Travelling a clumsy horse!

[FunkyFilly28]

I was supposed to do a sponsored ride yesterday and the lorry we normally borrow from the yard broke down so my horse was put in my friend's trailer. He usually travels in a lorry and this trailer was quite narrow but he went in fine and seemed quite happy. My mum and I followed behind in the car and round a particularly nasty corner I saw my horse's back end sort of bouncing up and down like he was trying to regain balance. My friend was driving really carefully the road just wasn't very good and they had to stop because a car was going up the road.

After that he stood perfectly still though and it wasn't until we got there that we saw he'd managed to tear a front travel boot and completely destroy a hind one. After unloading him there was also a cut on his hind leg on the inside. I think he must have trodden on it when regaining balance and kept kicking at it to get it off but hit his leg instead. YO came down and we decided to walk him home in hand as he was quite sound and didn't want to put him back in the trailer.

Anyway, would it be better to travel him in bandages and pads from now on? Also, we were considering getting a trailer as normally my YO takes me to shows etc. and the lorry isn't always free. Are there any trailers you think are more stable or he would have more room in? He travels well in the lorry but there's no way we would get one due to having to tax/insure etc. another vehicle. It would be lovely to have my own transport but I don't want to purchase anything if he's only getting get himself worked up in it.

Thanks and congrats for getting to the end of this!

 

[ThePony]

I think travelling in a trailer can be harder for the horse - there is more movement so harder for them to keep their balance if they aren't used to it. You might find that with time he gets used to it and balances better. A trailer that is wider should be steadier. We have found with our super sensitive traveller that ifors don't go down well! Too clattery and bumpy for her liking. We have a wessex (the wider model) and she travels really well in it and loads great, they have better suspension than the ifors which I think helps the ride for her too. My mare is quite long (6'9'' rugs) and she appreciates more room in the trailer so we set up the breach bars to give her the longest space we can, this helps her alot and she travels really well. If they don't give her enough room then she is unsettled travelling and gets in a stress. Do friends have different makes of trailer that you could try?