Youngster doors closed on trailer

[Lex1979]

Hello I have a 3 year old, when I collected him about 1 1/2 hours away from my yard, along a motorway I travelled him with back doors shut with no issues. I have full breat bars in atm from previous horse. Today taken him out only up the road with back doors open cross tied and he wasn’t at all relaxed and constantly trying to look behind him jumping about. 1. Would you travel with doors closed? 2. Would you preserver with the the back doors open? 3.Would you out the partition back in and close one door?

Thanks in advance

 

[TheMule]

I never understand why people want to travel with both back doors open on a trailer- it must be terrifying for the horse. I always close at least the one behind the horse, and would close both with a youngster. Especially if travelling with no partition- the risk of getting loose and trying to jump out is very real.

 

[holeymoley]

I think it’s just whatever works for your horse. If I shut both doors on mine he would have an absolute fit. I close the one closest to traffic over.

 

[Birker2020]

I only closed the one back door if it was bad weather, windy and raining.

 

[Lex1979]

I never understand why people want to travel with both back doors open on a trailer- it must be terrifying for the horse. I always close at least the one behind the horse, and would close both with a youngster. Especially if travelling with no partition- the risk of getting loose and trying to jump out is very real.

Yes I do agree with this as it was only a small way however I was such a panic about him turning, thanks for the advice

 

[poiuytrewq]

We had a trailer years ago and the guy a worked for at the time made me promise never ever to travel any horse with the back doors open, told me a few horror stories and it’s now not something I’d consider in a million years. I’d automatically shut any horse of any age in.

 

[J&S]

They used to travel military horses on what looks like a low loader! no sides, no back no front! My old Bahill did not have doors at the back, just a canvas cover to roll down, I don't believe I ever had it closed when travelling. However, if it makes your young horse feel confident with one or both doors closed then that is the way to go, plus you know it will be safe.

 

[irishdraft]

I would travel your horse in the safest way for him, if that means both doors shut then I would do it. I always travel my horses with the door shut on their side regardless.

 

[doodle]

If I am going on the motorway or in bad weather I close the top door behind the horse. If we are just going a short distance i leave it open.

 

[Melody Grey]

I know a vet nurse at an equine hospital who told me that all of the horses she’d ever seen in clinic that tried to go over the breast bar/ through the jockey door had the back doors open- that’s enough evidence for me with a youngster.

An older, experienced traveler potentially a different conversation.

 

[SOS]

I shut the back shutters when needed. My current horse is nosey and wanted to turn to look out so he’s constantly being travelled with them shut. Don’t see how it’s any different to a lorry and not sure I’d want the noises of the road and wind behind me if I was a horse.

I’ve unfortunately had a horse turn around and attempt to go over the ramp. She was a known bad traveller and had just been loaded, went to shut the back shutters and she completely flipped out and within seconds had pulled the partition off, turned and was half over the ramp. It’s made me err on the side of caution now and close them if I need too. I do make sure the vent is open to help a bit with airflow.

Let’s not get started on someone I used to know who travelled with all shutters open (yes the front!).

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We once drove through London (pre M25) and my trailer didn't have back doors. We had a bus driver who thought it was funny to keep driving right up behind us in the many queues which was sending my stallion ballistic. Every time we stopped he was hammering the floor and ended doing quite a bit of damage. If I was a horse trapped in a trailer with vehicles coming close up behind I think I would be freaking out too. If the horse is happier with doors closed, then close them.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Do whatever your horse is happiest with. My current lad travels beautifully so back doors are open. A previous horse I had was a nightmare in a trailer so I shut the door closest to traffic. He travelled really well then.

 

[Maesfen]

We had a trailer years ago and the guy a worked for at the time made me promise never ever to travel any horse with the back doors open, told me a few horror stories and it’s now not something I’d consider in a million years. I’d automatically shut any horse of any age in.

Years ago, a friend travelling here along motorway with two very experienced travellers so back doors open as usual, (in a LR with heavy Rice trailer ) was nearly dragged sideways and over by a rope hanging from a lorry which got tangled around her back doors. If it wasn't for a motorist that saw what was happening who hopped in front and slowed lorry down there would have been an awful accident which doesn't bear thinking about.
Always back doors shut no matter how old but a youngster might prefer without a partition to start with and if you do try without then ALWAYS cross tie please; again, for safety reasons; it's been known for a horse to break its neck by being allowed to look behind when travelling.

 

[rara007]

Don’t take any risks! Something to work on if you plan on travelling lots so by the next summer and hot weather you can think about doors open, or come up with a fan solution. But super steady. Get established like this first.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I’d go windows closed for now

Mine used to be terrible to travel if anything was open. He wouldn’t even stand on the trailer with any of the windows/flaps open, he’d be stamping and scraping, trying to turn round and dripping with sweat. If windows were closed, not a peep.

As he’s got more confident and secure, he’s much better and quite happily stands with windows/ramp open at a show just watching the world go by. Can also now travel with the back open, but I only do it if very hot and we aren’t going on any motorway/fast a-roads. Otherwise I use a clip on fan in the front of the trailer to help ventilation which works well.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hello I have a 3 year old, when I collected him about 1 1/2 hours away from my yard, along a motorway I travelled him with back doors shut with no issues. I have full breat bars in atm from previous horse. Today taken him out only up the road with back doors open cross tied and he wasn’t at all relaxed and constantly trying to look behind him jumping about. 1. Would you travel with doors closed? 2. Would you preserver with the the back doors open? 3.Would you out the partition back in and close one door?

Thanks in advance

I would either take him out with a quiet companion with doors open or on motorway I would have them shut. Only need a lorry to get right up behind for horse to freak and accident to happen.

Before it was stolen my first trailer did not have doors/curtain so I had no choice
. Horses have a blind spot behind, and since the roads have far more traffic on them now and trucks than the 80's, I think I would have the doors shut behind.

In my last lorry it had windows same height at the horses windows when herringbone, my mare hated when lorry's past the window. Now this lorry has 2 slit windows only height up so horses see less. Happier horses.