What to do when a horse kicks off whilst driving?

[Clairlyagenius]

So, I'm relatively new to horses (Three years riding, two years owning...) and I have recently acquired a horsebox, which I thought would give us great freedom! And it would... If I wasn't scared to bring her out now!!

So long story short, she used to be fine loading, then I took her to a show, where she FREAKED while standing in the box (one hour journey before was fine, so was the way back). She broke the middle partition, both back breach bars, ripped off her back shoes, cut up her legs... The whole nine yards. Now, I have taken her out since, she is resistant to loading-ish, but will go and stand in fine once you tempt her with a treat.

Problem is, I took her on a one hour journey, and she was fine... then took her on a five minute journey to the beach, and she flipped out while we were moving!! To say I was terrified is an understatement! I just don't know what sets her off, and why she does it! And it's definitely not just stamping, she is actively kicking and freaking out.

Both times she's cut her legs, and now has a permanent bump on her leg (She's pure Irish Draught, and now I don't even know if I can get her graded), so I am so afraid of her injuring herself worse! Or of her kicking off while we're on a fast road, what do I do then? Do I pull over? What if there's nowhere safe to pull in? Ignore it? When do you stop ignoring and decide it's too bad? Is it possible for the box to tip? Am I creating worse scenarios in my head out of sheer anxiety? (Yes!)

I recently bought her travelling boots, and when I tried them on her, she flipped out and caught me with a hoof to the leg....So I think they'll make her worse! I've read suggestions about hobbling, but I think again she'll freak out and be worse for it... I just don't know what to do with her!

I have a HB505, and she has travelled fine in a HB511, so it might be the extra room... But I can't afford to trade in, as it is I'm saving up to buy full length breech bars to try give her more room!

I do have some other things I'm going to try to get her calmer in the box (hence saving up for breech bars), so I guess I'm just looking for advice on what I should actually do in different situations, like her kicking off while driving on a fast road, how much is too much, Do I ignore it and keep going, or stop? When do I stop? .... I can't really hack to the beach, so if I can't travel with her I can't leave the yard!

 

[webble]

I would get 2 things checked, firstly the trailer itself, is everything ok with it? is the floor sound is it snaking or rattling when moving? and is the towbar the correct height for that model?

If yes to the above I would get the horse checked, kicking when travelling CAN be a sign of an issue elsewhere

If the above are all ok it might be worth hiring a 511 for a month (would only be approx £25-£300) and see how she is in that for a couple of journeys

 

[nagblagger]

I would go back to the basics, has your trailer been serviced and is it solid, what is your driving experience towing, could you have scared her. To me she sounds terrified not naughty.
Is the car ok, not emitting fumes that could be getting into the trailer
Has she been fully checked by a vet?

Don't you dare hobble her.

 

[Clairlyagenius]

I would get 2 things checked, firstly the trailer itself, is everything ok with it? is the floor sound is it snaking or rattling when moving? and is the towbar the correct height for that model?

If yes to the above I would get the horse checked, kicking when travelling CAN be a sign of an issue elsewhere

If the above are all ok it might be worth hiring a 511 for a month (would only be approx £25-£300) and see how she is in that for a couple of journeys

I have been told the trailer is in perfect nick! It's an 05 or 07 model, but it was in a shed for the last like 10 years, and when I got it serviced the woman said it was literally perfect, and she barely had to do anything! I don't know about the towbar height though, how would I check that?

I have been thinking of getting a horse physio out for her, not because I thought anything was wrong.. I just thought she'd like a nice massage Or should I just go directly for the vet? Is there anything I should ask to check for specifically?

My trainer does have a 511 he might let me rent... But the fear of her damaging it... I can't afford one for myself, let alone replace one if she breaks something!

 

[Clairlyagenius]

I would go back to the basics, has your trailer been serviced and is it solid, what is your driving experience towing, could you have scared her. To me she sounds terrified not naughty.
Is the car ok, not emitting fumes that could be getting into the trailer
Has she been fully checked by a vet?

Don't you dare hobble her.

Trailer serviced only three months ago I think, my experience is admittedly very limited (I got my towing licence this year), but I'm always very slow to accelerate and brake, basically crawl around corners.. Plus one time she didn't freak out, just gave one kick, we were travelling around 70km/h, on a straight road, no variations! The most recent time, again, on the straight, doing maybe 35-40km/h, but no braking or accelerating, just...moving along!

She was seen the first time she freaked out in the box (at the show, not while travelling), and he didn't say anything was wrong with her, but I also didn't ask for him to give her a full check up. I was in work when the vet came, so I don't know how thorough he was...

No, the thought of hobbling just gives me nightmares of her tangling herself up or flipping or something...

It's the fact that sometimes she's fine, and other times she's not... I just don't get it, and I don't know what the driving protocol is when she does!

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

Honestly … if she’s bigger than 15.2 she’s gonna be too big for the 505 partitioned. I’ve commented on previous threads about my experience with my 506 and my Irish sports horse.

I wouldn’t worry too much about shelling out on the trailer or physio or vets. Save your money and source some 2nd hand full breast bars. She will need her confidence building up but I imagine she’s slipped in the trailer, tried to stabilise herself and ended up in more distress being trapped by the partion.

