Dear All,
I have a 9yo TB I’ve had for 5 years. He came from FL in a 2 horse straight load and apparently travelled fine. Since then he’s ridden in my stock trailer (it’s got solid sides like 1/2 way up. He loads and unloads done but while he’s in there he twirls like a dervish. He’s tied to the side and has a hay net.
He paces back and forth, sometimes breaks loose, has twirled so much he’s pushed the mat out the back under the doors multiple times. I can feel him jumping and kicking whenever a big truck or rattley car passes.
I can’t imagine putting another horse in with him and I do want to get a second horse. And I want to travel with other people or have them ride with me and right now I don’t feel comfortable doing that.
So I was thinking of buying an enclosed trailer. He may do better when he can’t see the road/traffic. But y’all what if he doesn’t? What do y’all think? Anyone had similar experiences?
Regards,
Huntin’ Fool
Do you have any friends who will take your horse for a ride in their standard two horse trailer to see if he rides better in that type?
Have you tried covering the openings on the side of your trailer to see if that helps him?
Good idea re the friend. They’d have to be willing to risk a kick to their trailer. But I’ve got some buddies with older trailers-well kicked by their horses. Haha
The other thing is I talked to a trailer guy about revamping mine with stalls and he said it wasn’t worth it. I appreciated his honesty but that’s another reason to try to get a different one.
I second try before you buy! And if you have a really good friend with a rock solid horse, try him with a friend. Wrap them both though, just in case.
Could you put a hollow metal 6-8’ gate in your trailer to make a box or slant? I would attach 1/2” plywood to cover from the bottom to nearly the top so the horse wouldn’t get its leg through the gate.
It’s possible your guy is getting upset seeing the other cars/trucks pass by. Maybe attach a 4-8’ piece of plywood to the upper part on the head side.
Would some earplugs help him? I know I jump when an 18 wheeler blasts by. I’ve often wondered how the horses tolerate it!
After putting cameras in my trailer, even my good hauling mare hides her head when they go by so it must be deafening. I plan to put earplugs in, and/or sew neoprene ears onto a fly mask to attempt to quiet it down.
Good ideas all! I appreciate it. I hate trailering horses anyway! It’s very worrying!!!
So sort of an update-our hunt is going visiting. I’m riding with a friend. We had a practice run after the hunt today. She has a slant load. When I asked him to get on it was ‘nope’. The huntsman said he was ‘taking the piss’ and of course the horse followed him right up onto the trailer. He loaded and backed off 3x without incident.
Cross everything!!! That he does ok on the actual 4 hour trip!!!
Regards,
Huntin’ Fool
Before you do anything, oil all the creaks that you can and have someone drive you around the block in the back so you can see if anything weird is going on.
Cleary you have a British or Irish huntsman.
Yes! He’s a Brit. He also called the horse a “cheeky bastard”. lol
And, update!, we went on the trip, and the horse was an angel. He loaded, arrived without being a sweaty mess. I heard a few scrambles but nothing bad. He arrived with no cuts etc. AND got back in and went home the same way. So that’s a yay!
We had a great time hunting.
I’m looking for a slant load.
Regards, and thanks for the help!
Huntin’Fool
Well done!
I was going to say that it sounds like he does not like the freedom of a stock trailer and is more comfortable with the support of stall walls. Some of them are better, others get claustrophobic.
Sounds like this might be your horse.
