Is this safe in an angle haul trailer?
I recently bought a 2 horse angle haul trailer. The owner did not bring the divider to the sale, and we purchased it from over 4 hours from home. She is supposed to be sending it up when she can find a ride for it but this hasn’t happened yet. We are getting close to yearly vaccines and teeth floating time and the vet is an hour away, i really don’t want to haul twice if i don’t have to.
Both mares, around the same size. The more dominant of the two is a real pain when food is involved, going after the other horse with teeth or hooves but otherwise they seem to get along. The trailer is a pretty tight fit so i dont think they could turn to kick. Ive never hauled without a divider before but i know others have. Good idea or pass?
I’d do a test-haul - just around the blockish, to see if there might be an issue.
Since you know one is food-agressive & the haul is just a short one, I would forgo the haynets.
I haul with a 16’ stock trailer, so never any dividers & have had 4 13h ponies go 2h w/o a problem.
Hauling an in-season pony mare we put her alone in front - center gate shut - and had 2 geldings on the other side.
She told the boys to Stay Away! once or twice, then everyone settled.
Yes i would definitely test it out before comitting to a longer haul, and no haynets. Im mainly worried about the more submissive mare feeling trapped and panicking if the other horse gives her a hard time since nothing will be blocking her from pinning her ears or nipping at the older mare.
I do it all the time- I’ve actually taken the dividers out of both of my slant loads. I do put a very full hay net in between their heads to act as a semi divider and both horses are tied. I’ve never had an issue with it- even with horses that aren’t buddies
I used to help load horses for the hunt and they went in a big stock trailer with gates, so 3-4 horses in a section together.
It depends on how they get along of course, and the barn owner directed them to be loaded in a specific order, but it all worked out fine, no issues with the lack of dividers.
Assuming they are good with each other - I’d do it. Mares and foals go to the stallion for re-breeding loose, polo ponies squash in together, as do working cow horses on the ranches.
The thing im worried about is the younger mare is much more dominant over the older mare and has gone after her countless times. They do get along when food isnt involved but they arent really “friends” if im visiting the older mare and the younger one comes over she takes off she tends to just stay away from the other horse. They seem fine but idk how they would be in a tight space. My worry is if the younger mare gives any kind of crap while in the trailer the older mare will panic because she can’t get away.
If they don’t get along well then it’s definitely a risk to squash them in together. Can you just schedule separate appointments this year, until you get the trailer situation sorted out?
Stick 'em in together, shut the door and wait…put the less dominant mare on the outside … and if there is any arguing, open the door and let the less dominant one jump out???
Tranquilize?
Put off the vaccinations - a bit late won’t do any harm.
Give the shots yourself (or a friend) and do the teeth later?
Hustle the seller to get the divider to you - or it may never come?
I don’t know - there is more than one way to solve a problem.
Thanks i agree there is more than one way but i was just more so just wondering if it was even a good idea or safe to try to hauling them together. Ill try loading them and see how they behave thanks.
OP - Guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t really know since I don’t know the horses! In an angle haul it is quite hard for them to kick each other unless one is very crafty and determined.
I would not. Doesn’t matter if horse one kicks: even crowding could cause the second horse stress, or cause horse one to pull back/slip. I can imagine all sorts of chaos. Even just loading: how will you keep the first one standing quietly/safely while you load the second?
Can’t you order or go pick up a divider? And maybe get some vaccinations online from a reputable source while you wait?