Go right back to basics. It’ll take time but it’s doable. If she kicks of while your driving drive to a safe location and pull over put your hazards on if needed and crawl. Don’t ever stop on the road.

 

[Squeak]

Just to add - it could be worth getting a camera in the trailer so that you can keep an eye on her and see what happens when she starts to stress or possibly see the cause/trigger too.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Firstly, what kind of horsebox is it? Is it narrow? Enough room only for one horse or two adequately? Forward facing?

I know for a fact I wouldnt travel mine in a van style or small 3.5 t. Lengthwise hes just fitting a 510.

Id try with the partition out. Id definitely stop and reassure her and try to prevent any accidents.

 

[HopOnTrot]

My mare is 13.2 and she finds the 505 too small, travels awfully, she bangs and slips like a feral colt. She is better in a 510 but not perfect. I have a rear facing trailer and she loads and travels like a dream now and doesn’t even break a sweat, even when we did 1h30 mins of roundabouts to get to camp!

She has also had KS surgery so I wonder if the poor travelling was due to pain, I’d love to try her forward facing again to see!

 

[cowgirl16]

Just a couple of thoughts - when she freaked out at the show when standing in the trailer - could it be possible a horse fly or bee or something might have flown in there? Lots would have a melt down over that happening. The other thing - I had a Dales filly years ago that I showed. She had a real hissy fit one day we were travelling - couldn't find out what the hell it was. Did it again - and it was on the same stretch of road, a dual carriageway, nice straight smooth road. And the reason? I was travelling her with the top doors open. This particular road was well used by HGV's and other large trucks. She was going bonkers when she saw these things coming up behind her. Closed the top doors, and problem solved. Could it possibly be something like this? ( assuming your top doors were open of course!) It frightens me to death when they do stuff like this when travelling. They kick off - frighten themselves, and panic even more. Not all of course. Had a horse that managed to get his head stuck in the dividing grill in the partition. He just stood there, like the dope on a rope that he was, patiently waiting while we found a hacksaw and cut him free. God I loved that horse. And regards your fears about the trailer falling over, I would think that possibility is highly remote. I have never heard, nor read anywhere, of that happening. ( I am referring here to the horse being able to tip the trailer over, RTC's are another matter entirely!)

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Could she travel in brushing boots, that's what I use.
As above double check trailer. And get her checked as she may have hurt herself more than you think when she kicked off.
I had a tb that was awful to travel. I travelled him without a partition with the top door closest to the traffic closed. We went everywhere really slowly and carefully making sure corners were smooth and never putting myself in a situation where I would have to break hard. It took a few months of regular trips out for it to become the norm for him.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My first thought was that it might be too small for her have you tried her without a partition some travel better as they can stand wider.

Some horses just won't stand on a vehicle once it stops so you have to build that up and just slowly extend the time you leave them to start with.

 

[Timelyattraction]

What is it she’s actually doing? Is she thrashing up against the side wall/partition? If so, Take the partition out and get 2 full length breast bars and she will be able to stand how she feels comfortable and that should stop that. Secondly if she used to travel fine and this is a new thing it’s usually due to something going on with the horse. I’ve had 2 start doing it and then one ended up having arthritis and the other suspensory problems

 

[Patterdale]

Take the partition out, she needs more room.
She’s already told you this though when she travelled fine in the bigger trailer!

 

[Clairlyagenius]

Honestly … if she’s bigger than 15.2 she’s gonna be too big for the 505 partitioned. I’ve commented on previous threads about my experience with my 506 and my Irish sports horse.

I wouldn’t worry too much about shelling out on the trailer or physio or vets. Save your money and source some 2nd hand full breast bars. She will need her confidence building up but I imagine she’s slipped in the trailer, tried to stabilise herself and ended up in more distress being trapped by the partion.

Go right back to basics. It’ll take time but it’s doable. If she kicks of while your driving drive to a safe location and pull over put your hazards on if needed and crawl. Don’t ever stop on the road.

Last time I measured her she was 16.1 I think... She's not big for a draught, but she is a big lady... Had to upgrade her to 6ft9 rugs last winter, and she's only 6 so still filling out

Is there a risk giving her more space, in that she might have more momentum to kick harder, or am I over worrying about that? I heard a story of a horses foot going through the wall so I am TERRIFIED she'll badly hurt herself that way!

Okay that's good to know.. I have no intentions of going on the motorway anytime soon, but I was going to take her on roads of 80km (before all this started!)

 

[Clairlyagenius]

Just to add - it could be worth getting a camera in the trailer so that you can keep an eye on her and see what happens when she starts to stress or possibly see the cause/trigger too.

Definitely doing this! I have a trail cam to attach now for the next time I brave it!

 

[Clairlyagenius]

Firstly, what kind of horsebox is it? Is it narrow? Enough room only for one horse or two adequately? Forward facing?

I know for a fact I wouldnt travel mine in a van style or small 3.5 t. Lengthwise hes just fitting a 510.

