Travelling problems

[MissSBird]

Since I got my horse, I have had many problems with getting her into a trailer. We figured out this probably stemmed from having only ever been in them when moving stables pernamently.

However, despite all loading problems, for two years she travelled perfectly in the drivers side of an Ifor H505, never loosing balance or making a sound.

Then we got a new pony who would travel in the other side. This did cause a problem as my slightly mean horse decided to glare and try and bite the other pony. We got a grill and removed the haynets whilst travelling so they had nothing to fight over, and it seemed to keep the peace. Soon my horse didn't glare and for the past 6 months has travelled regularly with the other pony, back to her normal self. She even started walking into the trailer with no hastle at all.

Now, all of a sudden, I have a horse that won't stand in a trailer. On Thursday, she walked in with no hesitation, but on the first left hand turn out of the stables she stumbled about and seemed to loose her balance. But it only happened this once, and she was fine on the way back home.

Today, she walked in perfectly, but again stumbled on that left hand corner. Then she continued to stumble around and loose her balance every left hand corner to the show ground. Unfortunatly we were on the moterway/dual carriage way for most of the journey so couldn't just stop.

When we got to the showground, we opened up the trailer to find she'd pulled off a back shoe and cut her thigh, and you could see how much she's been scrambling about by the marks on her hoof polish. BUT she hadn't sweated up at all and seemed content and calm.

Needless to say I was very concerned, but she had to go back in to get home again. We put haynets in the trailer on the way home to see if it would help but it didn't. Again she was stumbling around and not keeping her balance. But the thing is, she walked in quite happily and she is the type of horse who would refuse!

But then when we got home, she wasn't at all stressed again. She seemed content and hadn't sweated up. There were no more cuts.

On the way home, my sister sat in the back of the car and watched what was going on as best she could through the small window on the front of the trailer.

it seems that she may be too relaxed. The one left hand corner she didn't stumble she had lifted her head and looked out the window. The other times she seemed to be practically sleeping in the trailer. her head just gets lower and lower. It's almost like she's becoming so relaxed in the trailer whilst on the relativly straight moterway that she's caught by surprise when we come to a sharp corner.

NOTHING has changed and I'm really worried about this. Has anyone any ideas?

 

[Ravenwood]

I have no ideas to help you but almost the exact same thing has just happened to me. My mare was incredibly difficult to load but with loads of practise I can now get her in on my own with very little effort and although she always hates travelling was no problem, just starts pawing as soon as you stop. But the last few trips I have made she stumbles on corners. The first time it happened was because the brake got stuck on the trailer which made it judder on the corner, there was a terrible commotion from the trailer, I immediately stopped but she looked fine, although just like you, by the time I got to the venue she had pulled a shoe and cut her leg.

Got the trailer sorted but now at every corner she stumbles even though I take them ridiculously slowly and use up the whole road.

I am going to try and get a full length breast bar and travel her without a partition to see if that helps.

 

[Britestar]

We also have a horse that is no good on left hand bends. He never refused to load, likes going to parties, but disco dances round the corners.

We tried with and without partitions, either side of the trailer, tied up, loose and every other permutation.

He's quite happy, doesn;t seem to injure himself and I think it bothers us much more than it does him. Biggest thing is the look you get from other drivers going around roundabouts - nightmare!

 

[MaverickMD]

This was my post this morning on Stable Yard - if anyone can help?

I have a 7.5 Tonne Lorry, my horses have been used to travelling in the lorry and have always travelled well.

However, recently one of them has decided she can not stand up and is travelling really badly. I stood with her yesterday and it is as if she cant stand up - she is jamming her behind against the wall of the box and partition and pushing back as hard as she can (and has rubbed her tail off !). She is not exactly "falling over" but she is just not able to balance herself properly. The other horse is fine (and he would normally be the more sharp and nervous of the two). Even I didnt find it difficult to stand comfortably and didnt feel as if I was having to brace myself - my partner drives very slowly and carefully (as we live down twisty country lanes and if he drove any more carefully it would be quicker to hack !). So how come she is and what can I do to help her?

(God love her - she comes off the lorry and is happy to ride and she goes back onto the lorry without a fuss - I dont understand her at all)

Any ideas? Any advice? All gratefully received.

Thank you.

 

[pennyh]

my horse went through a stage of doing this , always loaded & travelled just fine then all of a sudden was all over the place,even going down , cut himself but generally seemed unfazed , first time i thought it was odd , second i was concerned , third time he was really bad

swopping him to the other side of the trailer to try to get him home safely that day just switched him straight back to his normal self!

travelled him that way a few times & he was completely fine, then swopped him back to drivers side & not had a bit of bother since!!

 

[RuthP]

My horse has started doing this too!!!!!
She' been fine travelling, usually falls asleep but just lately she's started making a real issue of it! But comes of the lorry happy, rides well and goes back on! It's like she's forgotten how to balance!