What would you do.... travelling question

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Louby

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Ive had my lorry for a couple of weeks now, I should be excited but Im dreading putting my horse in it. Ive driven it a few times to get the feel of it but we are supposed to be taking my boy out this weekend.
Briefly, my horse was the perfect traveller in a wagon had never been in a trailer before but I couldnt afford a wagon so he went in my trailer, freaked out, spent time feeding him in it etc etc, couldnt keep him in it long enough to get the ramp up and was so dangerous I eventually sold it. He has since loaded into a wagon but is now a dithering wreck.
Do I put him in it and just go as the practising in the trailer didnt help things or do I load him tomorrow and Saturday to see how he is. He loads no problem but then dances about wanting out. He is a bit of a drama queen but I have visions of him freaking out and coming through the side or something.
 
personally i would build up the time in the lorry, walk him on and straight off a few times. then a halt for a second... then off and build it up.

id then load him at a time where he was hungry and introduce food, so he sees it as a good place and a reward,

most of all i wouldnt rush to be closing the ramp and pulling off,.
 
He won't come through the side.

Get him on and shut everything up and get going quickly. Most calm down once you get going even if they're banging about after loading. It might take a few miles, but once they're into it they calm down and travel fine.
 
Firstly, I wouldn't put any pressure on yourself. Don't try to load him with a view to travelling him far. Although you may have your heart set on taking him somewhere this weekend forget it if you are in doubt cos he will sense this. Try loading him & unloading him. Back to basics. When he is comfortable being loaded, take him for a short trip around the yard etc. A good net of hay / hayledge lots of praise. Don't forget the leg & tail bandages to reduce risk of injury if in any doubt. Even a companion if necessary or available although this can also incur problems down the line.

Good luck
 
Thanks for replying, my friend also says to stop pussy footing arround, get him in and go as like you say he will settle once we are going. My hubby is going to drive as I will be a wreck and my friend will load him and deal with him if theres a problem as she stays calm whatever. I do think I give him negative vibes as he did frighten me to death when he tried to come through the jjockey door in the trailer with me in the way!
I was kind of hoping this would be the reply as my hearts telling me to practice putting him on and off but I know he will create. We did this in the trailer, he would eat his tea and fly out backwards at high speed, never refused to load but bent the ramp in one of his paddys.
 
I could kick myself for perservering with the trailer. This horse would stand happily on the wagon all day before I wrecked his confidence
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I'd would put him on get him moving asap the sooner your moving the more he has to concentrate on ie staying on all fours..wether your planning on going somewhere?? or just a quick whizz around give him a good journey....and if you are nervous he Will sense this so defo get a friend to load him otherwise he will wonder whats so scary..positive thoughts all the way
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My pony dances around when she goes in but once were moving she's fine, she used to try to back out too, but she's got better and better each time out, they just need to get used to it and gain some confidence.
 
My mare didn't like trailers too much I think she was defo claustaphobic now the waggon she leaves me standing more often than not I'm at the bottom of the ramp she's at the top turned around and would probably try and close the partition if she could
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so don't despair in a lot of cases horses do prefer waggons to trailers fingers crossed and let us know how you get on
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Give him a calmer before you start. It will take the edge of his anxiety.

I've used Global Herbs Instand SuperCalm (little plastic pot with foil sachets in it) to great effect.
 
Don't pressurise yourself - and whoever said he won't come out the side doesn't know horses - mine did. He wrote of a large 3 horse lorry, destroyed 2 partitions and took out the side. He so nearly turned the lorry over. He damaged himself severely and that took months to heal and mentally he was never right to travel again.

Take everything slowly. if you don;t get where you want to get this weekend whats the big picture. I personally would prefer to solve the problem rather than do a quick fix. My horse was a good traveller, would have climbed in a small car if asked - but he freaked for no reason.

Yes that is a freak accident - and I am not saying it will happen - but if your horse is scared and nervous you really need to solve that and make him comfortable with the concept and it can be done. if you spend time now doing it you set him up for life - if you simply put him in close up the ramp and go then the problem hasn't been addressed.
 
Is he any better when there is another horse in there with him? Perhaps if so, travel him with a buddy for a few times to ease his fretting.

Then if all is going well, take him on his own on a literally 'round the block' 10 min stint. If all goes well, gradually try and increase the time he is in the lorry on his own.

Good luck
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