Travelling advice please

[Judith01]

We have a 5yo mare, show jumper, little highly strung. Lovely person most of the time. We travel her in a 7.5 box, I'm a careful, considerate driver. Bella kicks back, hitting the partition strut behind her left leg with frightening precision! She then paws in front, both feet to the point where she is pulling up the floor. I have wrapped the strut with foam covered in duct tape which works and just needs renewing weekly, don't have a problem with that.
Bella does this business when leaving the yard, either on her own or with ano, slowing down or speeding up, standing...lights, traffic etc, when nearing a show, even though she may not have been there before and when tacking up.
I believe she does this for attention, at a show when we leave her she stands still, as soon as we approach the lorry to get her ready she starts to paw.

Advice please, I havent tried anything really yet and would like to be armed to the teeth with ideas first, the yard I'm on just keep saying 'if it were mine I'd hobble it', not an issue but I'd like to try other things first.

I know there is a massive bank of people with great ideas out there so please throw some my way and help me to travel this lovely talented mare to do her job, thank you.

 

[millimoo]

I'd get her checked over by the vet... She may complain a lot, but travelling in a lorry (I'm making the assumption herringbone) can highlight pain and discomfort no matter how careful you are.
We had one that kicked, and he had a pre existing soft tissue injury in his hoof, that was later diagnosed via MRI - he always kicked when we bought him, and he deteriorated from a soundness perspective over 4 months. We suspected he was injected in Holland to make him sound, and it wore off.
Not wanting to scare you, and as I say she may just be a moody mare but I'd honestly have the once over with a good horse vet.

 

[Clippy]

To help with the destruction and to hopefully minimise her doing any damage to herself as well as maybe putting her off kicking, invest in a pair of hoof boots of the type barefooters use when conditioning feet. If you only use them for travelling, she'll not get the chance to get used to them and may well stand better.

She sounds to me like she's a bit temperamental, so maybe a stable mirror in the lorry is worth a try? It will make her feel she has more room and a bit of company.

Maybe once she realises she's going out to do some work, she'll find it a lot less exciting and travel better. It's all trial and error plus miles on the clock for her

 

[Judith01]

Good advice guys, thanks. I have a friendly vet coming later today to check Bella out, piece of mind etc. I've also ordered some 'mirror on a role' for the horse box which was a brilliant idea because, in retrospect, she has always travelled with a string of other horses and now she's on her own.
She is quite moody sometimes and can be stressy so I'm trying 'oestress' to see if that just takes the edge off her.
Much appreciate your help folks as you both showed me a different perspective to think about, brilliant