Worst day of my life!! :( (Long post!)

redcascade

redcascade

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Sorry guys, bit of a rant!!
I had my horse's saddle stolen last Tuesday so we went to get him a new saddle today. I went down the stables at about 8.30 with my Dad to hitch the trailer up and sort Red out. All was going well unitl he decided he didn't want to load but we got him in after about 10 tries.
Me and my Mum set off and went to pick up a friend who was coming with us, we set off and he was good as usual until we got to the corners
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He started kicking really loudly and Elaine said he was "plaiting his legs" I was nearly histerical by this point, he was nearly falling over in the trailer. So we pulled over as soon as we could and took a look, when we got in he had pulled his left hind boot off and ripped it to pieces so we removed and he still carried on! We got to the saddlery and I got out to check on him and he had blood all down his hoof and had pulled a shoe
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So we got him cleaned up and it wasn't very deep but he was a little lame, got the saddle I wanted- fits him perfectly!!
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We then bought him some new travel boots as he had already wrecked his other ones, set off and he started doing it again, pulled over and BOTH back boots were pulled off and broken and his leg was bleeding again!
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By this point I am absoloutely fed up.
We called the vet out when we got back and she says he has to stay in until next Friday and I can't ride for 10-14days so I have a saddle and I can't even use it now! I'm so worried about him
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I know it doesn't sound like much but he's my baby and nothing like this has happened to us before- he is usually an angel in the trailer!
Sorry about the long rant
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Seems like it is happening to so many horses: always fine in the trailer then suddenly losing their balance.
Best thing is to try without the partition first to see if he is better like that.
Sorry to hear about your nightmare, hope he feels better soon.
 
awww sorry to hear that hun - i had a old horse that was an angel in the box until i got a new blacksmith which made him un balanced in the trailer and fell over and tipped upside down took alot of farrier work to get him balanced again .
 
Try taking the partition out, should do the trick! Remember you'll still need to have a breast bar though. Glad you got the saddle sorted!
 
A couple of horses at my yard started having a problem with back travelling boots. Their owners started travelling them in brushing, over-reach and hock boots on the back legs and they were much better.
They were in horseboxes though and not trailers so it may not be related.
 
Maybe the travel boot slipped and caused him an issue.

Try travelling him in something like the Professional's Choice boots. I've used them as travel boots and will use them on Dizz in the future as she gets very stroppy if anything slides down her back legs.

Have a hug and a hot choccy hun.
 
Try using gamgee and bandages instead of travel boots.

It may be that as he stands on one and pulls it down he is then trying to counter balance and getting himself in a pickle, hence the injury.

Poor you, you will just have to spend the time using elbow grease getting your new saddle nice and soft!
 
Roody2 - my mare started having issues travelling (we think the travel boot slipped and caused her to loose her grip so she went into panic mode it was awful she was anticipating it happening gain we think) we did the exact same thing and she seems much happier but again this was in a horsebox
 
Would like to try him without the partition but it's a new Ifor and I don't think they do a full breast bar
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I could ask my Dad to make one though!
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I'm just so worried about taking him out again- he's 17hh and a bit of a clumsy boy and I don't want him to hurt himself again :s Thanks for the suggestions guys!
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Might go get my saddle and a hot chocolate! :P I don't think Mum wants to buy another set of travel boots so I think bandages will have to be the way forward!
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We think it was probably a bit loose and slipped and he just got himself in a tiz
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Ditto others in that to try without partition. My boy used to be awful, especially round left hand turns, however slow I drove he seemed to scrabble to get his footing. I took out partition and got a solid breast bar made (my ifor has the split front breast bar) and now he travels fine.

Good luck x.
 
Definately take partition out. See if your dad can make a breast bar or get one made (agricultural engineer or blacksmith would do one), I rode a friend's horse who, after travelling fine in trailer for 2 years, had a panick attack (never knew why) and actually fell over. She would then panic and scramble every time she went in the trailer. Once the partition was removed she went back to her usual self and travelled with no more problems. Good luck.
 
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Would like to try him without the partition but it's a new Ifor and I don't think they do a full breast bar

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Yes they do, I had one. Ask your local dealer, should be around £40.
 
A friend's 17hh lad always had difficulties in the trailer (Ifor Williams). One day we discovered if we travelled with the top door open he didn't slip or slide at all so we figured he could keep his balance and adjust his footing because he could see stuff and that helped him stabilise himself. Worth a try. Not a very scientific explanantion but something to do with visual something or the other - seems to be a big horse thing.
 

My horse went mental in the trailer last yr - scared me to death. He had previously travelled with no problems. Anyway had to travel him to a new yard last week and was absolutely bricking it. We took the partition out and he travelled with no problems, for over 30 mins! I was amazed and very relieved. Also think the big travel boots can worry them, especially if they lose their balance and tread on one and it comes loose. Maybe partition out and bandages next time - really hope all goes well
 
Definitely take out the partition, you will be most surprised.
My mare did the same, quite frightening to see.
Ifor do the full length bars - they are about £40 each, your ifor dealer would have some or could order you some.
BTW I found it easier without the partition too, could tack up in the box at shows!
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Definitely remove partition, or lock the back end of it as far as pos to the left, so he has as much room to spread his legs for balance. Bin travel boots, i'd put short overreach boots and hind xc boots on him, nothing for him to tread on and unbalance himself more.
I'd travel in trailer with him (around field or on drive or something, it's illegal on the roads) and make sure he's leaning the right way round the corners, and push his shoulder if necessary to get him leaning correctly again.

Hope he sorts himself out!
 
Check your tyre pressures if he is normally OK
Clearly he was a bit stressed about the journey anyway
Maybe need to feed in the trailer without going anywhere to build up confidence again then just take him off
Then a short journey--1-2 miles before doing anything special again
Over reach boots to prevent standing on shoes good idea
Driving slowly round roundabouts/corners and letting clutch out carefully
Drives other road users nuts but tough!!
 
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