My horse does not love to trailer, we think it might have to do with the center divider that is wood (covered with padding) and could be swinging some when in route, I’m trying to to think of a way to either stabilize it more or weigh it more so it moves less. We only usually trailer one horse. Also we have butt chains vs butt bars wondering if it’s hard to change those? Open to any ideas that you think might help.
Also, he seems fine when leaving a show the issue is leaving the farm.
Thanks
Your divider should be firmly anchored in place when the trailer is moving. Have never seen one that is not secured. You need to find a trailer loading coach to help you make your trailer safe and secure, and teach you about loading your horse effectively. There are often “trailer loading clinics” available from such people. As you have found out… there is a lot to learn.
It is secure but since the other side is otern empty and we have just the chain but bars attached it seems like it could move some
To have an opinion (I am never short of those) I’d like to know the make of the trailer, or a general statement as to what it is: Livestock, two horse straight load, three horses slant load --ideally the manufacturer or photos of the interior to see what structure one could attach a center panel to.
As to butt chains v butt bars --my most recent trailer (I’ve had 8 if I count those I had only briefly to repair and resell) my most recent trailer: 2020 Merhow 2H straight load, has heavily padded butt straps instead of butt bars or butt chains. At first I was dubious but was assured they would replace if I wanted them replaced with butt bars. (I only live 7 miles from Merhow’s factory). Honestly, I would not go back to butt bars or butt chains. The padded straps fold up to let horse out --no clanking on the pasterns, and unlike chains, they don’t destroy the tail. Tried to find a pix but no luck . . .guess I could take one when I go out to feed today --if you are interested.
Another thought is --if it is doable --I have my trailer on my property and unlimited time to spend with my horses (retired) --is hook your trailer and leave it hooked (yeah, I know, pain in the butt but I don’t go places much) --then work your horse as usual. When you have finished. Load him. Let him stand (you can stand with him inside the trailer the first few times). After a couple of minutes, or 5 or so, but when he’s still calm, unload him. Ride some more. Load him. Ride some more. Load him. Do this for a few days (5 if you can) and increase the amount of time he is in the trailer between work secessions --it can be in hand, or lunging. Work toward leaving him the the trailer while you do something else. He can have hay.
The point is --trailer=rest. My horses come to view the trailer as a joyful place to rest. All of mine (4) are self loaders and quiet riders. Bob does paw, but he wears pawing bracelets to discourage that. I think he’s doing it less. I have also heavily padded my divider support in the front to prevent him from hitting it when he does paw.
Of course the trailer=rest is just about impossible if you don’t have access to the trailer/truck and the time to do this. On the other hand, even spending 5 consecutive days for an hour or so, might cure your horse.
What’s the issue?
FWIW:
My mini always calls when I trailer him off my farm.
Just once & then he rides like a champ.
Same when I load him to come back from wherever.
Re:
Your center divider, like @Foxglove , I’d like to see a photo before offering any advice.
Can the divider be removed?
That might be the easiest/best solution.
When I hauled my 17’3 WB in my 2h Slant, I’d tie the divider back so he had the largest possible space.
If I could have, I’d have taken the divider out.
Take up any slack in the butt chain on the empty space side. The simplest for me would be a short bungee cord almost fully extended and hooked between the chain links you can get to.
If you haven’t already, also get into the empty trailer and have someone tow you around in a safe area and then you’ll know what moves, clanks, or squeaks and might be a nuisance to a horse so you can tighten things up inside.
Sometimes it’s not that the trailer is the issue. The trailer may just be an excuse for misbehavior.
Most horses equate trailer loading to leaving their buddies. The issue is that they are buddy sour and don’t want to leave vs. actually being afraid of the trailer.
As an interesting story, I was using my friend’s gelding as a teaser stallion… He is a very studly gelding and just loves the mares. When it came time to return him, I went to load him in my trailer. He would NOT go in. I tried every trick in the book and he would still not go in. I know this horse and I know he can and does load in the trailer, but that day he just would not do it. I finally called my friend (nearly in tears) and she was like, you have to put a buddy horse in there with him. Sure enough, as soon as he had a friend in the trailer, he went in perfectly.
Horses are absolutely smart enough to load when they want to, and refuse to load if they don’t like the idea of going someplace else. I have a mare like that. She loads when it is her idea. We had some major battles in her younger years about loading in the trailer. I lunged her, I drove her in circles until we were both hot and tired, and eventually she would give it up and get on. Now, she will not load if I don’t show her the whip. I don’t have to use the whip, but I do have to get it out, every single time. Then she will hop right on.
The worst time was the day I took her to the beach and she would not get back on the trailer to go home. I think it took 45 minutes to get her on. She reared up, she ran in circles. She put on a complete show. What she wanted that day, was to load with my friend’s horse because that was her buddy. Unfortunately, my friend’s horse was trailer phobic and always kicked in the trailer (put a million dents in that poor trailer). I did not want to risk injury by putting them together.
Can you take the divider out and just let him ride loose? Mine used to do that. He always preferred to turn around and ride facing backwards. I think it’s easier for them to balance that way.
I have a two horse straight load. For a while I tied the divider back to give horse more room. For the butt bar issue, I used the type of lead used for electric walkers - heavy webbing covered by a thick, clear, plastic tube. Bull snaps on on end, emergency snap on the other. I found he travelled angled. (made by Tack Shack of Ocala)
If you do something like this (replacing the butt chains with something else possibly not as strong) be sure you can unhook his halter BEFORE dropping the ramp. attach lead rope and toss it over his back. Just in case…
(My issue was not leaving the farm but rather going home - ONLY going home. He loads but never settles. moving the divider really didn’t help much. The best solution for me is to have lots and lots of hay available.
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