I’ve always been a bit skeptical of feed through calming supplements, but SmartCalm Ultra Paste might make me a believer. We trailered out this morning to take my green TB to his first dressage show. He’s a bit of an internalizer - he won’t look outwardly stressed but he struggles off property. I gave him a tube 45 minutes before we loaded and I definitely think it took the edge off.
Our travel buddy horse was having a bad day, very anxious and reactive. My gelding was tied to the trailer while I was tacking. Buddy won’t tie, swung around from his owner and tried to kick my horse twice. My guy backed up a step, lifted his head and snorted a bit like “Well, that was rude.” but was otherwise unfazed. Marched around two unfamiliar rings like he’s been doing it his whole life. Will definitely be keeping some more tubes on hand to try out on our next few field trips.
Just writing to commiserate. My best boy is just like yours…experienced hauler, ships out weekly, self-loads perfectly, calm at the destination…but definitely anxious about the travel experience. I loaded him up for an XC school this morning and he was shaking like a leaf. Now we’re waiting for our group to arrive (still alone) and he’s happily munching hay without a care in the world. I’ve tried ear plugs before without apparent results, though I think they’re worth a try for you. Trailering is objectively loud and scary, IMO. I’ve also done Outlast before/during outings with no effect.
In my horse’s case I think it’s 99% separation anxiety. This past weekend when it was too soggy to do anything else, I loaded him plus my young horse just as patience practice for the youngster, and that didn’t seem to concern him at all (until I unloaded the other one first of course). This makes sense because he gets concerned if I bring him in from the field alone, regardless of the trailer. I’ve worked on it with a lot of improvement. He used to scream and not be able to stand still, but now he can reset himself and just display some hypervigilance and nervous pooping. The underlying concern about being away from his herd is clearly still there, which isn’t surprising since it’s totally natural.
Not to derail the thread, I’d love to hear more specifically what you did to work on your boy’s separation anxiety. My SO’s horse used to get really upset being taken into the barn, but that has improved greatly with a stable herd. However, he loses his mind when he’s left alone at the trailer. His antics work up my mare. Our two normally steady eddies turn into screaming lunatics. It’s very… unpleasant to say the least.
My retired jumper was a very nervous hauler when he was by himself (he probably still is but he never goes anywhere nowadays). If there was another horse in the trailer he was totally fine, but would get worked up like your boy if he was alone. I had people recommend putting a mirror in the trailer. I never got around to it, but wondered if that would help. Someone also suggested getting a companion chicken (!) for him, but we never tried that either.
While we’re on the topic of stress free hauling … I’m wondering if anyone has experience with kickers in the trailer? My mare stepped on a screw in a trailer about…a year and a half ago. Since then (but not right after), she occasionally kicks in the trailer. It’s not every trailer ride, but man when she kicks she goes HARD - I should show you all what my trailer wall looks like, ugh. She’s been pretty good lately, but will still do it on occasion. That being said the kicking has drastically reduced, but I’m ultimately trying to eliminate it if possible. At one point she somehow BENT one of the bars on the window.
I like to think I drive OK (I’ve driven other horses with no issue, and this mare wasn’t destructive until the screw incident), and she does it with another horse or without. I always haul with hay in front of her. We do haul out once a week for a jump lesson, usually also an extra time or two for xc schooling or a show or something. Hobbles have been suggested to me, but honestly I’m supremely uncomfortable limiting her movement in a trailer, where … ya know, she has to be able to balance. Not to mention I know she is claustrophobic (will panic if she feels trapped), so I can just see hobbles being disastorous.
This is my mare as well. When I first got her, she wouldn’t load at all. We overcame that, but now she comes off the trailer exactly like you describe your gelding, trembling all over and looking like we ran through a carwash along the way. I hate that it makes her so miserable, especially when she’s overcome her unwillingness to get on because I ask her to
I am intrigued by the idea of the noise cancelling bonnet. I wonder though, if the sound becomes muffled, but still there, would that actually be more stressful for them if they are anticipating the rattling noise as part of the ride?
I doubt it. Earplugs seem to help a lot of horses - imagine the sound of a plane and then you finally put on earphones for some peace and quiet. It really makes a difference!
Earplugs definitely help my horse! Wore her earplugs on the trip out this morning, forgot them on the way home later, and I could definitely tell a difference in her reactivity.
I also use Confidence EQ while trailering. Not sure how much it helps but I’ve seen pheromones help my cat so why not. Can’t hurt, might help
Highly recommend riding in your trailer, even just once. It really highlights what is making the most noise. I did that with mine and went through with vet wrap and wrapped all moving things and their connection points and reduced the noise by at least 60-70%. It seemed to help my trouble loader some before she passed.
Also think the age thing is another important point. Trailering can be such a physical task for them so it makes sense that older horses may struggle some.
