Moving/Trailering a yearling for the first time

[confusedTB]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of arranging to move my yearling for the first time from a large breeding farm to a small, private farm. He has never left the breeding farm and has been with the same group of yearlings since he was weaned. I try to work with him on the ground as much as possible, but this will definitely be a big step for him. (And he can be a bit of an a-hole, so I know this is going to be tough.)

Any suggestions for making the trip as low-key and easy as possible?

I want to try and work with him in the trailer prior to the move, but with the location he is in, that is going to be difficult. (No way of bringing the trailer into the field, and Im afraid separating him from the heard might create even more issues)

I have a nice, roomy 2 horse BP. Should I keep the divider in? The trip is only about 10 minutes…trailer with a buddy? I am definitely going to give him a bit of ace to take the edge off, anything else?

Tips/Tricks/Stories/Suggestions all welcome

[Cataluna]

I’m not an expert, but I just did the same thing with my yearling filly fairly recently. I would take the divider out so the trailer looks a bit more inviting and spacious to get on. I tied mine fairly snugly so she couldn’t fuss too much. It was suggested to me to leave her loose (I usually don’t like to tie babies hard until they’re late yearlings…), but I didn’t want a 15h filly spinning in circles, shuffling the trailer around on the highway, and getting worked up with too much “freedom”.

She loaded well, shipped well, and arrived fairly non-fussed about the whole ordeal. She did it alone, too. I was a very impressed horse mom! You will be fine, he might surprise you too :).

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Bring lots of friends so someone can run gates ahead and behind you (if there is more than one) as you deal with a horse who is realizing he is leaving his field.

I hauled my yearling loose the first time, but she was used to trailering quite a bit with mom. She loaded right onto the trailer (stock) and was completely fine-just looked out the side. I like to get moving ASAP so they aren’t sitting there calling to buddies…

I also trailered her tied snuggly in a two horse (I always tie snuggly if there is a manger, I don’t want a leg getting on top of the manger) when her buddy was beside her. But she already tied very well–does your horse tie well?

I would decide based on how well your horse ties and how safe the trailer will be in either configuration I think.

[Heystack]

I would not tie him unless he is very used to being tied. I think it will cause him more stress to be tied. Also they can get into more trouble when tied when they are not big enough to fill up the space. I would take the divider out & haul him loose. He will be fine. Ace is good. 2 skilled helper/friends - priceless!

[rideagoldenpony]

We tend to be very matter of fact about these things, and the youngsters seem to always follow suit.

I would remove the divider, and have someone there to help you. Approach the trailer briskly and walk right in and expect that he will follow you. They usually do. Once he’s in, tie up, close the trailer up and get on the road immediately. (in small quarters, even if he isn’t tied all the time, he really won’t have the room to really pull back, just be careful when you unload if it looks like that will be a problem.

Sometimes I think the element of surprise is a big positive with these things – they haven’t thought of not doing it if you just go for it immediately.

[ElegantExpressionsFa]

[QUOTE=rideagoldenpony;6447419]
We tend to be very matter of fact about these things, and the youngsters seem to always follow suit.

I would remove the divider, and have someone there to help you. Approach the trailer briskly and walk right in and expect that he will follow you. They usually do. Once he’s in, tie up, close the trailer up and get on the road immediately. (in small quarters, even if he isn’t tied all the time, he really won’t have the room to really pull back, just be careful when you unload if it looks like that will be a problem.

Sometimes I think the element of surprise is a big positive with these things – they haven’t thought of not doing it if you just go for it immediately. :)[/QUOTE]

This is how I would (and have) done it in the past.

[Crockpot]

As others said, would not tie unless horse is used to it. Not the best situation for teaching to tie

[Summerwood]

[QUOTE=rideagoldenpony;6447419]
We tend to be very matter of fact about these things, and the youngsters seem to always follow suit.

I would remove the divider, and have someone there to help you. Approach the trailer briskly and walk right in and expect that he will follow you. They usually do. Once he’s in, tie up, close the trailer up and get on the road immediately. (in small quarters, even if he isn’t tied all the time, he really won’t have the room to really pull back, just be careful when you unload if it looks like that will be a problem.

Sometimes I think the element of surprise is a big positive with these things – they haven’t thought of not doing it if you just go for it immediately. :)[/QUOTE]

I just hauled my yearling filly by herself. This is how we approached it and how we always do. Don’t act unsure or unconfident as your youngster will read that. Remove the partitions, make it big and inviting and act like they do it every day. My filly balked a little but went on with some encouragement. She then rode like a pro (loose) and jumped off like she has done it all her life. I don’t think you will need the ace or a buddy(JMHO). If you want to work on something in advance and can’t use the trailer then I would just work on leading him to new and different things and teaching him to have the confidence to follow you whereever you lead him.

[doublesstable]

When I weaned one of my horses I had the vet there, gave him a little cocktail, put him in loose, no panel, no tying… he was fine.

I trailered another young one I had loose as well. Never had any issues. I do have a three horse slant so it’s like a rolling box stall. I do always have clean shavings inside.

Try not to stress about it because they feel that… good luck.

[Zu_Zu]

Good Advice ~ Nothing to add but GOOD LUCK & ENJOY the new location ~

Good advice listed --nothing to add but GOOD LUCK and enjoy your new location~

[Heystack]

Here is another idea for pre-loading training that I have used. Put a piece of plywood down in a safe training area - out in the pasture is fine and practice leading him over it from all directions until he marches over without hesitation.

[China_Doll]

Make sure all the windows and doors are shut so he won’t try and jump out.
If you are wooried about taking him away from the heard you might separate him beforehand so every one isn’t crying for each other.
I have always hauled a young horse with others the 1st time and never had any issues.

[keeley]

I am trying to decide the same thing. Need to take my yearling filly to the Oldenburg inspection in GA next month. She hauled fine to our farm last year when we bought her and came with a buddy. I’ve loaded her several times onto the trailer since and she is fine with that also. Still trying to figure out whether to take her to the inspection by herself or bring my older horse along to babysit since it is about a 3-4 hour trailer ride to the inspection.