Id try with the partition out. Id definitely stop and reassure her and try to prevent any accidents.

It's a HB505, so it is narrow enough... Now, she has also travelled in it fine for an hour long journey! It's forward facing as well.

I'll have to try with the partition out as well... Just need to source breech bars now! Every time I buy one thing for her as a solution, she poo poos it and I have to get another

 

[Clairlyagenius]

Just a couple of thoughts - when she freaked out at the show when standing in the trailer - could it be possible a horse fly or bee or something might have flown in there? Lots would have a melt down over that happening. The other thing - I had a Dales filly years ago that I showed. She had a real hissy fit one day we were travelling - couldn't find out what the hell it was. Did it again - and it was on the same stretch of road, a dual carriageway, nice straight smooth road. And the reason? I was travelling her with the top doors open. This particular road was well used by HGV's and other large trucks. She was going bonkers when she saw these things coming up behind her. Closed the top doors, and problem solved. Could it possibly be something like this? ( assuming your top doors were open of course!) It frightens me to death when they do stuff like this when travelling. They kick off - frighten themselves, and panic even more. Not all of course. Had a horse that managed to get his head stuck in the dividing grill in the partition. He just stood there, like the dope on a rope that he was, patiently waiting while we found a hacksaw and cut him free. God I loved that horse. And regards your fears about the trailer falling over, I would think that possibility is highly remote. I have never heard, nor read anywhere, of that happening. ( I am referring here to the horse being able to tip the trailer over, RTC's are another matter entirely!)

It's totally possible, though in that particular instance part of me thinks it was impatience... I fid make her stand in the box the next time I went to the beach, and I saw her start to get all restless and wiggly after only a few minutes

The most recent time I did have the front top door open opposite her (I know, I have since learned this is a no no even for slow journeys), and it was quite windy so that could have caused that one!
He sounds amazing, getting into situations aside I wish my girl would just wait when she realises she's in trouble!
Okay that's good! I feel like I've seen too many action films and I just make the worst possible scenario up in my mind! I just worry so much over something happening to her, she is my whole life

 

[Clairlyagenius]

What is it she’s actually doing? Is she thrashing up against the side wall/partition? If so, Take the partition out and get 2 full length breast bars and she will be able to stand how she feels comfortable and that should stop that. Secondly if she used to travel fine and this is a new thing it’s usually due to something going on with the horse. I’ve had 2 start doing it and then one ended up having arthritis and the other suspensory problems

I think she's more thrashing forward and back, if that makes sense? Like it feels like she's kicking the back ramp more than anything, but I'll know more when I put my camera in to watch her next time.
See the problem is that sometimes she still travels fine, even in my box, and then sometimes she doesn't! So I think it might be the size of the box, but it also might not?
Will be booking a physio appointment tomorrow though!

 

[Clairlyagenius]

Could she travel in brushing boots, that's what I use.
As above double check trailer. And get her checked as she may have hurt herself more than you think when she kicked off.
I had a tb that was awful to travel. I travelled him without a partition with the top door closest to the traffic closed. We went everywhere really slowly and carefully making sure corners were smooth and never putting myself in a situation where I would have to break hard. It took a few months of regular trips out for it to become the norm for him.

She had fetlock boots on last time... Somehow twisted them around and still got cut up on her actual leg Got the travelling boots to try fix the problem, but she kicked me when I was putting them on yesterday so.. They will need an adjustment period
I wouldn't evenimd if I could put it down to my driving, but we were going steady on a straight road!

 

[Birker2020]

Last time I measured her she was 16.1 I think... She's not big for a draught, but she is a big lady... Had to upgrade her to 6ft9 rugs last winter, and she's only 6 so still filling out

Is there a risk giving her more space, in that she might have more momentum to kick harder, or am I over worrying about that? I heard a story of a horses foot going through the wall so I am TERRIFIED she'll badly hurt herself that way!

Okay that's good to know.. I have no intentions of going on the motorway anytime soon, but I was going to take her on roads of 80km (before all this started!)

When you are standing on a bus or train and it moves you need to spread your feet to keep your balance. Same with horses, penning them in makes them more unbalanced.

 

[Spotherisk]

6”9” rugs would make me think she needs the bigger trailer or full width breast bars (I had huge dramas with my last ridden horse and travelling, including multiple times of going over the front bar and also long hacks home when he said no).

Do remember that horses in general do not ever choose to lean on something - leaning is a human thing! Horses stand solid on their own feet so she needs the room to stand diagonally and spread her stance.

Please for your safety always wear your hat when doing anything regarding loading and travelling - I expect many of us will have terrible stories to tell of accidents, so stay safe!

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

Agree with @Birker2020 . Unfortunately it’s designed for 2 x ponies or 1 horse in the full trailer but advertised for 2x horses.

Horses normally only kick when they’re panicking and trying to get space. Giving her that space means she won’t need to kick. I’d check your sides to see if you have hoof marks from her trying to spread her legs.

It’s hard when you first start travelling them. Everything makes you anxious. Remember to build your confidence towing, take a friend as a passenger. And maybe avoid a camera - my friend ditched her as she found it too distracting.