My one horse, who recently passed away, came to me as a terrible traveler and wicked kicker in the trailer.
I could not fix that about her. I said no to hobbles also. My solutions were a steel stock trailer (I was honestly terrified she’d kick through aluminum) and to not sit around any more than necessary. She kicked way less while we were moving v. when we were parked.
She rarely kicked when traveling with a friend, but I was also always afraid to trailer her with friends in case she did start kicking. But, when I could, I would bring her emotional support donkey along for the ride. Any chance your horse has her own emotional support donkey?
I’ve known of people who used kick chains on horses in the trailer. Be sure to get them accustom to them before trailering and be sure there is nothing they can get caught on. I’ve no personal experience…only anecdotal.
I use no-paw anklets on the hind legs of my Old Man. He only kicks when he’s in there with another horse - alone he is an angel. He’s so chilled out over half the time he doesn’t even poop in the trailer. He doesn’t mind going anywhere or doing anything.
The anklets make it where he is discouraged from kicking, but unlike chains they can’t accidentally get the horse next to him.
Now that I think about it, I definitely think she is more prone to kicking when she is traveling alone. This past week my other mare decided to mangle up her leg so she’s been staying home while Zin and I go out and about. So I do think the friend helps, but I’m fairly certain the kick to the bars of the window happened while Ember (the other mare) was in the trailer with her. Honestly I have no idea how she got her leg up that high (wouldn’t she have to put her head down?). And yes, much more likely to do it while stopped than driving. There is one light in particular, right after we come off the freeway, she likes to do it at - I can feel her bouncing around in the trailer…I’m like seriously, can you just not?
Ugh. I am going to be looking for a new trailer at some point in time (bc I want to upgrade to a gooseneck so I have a place to sleep at shows that isn’t a tent) and I’m wondering if a straight load would be better (current trailer is a slant).
We are not getting a donkey, I am at my limit for animals LOL.
Oh, these are interesting! I am probably the 1% of the US that no longer has facebook, but I googled it and they look like something I might consider trying, since they appear to not connect to the other leg?
No, they’re just horseshoes with a little notch to make it where they don’t fall off. If you want me to order you a pair and then you can pay me, I can do that - just PM me.
They have 100% resolved my Old Man’s kicking. That’s his only bad habit, and it’s not stress, it’s because he’s possessive of his hay bag… He does check if they’re on though, because if I forget to put them on he’s back to his usual curmudgeon self.
Here’s a picture, in case your google search came up with the other kinds of pawing bracelets. I think these work better because they’re heavier and therefore a better deterrent.
First time trailering new horse he was pawing and trying to rear in the trailer. He pulled himself right out of his halter. I was like oh crap, didn’t think it could but things just got a while lot more interesting Dodging flying feet I did manage to get the halter back on. He has been getting better each time out thankfully!
Separation anxiety is seriously the worst! I think it’s responsible for even more horse misbehavior than we realize. So the thing that has helped my anxious shipper (and my young horse too) is the very early stages of Warwick Schiller’s under saddle work (mostly the “bending to relaxation” exercise). I didn’t specifically do it to address the separation anxiety—I was just looking to try something different as I legged him up after winter break. I did less than 20 short sessions before I happened to realize there was a noticeable improvement in his hysteria on the ground. (I brought him in alone to inspect and clean a wound that ended up needing stitches, and was shocked by how he was able to let go of his anxiety and stand still in the wash rack, even with me doing something pretty unpleasant to him.)
I had done small amounts (like about 20 sessions over 10 months) of WS groundwork as well but based on the timing I think the ridden work helped him more. It’s also easier to integrate that into my rides than to make time for dedicated groundwork. The one groundwork thing that helped him the most was what I call “rabbit practice”—inducing a little stress then literally just standing there observing while he lets down. The first time I did that, it took him 25 min to get the first lick/chew! Now it’s pretty reliably a minute or two at most. He’s always been a very well-behaved horse aside from when he’s feeling separation anxiety, but clearly he holds onto a lot of stress.
I’ve never been a “natural horsemanship”/groundwork person, but I have to say WS’s stuff is pretty compelling. This past weekend I took this horse out to the dry lot while the others were in the barn several hundred feet away. The last time I did that was a year ago, when he worked himself into a running, screaming frenzy and mostly ignored me. This time he stood still, looked around, whinnied once, let down several times, went for a stroll, and walked up to me calmly to say hi.
Things I had tried without success included gradually trying to expand his solo comfort zone into the barn and bringing him into the barn alone to do pleasant things (he doesn’t like being groomed, is not that food-motivated, and would get too upset to eat). I might try the mirror for shipping though!
He does check if they’re on though, because if I forget to put them on he’s back to his usual curmudgeon self.
wow!
Dodging flying feet I did manage to get the halter back on. He has been getting better each time out thankfully!