lucysnapshot
Well-Known Member
my mare and foal are due to come home from stud, question is how do i travel them? I have a renault master 3.5t side ramp, shall i take the partition out of just move it as far along as it will go?
travelling a foal
- Thread starter lucysnapshot
- Start date
AmyMay
Situation normal
They will need enough room to travel comfortably, but not enough so that the foal can move or turn around. The foal should be travelled so that he can suckle off mum - so backwards essentially.
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
Even if you don't give them too much room, as AmyMay said, they will try to turn around and WILL do it somehow, it never fails so you might just as well give them enough room to start with IMO but not enough for it to be able to dance about in or for the mare to try to turn, she must stay straight to avoid foal being squashed!
If your partition can be tied safely to one side, by all means leave it in but if you think it could wobble or work loose I would play safe and take it out, it's not a big job anyway.
Tie the mare up with her bum able to be in the widest part. DO NOT TRAVEL WITH A HAYNET, just too dangerous IMHO when there are foals about unless it can be fastened outside of their space (and not able to be pulled over the partition by the mare). Always take the foal's headcollar off once you are inside the box and safely fastened in cos if there is anything at all, no matter how small or inacessable you think it is, they will be sure to get caught up on it; that is Sod's Law with a capital S !
They'll also try to duck under any partition so make sure any gaps are well fenced off safely.
Good luck, it's not as bad a job as it sounds, just be ultra safe and look at everything with a child's safety in mind; if it's doubtful, do something about it.
If your partition can be tied safely to one side, by all means leave it in but if you think it could wobble or work loose I would play safe and take it out, it's not a big job anyway.
Tie the mare up with her bum able to be in the widest part. DO NOT TRAVEL WITH A HAYNET, just too dangerous IMHO when there are foals about unless it can be fastened outside of their space (and not able to be pulled over the partition by the mare). Always take the foal's headcollar off once you are inside the box and safely fastened in cos if there is anything at all, no matter how small or inacessable you think it is, they will be sure to get caught up on it; that is Sod's Law with a capital S !
Good luck, it's not as bad a job as it sounds, just be ultra safe and look at everything with a child's safety in mind; if it's doubtful, do something about it.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
When I travelled Hannah and Troy a few weeks ago, I faced the same dilema, but decided to take the partition out of my Equitrek all together so it was just one big space for them. I presume yours also face backwards then if it is a Renault side ramp?
I tied Hannah up on the inside (Equi-Treks are different to others in which side you put the horse) and then let Troy run free. When we got to the vets he had shoved her bum right over and was stood where she should be
My two travelled really well like this, and Hannah is not usually a confident traveller, but it surprising how different they are when they have their baby with them.
Good luck!
I tied Hannah up on the inside (Equi-Treks are different to others in which side you put the horse) and then let Troy run free. When we got to the vets he had shoved her bum right over and was stood where she should be
My two travelled really well like this, and Hannah is not usually a confident traveller, but it surprising how different they are when they have their baby with them.
Good luck!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
AM - we put Troy in facing backwards and he just decided he wanted to near her head so wandered around her
He did it on the way home too, but you should have seen the speed he ran up the ramp to get back in the trailer on the way home. We were all ready to push and shove again, but off he went in front of hannah
AmyMay
Situation normal
They're so funny aren't they???? All the foals seem to bounce up the ramp no probs.
We always travel them as I described - and they never turn around - but they simply are not given the room to do so.
I am however, curtesy of the forum, learning to broaden my horizons and views on how to do things!
We always travel them as I described - and they never turn around - but they simply are not given the room to do so.
I am however, curtesy of the forum, learning to broaden my horizons and views on how to do things!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
The reason I took my partition completely out was because the bottom bit (so fromt Troy level really) is rubber and I had visions of them getting separated by the partition. So really, they had a huge area as my Equi-Trek is for two 17.3hh horses.
Oh, one other thing, put some bedding down for them... I used about 3/4 of a bale of shavings in mine (but it went absolutely everywhere when the ramp went down
) which was more than enough. I did put some mini bankings up but Hannah pretty much squashed them all down as she walked in.
I also echo what Pat said about filling in any gaps... my trailer has a gap at the front where the jockey door is (between the two tack lockers) and I put a bale of hay there and tied it to the window bars (see... who said I wasn't creative
)
Oh, one other thing, put some bedding down for them... I used about 3/4 of a bale of shavings in mine (but it went absolutely everywhere when the ramp went down
I also echo what Pat said about filling in any gaps... my trailer has a gap at the front where the jockey door is (between the two tack lockers) and I put a bale of hay there and tied it to the window bars (see... who said I wasn't creative
lucysnapshot
Well-Known Member
thanks guys, i will be putting shavings down so fingers crossed it all goes to plan!
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
i took out the partitions and bey lay down the whole way.she was quite young too.shantih was tied up.
second time they travelled in own partition in trailer and bey was tied up loosely to stop her turning round(she was about 12months)
second time they travelled in own partition in trailer and bey was tied up loosely to stop her turning round(she was about 12months)