Travelling alone

[Darcey22]

I have a mare who hates travelling alone. She will load fine. But screams blue murder when we are on the move. And as soon as we come to a stop she paws and stamps around, wanting to get off. She won’t tie to the the trailer and I can’t keep her standing on the trailer as I fear she will go up. She is 15 years old and I make sure she always has a good experience travelling but need to be able to travel her alone. She always has a haylage net. She has a small mirror too but that doesn’t seem to make much difference. What can I do so I am able to leave her, even just to collect my numbers or go to the loo!

 

[Widgeon]

This is a bit of a cop out but perhaps a very small pony to travel with her? One of the horses on our yard has an 8hh field and travelling companion, otherwise he gets himself a bit hysterical on the lorry. It's not really tackling the actual problem but might be worth a thought if you're at the end of your tether.

 

[gallopingby]

I agree find a small friend, plenty older small 'rescues' about and will make life so much easier for you

 

[Darcey22]

This is a bit of a cop out but perhaps a very small pony to travel with her? One of the horses on our yard has an 8hh field and travelling companion, otherwise he gets himself a bit hysterical on the lorry. It's not really tackling the actual problem but might be worth a thought if you're at the end of your tether.

Another horse or pony is t an option unfortunately as she is kept on full livery and I can’t afford 2 months n full livery just so she has a travel companion on the odd occasion I take her to a show.

 

[Widgeon]

If you're only taking her out on "the odd occasion" could that be part of the problem - she's not used to it? Perhaps taking her out more would help? If you start with low key things like boxing up to go hacking with a friend eventually she might start to settle. I had assumed based on your OP that this is a longstanding problem that you've already tried lots of methods to fix. Even really basic things like feeding her on the box at home then asking her to stand for a minute before unloading might help.

You could even enlist some professional help, there are people who pretty much specialise in loading and travelling problems so if you can find a good trainer, I'm sure they will have seen this before lots of times, and have ideas and tips for combating it.

 

[Darcey22]

She goes out about twice a month. I will try doing that though. Taking her to my lessons and feeding her in the trailer. Will also try trailering her out for hacks etc. thanks widgeon x

 

[Bobthecob15]

I have a pony who isn't a great loader unless there is already a horse in the box or trailer! It's really annoying, we are also on livery so can't afford 2! Thankfully he travels fine once we are there and is happy alone all day etc...

I would recommend getting someone to help with the loading, she is clearly anxious about being in there and is seeking the company of others for reassurance...there is safety in numbers (herd instinct of course) is how our lady explains it to me. So naturally if they have company they are more confident. This sounds odd but has the trailer been serviced? Are the brakes OK? Often it's due to them having a bad experience in there which increases anxiety. If you can work out what is upsetting her that is half the battle. Can you try another trailer and see if she is better?

If not definitely try loading and uploading at home, feeding in the trailer and then gradually build up to closing the ramps and driving off when she is confident in the earlier stages. Good luck!

 

[Green Bean]

I have a horse with a similar issue. I dread reaching a red traffic light as she will do the same thing as your horse. I brought in a well known person to assist me loading issues and whilst he was there, I asked him if I could take my horse on a short drive around the barn and back to him to see if the magic he worked on loading her would work after a journey. After the 2 minute drive, I opened the horsebox and she was sweating and nervous, which is 'normal' for her. He said she most likely had separation anxiety. If she has another horse in the box with her, no issue, but like you I can't afford to keep a pony on livery just for when I travel. I tried mirrors, no difference. My daughter has sat in the back with her, no real improvement. I have joked that I wish someone would invent a realistic holographic pony which I could use when travelling but that probably won't work either, just as the mirror didn't. I have thought about keeping an extra large teddy bear in her stable and then tying it inside the horse box but that probably wouldn't work either. I also can't go to a show without a plus one, same as you.
I think there is a market for someone coming up with a solution. I have been told to take her out more, 'she will get used to it', but that isn't a solution either.

 

[Darcey22]

I have a pony who isn't a great loader unless there is already a horse in the box or trailer! It's really annoying, we are also on livery so can't afford 2! Thankfully he travels fine once we are there and is happy alone all day etc...

I would recommend getting someone to help with the loading, she is clearly anxious about being in there and is seeking the company of others for reassurance...there is safety in numbers (herd instinct of course) is how our lady explains it to me. So naturally if they have company they are more confident. This sounds odd but has the trailer been serviced? Are the brakes OK? Often it's due to them having a bad experience in there which increases anxiety. If you can work out what is upsetting her that is half the battle. Can you try another trailer and see if she is better?

If not definitely try loading and uploading at home, feeding in the trailer and then gradually build up to closing the ramps and driving off when she is confident in the earlier stages. Good luck!

Yes the trailer is serviced every 6 months, it is a daily new Ifor Williams and she does the same in a 3.5t tbh. If anything I drive too slowly and take it very steady. She is absolutely fine if I have a horse travel with her. She always loads and unloads fine, doesn’t sweat up, and happy to have the ramps closed as I say she just gets very vocal if alone and starts staying when I stop.
I do play to her needs and when we go out I make sure I get her straight off, do my class and load and go straight away so there is no handing around for her. But I wonder if I am-maybe not helping by doing this?

 

[Identityincrisis]

My horse was like this, he was nervous about unloading which was becoming dangerous so i got richard maxwell out (not the cheap option but very effective) he solved the unloading issue and a knock on effect was the travelling was a lot calmer, but i was also out and about 1-2 times per week so it became very normal to him.

 

[Darcey22]

Yes maybe the only option is to do it more frequently. I was thinking of feeding some calmer supplement before travel too? Does anyone do this? X

 

[J&S]

I'm a bit like a broken record.... always the same answer. Try giving her Rescue Remedy. A drop or two in a halved and scooped out carrot before loading and then another drop or two once loaded. It worked a treat with my mare and i was able to take her all over the country after getting her happy travelling this way. Worth a try, a much cheaper option than R M !

 

[Identityincrisis]

Yes maybe the only option is to do it more frequently. I was thinking of feeding some calmer supplement before travel too? Does anyone do this? X

i did, but I didn’t find it had any obvious effect. But as said above, definitely worth a shot and cheaper than RM!!

another thing that helped was getting ME calmer, i had had a bad experience with a horse in a trailer and ended up with PTSD from it, I went for hypnotherapy which worked wonders for me and also had a knovk on effect with the horse.

 

[Bobthecob15]

He was expensive but Richard Maxwell was brilliant with my mare...it was 20yrs ago and he was a lot cheaper then...£400 now! But for us he sorted the loading issue once and for all x

 

[Carlosmum]

My old boy would fuss until we started moving. Everytime we stopped he would shout. When we arrived I would creep away to collect number, if he couldn't see me he would wait. As soon as he could see me the fussing would start again.

 

[canteron]

Reading through the posts the one suggesting it is the separation anxiety not the travelling which is the main part of the problem, is the one that seems the most obvious.

Can you work on this and build up her confidence outside the trailer before combining the two skills (individual confidence and the box being a ‘good’ place)? - pm me is you want my thoughts / what worked for me.