Re: [Fwd: Trailer fire!]

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

Catherine....

Well, actually it helps to have a horse to "start" them with this
attitude.  Sunny was trailered with a horse who was trailered with
another horse, etc.  Seriously, you have to teach it very early in their
trailering life. (Otherwise, you have to use a very LARGE rubber band!
<grin>)

I started Sunny (very young) on trailering by loading him out in the
paddock.  Just load him, leave him on for a while, then take him off.
Started with an 1/2 hour, an hour, then two, etc.  Taught him patience. 
I didn't want him going to a ride and getting upset, stomping around in
the trailer, etc. while I was having lunch somewhere or stuck on the
Interstate. That became part of his "routine". I would sit down with a
cold one and watch him every minute.  If he started to pee, would yell
"ainnnn't at him and immediately back him off and give him the
opportunity to finish for 15-20 minutes.  If he didn't, would put him
back on.  After a while, he figured out that he was supposed to
wait...and eventually I would take him off so he could pee.  Now, I take
him off every 3 hours and he pees every time...just like
clockwork....and he's taught Magic as well. He DOES poop in  the
trailer....which is OK. (Magic still pees in his stall...gotta work on
that) Sunny was my "Perfect Horse".  I will probably never again spend
so much time teaching every little thing I want my horses to know to the
level I did with him...but he was just so bonded to me (only horse for 5
years) and willing to please....and picked things up so QUICKLY! Anyway,
keep in mind that early in Sunny's life, the trailer rides were
short....2 hours or less...so he waited easily.  He doesn't pee or poop
in his stall either...if he has the door open to the paddock...and I
didn't teach him that. He's always a gentleman and a "neat"
horse....always poops/pees in the same spot if given the opportunity.

Kinda interesting.....couple of months ago the farrier was shoeing him
in the hallway with the stall door open.  I never bother with a
halter....just chin lead him into the hallway and "park" him.  We were
standing around talking, shoeing, etc.  Suddenly Sunny bolted into the
stall and out into the paddock. I ran out there, verbally chastised him
severely, then parked him back in the hallway. I was annoyed..he NEVER
does that!  A few minutes later I noticed he was "dribbling" and
suddenly realized that he just needed to PEE...and would NEVER do that
in the hallway...or poop either. Embarrassed, I took him back out, let
him pee (which he did immediately) and brought him back....he just had
no way to tell me! 

He's kinda spoiled me for other horses.....he's kinda unique....if you
ever meet him you'll understand. One of a kind....great little guy.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic  

Catherine Costner wrote:
> 
> Wow!  They never pee in the trailer?  I am awestruck at the discipline!  My
> herd offloads the minute they step into the thing.  However did you teach
> them such a tidy trick?
> 
> Cathy
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>
> To: Cliff Fenneman <cfly@concentric.net>
> Cc: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 2:36 PM
> Subject: RC: [Fwd: Trailer fire!]
> 
> > Cliff...
> >
> > It is VERY important that you carry a fire extinguisher in your tow
> > vehicle.  I learned this a long time ago towing boats.  Brakes can cause
> > this problem, also.  This is right up there with wearing a helmet!
> >
> > A fire extinguisher can save your trailer, your truck, and most
> > importantly, your horse! I have stopped and put out a fire in someone
> > else's trailer!
> >
> > I know lots of people do it, but I would NEVER haul my horse with
> > shavings on the floor of my trailer.  The rationale is that it absorbs
> > the pee and/or makes the floor less slippery.  If you have good rubber
> > mats, this is ridiculous, unless you drive like maniac! I take my horse
> > off every 3-4 hours anyway, and they NEVER pee in the trailer.
> >
> > Scary...glad it turned out well for you.
> >
> > Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic
> >
> > Cliff Fenneman wrote:
> > >
> > > -------- Original Message --------
> > > Subject: Trailer fire!
> > >    Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 15:51:33 -0700
> > >    From: Cliff Fenneman <cfly@concentric.net>
> > >      To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> > >
> > > I had a fire in my trailer! Yikes! As I was trailering my new mule home
> > > in the dark from a Pat Parelli all mule clinic...a car came along side
> > > me honking and gesturing frantically...indicating that I should pull
> > > over immediately. I did. Barely off the freeway somewhere in Riverside,
> > > I found glowing embers under Chelse (I wondered why she had been moving
> > > around so much!) I had water bottles available and was able to put the
> > > fire out without removing her. She was great...just moved aside and let
> > > me splash water all around her feet. When the fire was extinguished we
> > > looked for the possible cause...and noticed dangling wires
> > > underneath...that no doubt the dog had chewed. They were touching the
> > > ground so I figured they must have been causing sparks that shot up thru
> > > the floorboards, thru space between the rubber mats and up into the
> > > shavings. So I crawled under the trailer with my handy duct tape and
> > > taped them to the axel...thinking all the time that this is ho
> > > w people
> > > die...under their trailer on the freeway in the dark.
> > > We drove on with no more trouble. I did have brakes and outside lights.
> > > I have an open stock trailer and had a minimum of cedarrest shavings on
> > > the floor. No one had been smoking in the trailer and we had spent at
> > > least 30 minutes standing around the outside of the trailer before
> > > leaving (pleading with her to get into the darkened trailer)...so the
> > > fire definitely had to start after we left. My trailer mechanic does not
> > > think the dangling wires caused the problem...most likely a tossed
> > > cigarette butt !
> > > Has this ever happened to anyone before? I never heard of such a story.
> > > My mechanic also told me he has seen customers bring their trailers
> > > in...improperly hooked up. Just last week or so their was a terrible
> > > accident on the freeway...trailer came un-hitched and both horses had to
> > > be put down....it was improperly hitched.
> > > Just thought I'd pass this along.
> > > Check and re-check your hitch everytime you leave
> > > it.
> > > If your animules start moving around...find out why.
> > > Lynda
> >
> > --
> > Richard T. "Jim" Holland
> > Three Creeks Farm
> > 175 Hells Hollow Drive
> > Blue Ridge, GA 30513
> > (706) 258-2830
> > FAX (706) 632-1271
> >
> >
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-- 
Richard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
175 Hells Hollow Drive
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 258-2830
FAX (706) 632-1271