Travelling a Foal

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StaceyTanglewood

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Well Sara and Phoenix are being weaned this weekend as Sara is going off to another yard to be bought back into work !!

Phoenix will be staying with me for a couple of weeks then Jess (on here) has kindly offered to take her as they are also weaning a filly so they can go out together and be friends (they both have famous grandparents to so should get on well)

My question is how will i travel the foal on its own - I have a 3.5ton lorry (backwards travelling) i think i would definately take the partition out as i can imagine what madame would do - obviously i wont tie her up but wont she then have to much space ????

How do you all travel your foals without there mums xx
 
Foal will be fine. They sometimes lie down, but they usually just stand there - I guess they're a bit confused by the situation.

I give them some hay too, but on the floor as I don't want the chance of them getting tied up in the net. Chances are they won't eat it as they'll be a bit "omg", but it's there if you have a confident one who likes travelling.
 
As you're doing! Make absolutely sure there are no gaps a baby could try to squeeze through or anything that it could get caught up on, you know how brain dead they can be at times! I personally would take the headcollar off so it can't get caught on anything at all and as soon as you have loaded up, GO, don't faff around having a conversation with next door, just go, and remember to be extra careful going around any bends, roundabouts and allowing yourself extra time to brake so you don't throw foal about. It will probably face backwards for the trip. Also, when you get there, give foal lots of time and room to come down the ramp, don't try to force it off and watch it doesn't try to jump off too, make sure sides are blocked, either by people or solid back gates.
Good luck, it's not as bad as you think it might be!
 
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Take out partition, bed down box and leave to own devices!

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Well thats what i thought but was worried there was to much space !!

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i wouldnt worry to much, as once you are on the move your foal will soon stand still.. good luck
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well she has travelled before when we went to the grading so its not the first time she travelled brilliantly but then she was with mum !!

lorry is only 3.5ton so a tiny ramp for her to come down !!

Good idea about taking off the headcoller - would you say put straw down in there ???

I have cctv so can keep an eye on her and its mainly a motorway trip so shouldnt be to bad !!!
 
Bedding is entirely up to you. Unless we knew we would have to have stops during the journey, say for unloading/picking up another, when sometimes foals would lie down, we didn't put any bedding down and if we did it would be shavings usually so they don't get tangled in it. We'd also make sure they were all on their feet for actually travelling though as there's less risk if they are aware how the lorry is moving and are able to balance better..
 
Everyone has said it really
I have travelled my foal a fair few times now as been to shows/stud etc. first time I was pretty nervous - took partition out bedded down (i have 7.5t lorry but with living so only stalled for 2 big horses).

think I did about 20mph most of the way the first time (wanted a 'foal on board' sticker or something!) so Foalie actually lay down but now she stands up fine and seems to travel well.
she's happy enough getting on and off the box before mum so I don't think she was too traumatised by my driving.
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plent of bedding i put a pile of hay in the corner i dont tie mine and head collars off elimate everything that can hurt them

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definately wont be tying her up bless her xx
 
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