Travelling youngster

T

Toast

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Was just wondering what youd do,
May have to transport my 18 month old to devon in the not too distant future. So we're hiring a wagon. Considering the journey will be about 4 - 5 hours and he strangled himself this morning just being tied up outside the stable (wrapped leadrope around his neck then got stuck) would it be safer to travel him loose? Hes not bad at travelling once hes settled down but due to his stupidity even at home i wouldnt want to risk it. Think this would be alright?
x
 
dont think there is a right or wrong way really personally I would tie him up really short right next to a haylage net and travel him with something really sensible for company if thats poss?
 
Travel him loose. I travel my 2 year old Shetland loose, it seems much safer to let him find his own balance in a big space than tying him to anything. If he wants to lean back against the wall, then unless he is a huge 18 month you will have to leave the rope really long and that doesn't sound like a good idea if he's already tried to throttle himself :-)
 
Travel loose, preferably with a sensible companion. At the stud I used to work at, foals were travelled loose with nothing for them to get tangled on, e.g. the buckles of a headcollar getting caught on a hay net.
 
hes 14.2.. the appy in my sig! So hes not massive. I think i would rather him go loose and find his own balance than potentially hang himself on the way there.

Sadly i dont think id be able to have a travel companion as we would have to have an overnight stop before family went back to lancs and thered be nowhere for said companion to sleep!
As i said, once hes settled hes relatively good to travel.. hopefully he'll be alright!
x
 
My personal view (may not be to everyones liking) - take the partitions out and lay a decent (deep) straw bed, i find that most youngsters will lay down when they start travelling, i personally would not want the worry of them strangling themselves mid journey! But it is up to you & what you feel most confortable with.. dont forget if you hear some crashing around when driving, you may not be able to stop instantly to check
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Ditto what nw1 says we travelled a youngster from Shropshire to Essex in an Equitrek with the partition out and a deep bed of straw and watched him on CCTV he found his own position to stand and was relaxed.
 
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Travel him loose. All of my foals are transported loose. Never had any accidents or incidents with any of them.

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me to and take the partitions out !! i found that straw was slippery though for them so now just have them on the rubber x
 
i had never travelled a youngster before so when i had to move my 18 month old foal i took all partitions out of trailer put loads of straw in and she travelled fine
 
definitely agree with NW, we travelled 4 youngsters on the same wagon with just one partition between the 2 pairs, all others removed. We laid a good bed and they travelled beautifully. We also travelled mare and older foal loose in trailer first time they had travelled, they stood herringbone all the way there but nose to tail, just let him find his own balance and he will be fine
 
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Travel loose, preferably with a sensible companion.

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WHAT??? a definate NO NO!! you're asking for trouble. You'll have loose horse jumping all over tied up horse!! I agree with travelling loose, but he should be on his own with all partitions and fittings removed, a nice straw bed and all top doors shut. - open any air vents, it WILL get hot in there! I stack two bales of straw in the nose of the trailer to stop the horse standing too far forward, it also forms a bit of a barrier to the jockey door and prevents horse thinking it can get out should it be opened!! you will probably hear a bit of commotion just as you set off as he will most likely turn round to face backwards... he will settle though.

Good luck!
 
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