Travelling a youngster

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HaffiesRock

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I am taking a youngster on for a year while he develops. He is coming to me from about 60 miles away and my friend is bringing him (its her pony)

He has been moved once before in a 3.5 ton lorry and he was fine althought struggled a little with keeping control of his legs! (it was about 3 miles and he was about 10 months) this time, he is coming in a trailer and Id guess the journey will be around 1.5 hours.

Any tips? He has only in the last couple of months be taught to stand while tied so I am a little worried hes going to worry. He is a 14hh 15 month old gelding. Normally calm and quiet but just the time and distance of the journey worry me.

Any ideas how to make it a nice, safe journey for him?

Thanks
 
When I first started travelling my youngster I made sure everything was safe, he was happy and calm with the loading and had a nice big haynet to munch on (he'd probably stand anywhere if he had some grub!)
Make sure whoever is driving goes steady, it might take him a few miles to find his feet and get comfortable so take the bends nice and slow and no sudden accelerating/braking!
I think it's important to make sure the first few journeys are calm and nice for him then he will know there's nothing to worry about and he won't be put off in the future.
Hope it all goes well!
 
My youngster came to me a few months ago when he was about 22 months old and never travelled...he was coming from Exeter which was 5 hours away too so I was terrified. Fortunately his breeder loaded him onto the horse transporters I had booked (Boothroyden - fab!) and he had a haynet to occupy him for the journey - he travelled beautifully and arrived in great spirits. The only thing I didnt do was use any protective stuff on him as I thought travel boots or tail guards would worry him far more than the journey itself.
 
Thanks everyone.

My friend does have another horse, but it is not one the youngster has met before. Could that cause more problems do you think?

Sorry for all the questions, I don't travel horses all that often and when I do I use a local company. My friends are using their own trailer and I wont be around to see whats happening so I worry!

Another secondary question that has just popped into my head! The youngster is insured as I said I wouldn't take him without. Her other horse isn't insured. What would happen in the case of an accident? Would it simply be you can claim for the insured one but not the uninsured?

Thanks
 
emmahaywood1 said:
Thanks everyone.

My friend does have another horse, but it is not one the youngster has met before. Could that cause more problems do you think?

Sorry for all the questions, I don't travel horses all that often and when I do I use a local company. My friends are using their own trailer and I wont be around to see whats happening so I worry!

Another secondary question that has just popped into my head! The youngster is insured as I said I wouldn't take him without. Her other horse isn't insured. What would happen in the case of an accident? Would it simply be you can claim for the insured one but not the uninsured?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Insurance is the owners responsibility, not yours. Please don't worry, nothing will happen!
The youngster will not worry about the companion not being a friend.
 
I'm assuming he'll be coming down the motorway - in which case his journey should be nice and smooth, with no stopping and starting.

I'm sure your friends will be just fine bringing him down.
 
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