Travelling problems !!

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davidm

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My 15 year old George 16.2 has travelled in a IF 505 trailer with no problems, since i have had him 8 months, regular traveler.
For some unknown reason he is now struggling, we have destroyed two rear travel boots where he is stumbling, so tried him today in a 510, more space, brushing boots and over reach only, but he still pulled off a shoe, off side and destroyed the overreach boot, bent the breaching bar backwards, but he comes out fine not stressed at all, my friend followed me home she could see him drop his bum and stumble mainly inwards on roundabouts as if he looses his balance.
He can weight bear on both hind legs, has not been lame and shows no other signs of hurting.
Does any one have any suggestions or ideas to what’s suddenly caused this issue.
 
Ok two things I think immediately:
A - did he used to travel in a lorry herringbone and is now in a trailer where he travels front facing
and B (sorry no offence intended) is the person towing him experienced - are they driving too fast, braking rather than working down gears, taking corners too quickly?

Just a few suggestions - as I said no offence intended !
 
This happened to my friends horse, fine for years then scrabbling all over. She took partition out on the advice of the dealership and bought the full length breast bar and he stood diagonal and travelled fine ever since. Havent a clue why it suddenly happens.
 
He hasnt fallen or slipped in the field has he? Does he look level behind in the pelvis as in does he dip evenly both sides from behind?
It's just a thought, maybe he is uncomfortable somewhere, seems strange he has ben fine for 8 months and now isnt, there's usually a reason but it's finding it!!
smile.gif
 
A similar problem happened to a friends horse, it transpired that one of the trailer tyres was very slightly low on pressure - we doubted this was the reason but the problems stopped when it was fixed...maybe it was just a coincidence but worth double checking if not already.
 
Very similar happened to our mare a few years ago. I think we took a staggered crossroads just a tiy bit quickly and she suddenly lost all her confidence. I travelled 1/2 mile up the road inside the trailer with her and she was leaning her full weight against the partition and scrabbling her feet against the side wall, pulling off shoes/travel boots.
We had a full length breast/breech bar made (approx £30) and she was grand from then on, and would even let her best cob friend travel beside her.
Only problem was we had to change to a lorry eventually as not really legal/safe to travel 2 in a trailer with no partition. If you've only the one horse though - just take the partition out and give it a try. I am nearly sure it will work as this subject has come up a few times on HHO and always the same answers.

Good luck!

FIona
 
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This happened to my friends horse, fine for years then scrabbling all over. She took partition out on the advice of the dealership and bought the full length breast bar and he stood diagonal and travelled fine ever since. Havent a clue why it suddenly happens.

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I would take out partition!!My lad does exactly the same but he has done it from word go!!!Once partition is removed he is fine!!No explanation why am afraid!!Give it a go and see how he goes!!!
 
Thanks all !Nice to know it happens to others and not my driving , i am an experienced driver, carefull any way !
I dont want to take out the partition as i have been told its difficult to get them to travel when you put it back in, and we do like to go out with another horse. is this true ?
And the 510 is brand new !!! So we can go out with company !!
I have our back lady coming this weekend to check him out,
Is there any harm putting him on the near side, alone as they always recomend the off side.
 
Hi,Like you i am convinced there is a problem somewhere.
He is such a honest boy he wont tell me the problem till it becomes a prob, if you know what i mean. The back lady is a start.
 
I travel my mare on the kerb side as she did the same thing as yours did when I swapped from a small lorry to a trailer.

In her early years she had been out in a trailer, but then I'd had a couple of small lorries, so if she went out in a trailer she always went on the kerb side because the friends' horse travelled on the right.

When I first got the trailer she had some major panic attacks (kicked a hole in the side of the trailer!) when on her own in the right had side, but if her mate travelled with her she was fine.

Also found she didn't like the full length (Mark Todd type) boots. Travelled her in hock-to-hoof bandages for a while and now reverted to Polypad type travel boots.

Eventually, I tried her in the left hand/near side with a radio playing - as in the lorry I'd always been able to talk to her.

This sorted it, and ever since then she's travelled on her own or with company on this side. The radio unfortunately didn't survive as I accidentally drove over it!!
 
Interesting that you said the 510 is new. Another friends horse travelled great in her old 505, she upgraded to a new 505 and her mare fell over in it. It turned out to be the new Aluminium floor as apparantly there is play in them, perfectly safe but not as solid feeling for the horse. She lined the fmoor with marine ply and her horse was back to normal and travelled fine. She doesnt use a partition though, never has.
 
I to have had this problem in the past and the only solution was to travel the mare without the partition. She to had travelled well previously with no sudden stops/scarey driving as a known cause. She would nearly go down in the trailer which was very scarey. She travelled long distances with no problems once the partition was removed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
He hasnt fallen or slipped in the field has he? Does he look level behind in the pelvis as in does he dip evenly both sides from behind?
It's just a thought, maybe he is uncomfortable somewhere, seems strange he has ben fine for 8 months and now isnt, there's usually a reason but it's finding it!!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

This was my initial reaction - I'd go with the back check....
smile.gif
 
Yes, I know what you mean. I had to take the partition out for my mare as she is awful with it in but we are now a bit stuck as we are looking for a horse for hubby so will have to buy a lorry if we want to travel two. It will work out a bit expensive!
A horse I had many years ago had a pelvis problem that I didnt know about until he bronked and stood on me, he travelled fine before and suddenly shuffled and rocked in the trailer when we took him out. I had a McTimoney person out who noticed an unlevel pelvis, she did some work with him and he was fine after which made me wonder about yours. Lucky horse having a dad that listens
smile.gif
 
I believe travelling 1 horse on near side has a weighting/safety issue so I would certainly check this out with a reputable Ifor dealer (or Ifor themselves) before doing this - especially as you have a big horse.

Certainly taking the centre partition out is likely to help because it allows the horse to get into a more comfortable herringbone position & gives them confidence to re-adjust their body weight as they need to. I know of several horses that have done this due to a confidence problem as opposed to a physical problem - this then becomes a vicious circle. It may be worth doing a few very short/easy trips super slowly & see how he responds to some confidence building sessions.

As your horse is 15 I guess there is a chance of a minor underlying cause that only mannifests itself when under the strains of travelling - which is of course about the most demanding thing you ask of your horse in terms of weight bearing/balance. I think getting him check out for discomfort is a good idea.
 
Definately try taking out partition or taking out he back section if you can (think you can in Ifors?? I can in my Bateson). One of ours started falling in the trailer, he'd lean like hell and just fall! We gave him lots more room behind so he could really spread out his hind legs and he was perfect from then on!
 
my old mare fell over in our trailer with a partition so we also took it out and used full length breast bar .Everytime we took he out after she had lots more room and never fell again.
The only way to take her out with others though was in a lorry where she never had a problem travelled very well
 
Is there any chance she may have slipped slightly once when the floor became wet (from off her shoes). It may have left her feeling uneasy.
Horses travelling singly in a trailer should always be on the driver side otherwise it can tilt or even topple due to the camber of the roads.
 
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