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Re: [RC] [RC] Trailering - Nancy Mitts

Linda,
We would recommend trying to haul him with the divider tied open and see what he does. If this solves the problem, it's probably the angle he's standing at. Most trailers that people are having trouble with are the newer trailers where the manufacturer is slanting the horse at about 30 degrees. Horses have trouble balancing at this angle and they scramble trying to get themselves in a better position. He might also have some underlying soreness that more pressure is put on during an incline, causing him to blow. If there isn't a safe place for you to stand with the divider open, it might be worth investing in one of those little camera set-ups, the prices have really come down.
We use a 42 degree angle, and the horses seem to be able to relax and not lose their balance.
Make sure your floor/mats aren't too slick.
Riding backwards usually only solves the problem of wind in the face in open sided stock type trailers, as horses turn their butts to the wind.

My wenchy mare did this a few times when we tried hauling her with strange horses. She would shove on the divider like she was trying to push the other horse out of the trailer. The trailer didn't have to be moving either.(She would shove against where the other horse was no matter which side.) After she got to ride with the other horse a few times she got better. Of course, this doesn't sound like your problem. I threw it in to say horses have some odd "reasons" for bizarre behaviors, so keep an open mind.

From: "Linda" <Elite@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC]   Trailering
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 22:20:20 -0500

We are having a trailering problem with a 9 yo gelding we've owned a little over a year. Our trailer is a two horse slant load with a divider between the two horses. The problem is that when we haul him and go down even a slight incline he panics and scrambles with his feet. It is hard to explain but he is actually scraping up the front wall ( wall in-between living quarters and hauling area). I rode back with him to see exactly what he was doing and he is throwing his body against the divider (on his left) and his feet are climbing the wall on his right side. Sometimes it is so violent that his left rear leg gets scraped up bad. We have tried wrapping legs and shipping boots and it just seems to make it worse and he gets them loose enough to try to kick them off too. He doesn't always do this... I would say that he did it a little when we first got him, then quit for several months, but has been doing it for on and off for the last several months. The problem is that I can't figure out what is causing it or what might be different when he is or isn't doing it. He loads very well... doesn't seem to dislike the trailer, and stands fine when we aren't moving. The only time I've seen him do this is when we are going down hill.... even slightly. (And in east TN there is allot of hills). I have tried creeping down hills and when I hear him panic and start banging around, I stop let him get his composure and then creep again. No luck. We are considering moving him to the back slot, but am concerned that he would try his maneuver and end up on his side! Or we are considering taking him in the trailer alone with the gate latched open so he doesn't have anything to lean against. Or maybe hauling him backwards, is that a possibility? We really feel sorry for this guy, when he gets in these panic modes he is really scared! We haul this guy quite a bit... and like I said, sometimes he can go months without it happening. Has anyone ever seen something like this or have any suggestions?

Linda


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