Travelling two horses together for the first time

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soph15

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I’ve got a 28 year old pony who really doesn’t cope with being on his own in a field and due to his age I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened due to him stressing. I’ve tried shutting him in his stable but that resulted in him breaking a beam in the ceiling so I don’t want to risk it again. He’s always had his best friend a 40 year old companion pony but I sadly lost her a couple of weeks ago which I’m heartbroken about.

So now I’m unsure what to do as I take my 5 year old horse for lessons which are starting again in a weeks time. Ideally I’d just take the two of them in the trailer as my mum doesn’t mind looking after the older one whilst I ride and would keep them both happy.

But the two horses don’t get on very well. They’ve grown a bit closer since I lost my other pony but they still try and bite each other over the fence. I’m not sure if this is playfighting or malicious.

So I’m really worried my precious old boy will get hurt in the trailer with the other one biting him.

I’ve looked into head partitions but I’ve heard bad things about them so I’m reluctant. Has anyone else found a solution to this (Ie tying up shorter) or have any other suggestions? Or can tell me I’m being paranoid about nothing ?

Thank you! ?
 
soph15 said:
I’ve got a 28 year old pony who really doesn’t cope with being on his own in a field and due to his age I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened due to him stressing. I’ve tried shutting him in his stable but that resulted in him breaking a beam in the ceiling so I don’t want to risk it again. He’s always had his best friend a 40 year old companion pony but I sadly lost her a couple of weeks ago which I’m heartbroken about.

So now I’m unsure what to do as I take my 5 year old horse for lessons which are starting again in a weeks time. Ideally I’d just take the two of them in the trailer as my mum doesn’t mind looking after the older one whilst I ride and would keep them both happy.

But the two horses don’t get on very well. They’ve grown a bit closer since I lost my other pony but they still try and bite each other over the fence. I’m not sure if this is playfighting or malicious.

So I’m really worried my precious old boy will get hurt in the trailer with the other one biting him.

I’ve looked into head partitions but I’ve heard bad things about them so I’m reluctant. Has anyone else found a solution to this (Ie tying up shorter) or have any other suggestions? Or can tell me I’m being paranoid about nothing ?

Thank you! ?
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I had to travel my boy with a grazing muzzle on as he didn’t like my friends pony! Not the “done thing” but it worked well!
 
MissTyc said:
I sometimes travel my friend's mare who can be a right madam on the box and I tie her nice and tight to her side with her own haynet ...
however, I do find that most horses suddenly best friends in the world when travelling together, and have often used this as a trick to get horses to bond better!
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Thank you that’s great to hear a technique that works! And that would be perfect if the two of them would bond as they both hate being on their own so would be much easier if they stopped the fighting and loved each other??
 
I would teach the horse to travel alone before I went and expected it travel and have a lesson .
I never understand why people don’t train their horses about travelling early before they have travel and then do something .
I used to start by loading daily then driving for five minutes then I used to load them up and take the car of lorry for fuel .
It’s time well spent
 
Goldenstar said:
I would teach the horse to travel alone before I went and expected it travel and have a lesson .
I never understand why people don’t train their horses about travelling early before they have travel and then do something .
I used to start by loading daily then driving for five minutes then I used to load them up and take the car of lorry for fuel .
It’s time well spent
Click to expand...

Not sure if you read my post right, both horses have no problem travelling alone or in company with other horses. The horse going for the lesson isn’t the problem as he doesn’t care going for his weekly lesson on his own. The problem is that normally I just take my youngster on his own and leave the two ponies but now I’ve lost one of my ponies the other one will have to be on his own in the field. So I want to take both of them so the old pony isn’t left on his own in the field but don’t want any bickering between the two boys on the journey ?
 
Will the old boy care about being left alone for a few hours? If so could you get him a companion? I don't see the need in unnecessarily travelling a 28yo pony, leaving it standing on the box then going home again.
 
Elf On A Shelf said:
Will the old boy care about being left alone for a few hours? If so could you get him a companion? I don't see the need in unnecessarily travelling a 28yo pony, leaving it standing on the box then going home again.
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Yep, I echo this. Why don't you look for a quiet companion pony for the older one, so he can stay nice and calm at home? The travelling won't be great for older joints, especially if he hasn't done much travelling recently. There are plenty of small rehoming charities that would loan you a foster pony, I'm sure.

.
 
Start tomorrow by putting old pony in stable with a treat of some sort, leave him 10 to 15 mins, then pop back out.
Try repeating daily and increasing time being in while you do chores or even ride youngster at home.

What are you doing with old pony while you currently work youngster?

I really wouldn't want to start taking oldie out if he is the one that needs company.
 
My older pony is always kept in work as he’s much happier than being a field ornament so he likes to come out on hacks with us and do low level dressage. The plan was for me to take my youngster for a lesson and then have a short school in the arena on my golden boy. He’s a proper diva and adores his dressage bless him?

I like to keep him active so he still has plenty of fun bless him. Used to take him and my 40 year old for walks on the beach in hand as I’m lucky to live very close to the sea so I could pop them in the trailer and get there in no time.

If he was younger I’d work on his issues with being left alone but now with his older age I can’t risk him breaking a leg dancing around the field or jumping the stable door as he loves to do?‍♀️

Thank you everyone for your replies?
 
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