Travelling Horses - Which Way Round Is Best ... Discuss

[Teagan]

Hi There

Which way do you find it best to travel horses in a horse lorry - Forward Facing,
Straight on Sideways Across the lorry,
Herringbone Head Towards Front,
Herringbone Head Toward Back, or
Backwards facing?

And any experiences of poor travellers travelling better once partitions moved etc.

All responses appreciated.

Thanks

Teagan

 

[BFG]

I have a big wagon that travels 2 forward facing and i have not had one horse travel badly in it. I have been known to check if the horse is still there because they are that quiet.

 

[Hedwards]

well i did my dissertation on trailer travel/loading - and if heart rates are anything to go by, facing backwards is less stressful (although i'm sure others will disagree). the main logic behind this, is basically when a horse faces forwards in a trailer, the largest angle of movement (esp when turning) is at the back of the trailer, and horses cant 'open' their back legs to brace against the movement - however, when travelling backwards horses can open their front legs and brace against the movement and so feel more stable and able to stay upright more easily.

My preference with my old mare (before my trailer was stolen) was forward facing (had no choice but to face forward was an older Ifor Williams), with a single breach bar across the front (and back) and no partition, to allow her to stand on an angle and move/brace more easily...

 

[HumBugsey]

Well apparently if left loose they arrange themselves herringbone faceing backwards, which makes sence if you think about the physics of it, better balence on turns and big fleshy bum to lean on for breaking

 

[Hedwards]

sorry only just noticed you were talking about lorries - my bad!

would have though on herringbone head to the front would be best in a lorry...

 

[Carys]

Having travelled a 16.2 mare & her foal loose the mare stood herringbone with bum forwards resting in corner & foal sprawled flat out in rest of 4/5 horse lorry !!

Only found out when owner tried to open grooms door to check all OK as so quiet & mare stepped back as door opened & stood on her foot !!

 

[JM07]

WHICH IS BEST?

whichever the horse is happy with.

 

[angiebaby]

My lorry is geared up to travel them herringbone .

I usually only have mine in so he has the whole of the lorry. On opening he is always stood facing backwards, he travels very well, allbeit a bit impatient to get going!

 

[lizfh65]

Have also read that horses, if given a preference will travel backwards at an angle. Worse position is at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. I have an Equitrek and they travel very well facing backwards in that.

 

[Louby]

Ive read this before about the 90 degree theory, so that would mean sideways travel in a wagon??
My horse wont travel forwards but is very happy to travel sideways in a wagon.

 

[Lillo]

We (at the moment) travel my filly loose, she always faces towards the front.

 

[dilbert_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
... if left loose ...

[/ QUOTE ]

I read quite often about carrying a mare with her foal loose but would it make sense to leave loose a single horse, too?

We got a van with no partitions, only a breast bar at the rear, so our pony travels facing backwards.

There would be enough space to turn around during travel if untied.

Would this make sense?

We can enter the van from the rear and the breast bar would prevent the pony from storming out of the van. So, for that reason it wouldn't need to be tied up.
We could just tie it up at the end of the travel, and then lower the ramp.

 

[Janah]

I had a renault van rebuild which my boy travelled in backwards. He loved it. I think it may have had something to do with the fact there were windows at the back and he could poke his tongue out at the traffic behind!!!