutes etc. Obviously it will take time and patience but this will help identify if the horse has real issues with the lorry itself, or whether it was a killer shadow that was the trigger and will never reoccur. Let's hope it was the latter. Good luck.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Can you retro modify your current 3.5t with a solid infill so that he couldn't get stuck on the breast bar again? Some HHOers have done similar.

Like these.

http://www.traveltwohorseboxes.co.uk/safety-devices

 

[Bevjane]

You have my sympathies OP, having had 1 horse rear and damage the roof of a trailer, and my share of low speed traffic accidents.
For yourself only brave pants will help. My brave pants come with heating turned down and music turned up in a vehicle, so as I chill but concentrate.
For the horse, I'd start again, as if it was a foal and build from there. Day 1 load, unload. Day 2 repeat. Day 3: shut in with hay net for X minutes etc. Obviously it will take time and patience but this will help identify if the horse has real issues with the lorry itself, or whether it was a killer shadow that was the trigger and will never reoccur. Let's hope it was the latter. Good luck.

Thank you, yes I need brave pants, I’ve had horses for years, had everything from 3.5t to 7.5 t lorries and also trailers, all with no incident, it’s really rocked me on what could happen and to not be complacent when traveling, I have put so much time, effort and more money than I dare to add up in him, I just feel I want to wrap him in bubble wrap, couldn’t bare anything else happening to him, he’s such a sweat heart ?

 

[Bevjane]

Can you retro modify your current 3.5t with a solid infill so that he couldn't get stuck on the breast bar again? Some HHOers have done similar.

Hi thanks, yes I have looked into it and it could be done, but it’s an old lorry, Think I’ve made the decision to sell it as to many bad memories for me as well as him, just now don’t know what to get for the best ?

 

[milliepops]

Hi thanks, yes I have looked into it and it could be done, but it’s an old lorry, Think I’ve made the decision to sell it as to many bad memories for me as well as him, just now don’t know what to get for the best ?

depends on what you can drive on your license. if you can drive a bigger lorry then it sounds like that may be a good option. otherwise I'd choose something that doesn't have a breastbar that could be climbed on. be wary of lorries with tack lockers in the horse area too.

 

[HeyMich]

My stressy/fidgetty traveller is so much better if she's rear facing or herringbone, and with a window to look directly out of. Perhaps that's something to consider if you're going to change for a different lorry/trailer soon.

 

[Bevjane]

depends on what you can drive on your license. if you can drive a bigger lorry then it sounds like that may be a good option. otherwise I'd choose something that doesn't have a breastbar that could be climbed on. be wary of lorries with tack lockers in the horse area too.

I can drive a 7.5 t on my licence, yes been looking at stallion partition boxes and larger ones traveling herringbone, thank for the advice ?

 

[Bevjane]

My stressy/fidgetty traveller is so much better if she's rear facing or herringbone, and with a window to look directly out of. Perhaps that's something to consider if you're going to change for a different lorry/trailer soon.

Thank you I will ?

 

[Translationsneeded1]

Honestly if it were me, I’d sell the lorry and get a different one. Good luck with it

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If you can drive a 7.5, I would swap your lorry for a bigger one and travel him with a companion, at least until you know he settles in the bigger lorry.

 

[Hipo]

Similar thing happened with my pony in my 3.5 ton. He climbed over the breast bar and was stuck in the rear tack area, we were on the motorway at the time. We actually got him out without him panicking and with only a couple of cuts. It was a horrible experience.
There was no way I could have travelled him in it again. I sold it and found a rear loading, herringbone 6.5 ton which he happily travelled in for many years.