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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Trailer Loading a Horse » Travelling Questions » |
Discussion on A couple questions from a beginning puller | |
Author | Message |
Member: Cpacer |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 6:25 pm: Hi. I recently got my first trailer and have only pulled it once so far with horse in tow. I’m taking my first longer trip on Sat (only about 1 1/2 hour drive) and am wondering what the threshold is for not feeding grain before a trip. Is this considered short enough to feed a regular sweet feed breakfast and hay along the way?Also, my horse just learned to load and is still nervous about being in the trailer—If I don’t have someone there to help shut the door he jumps back out. On our first trip we had a companion and he seemed fine once we got to our destination (no sweat), but on this trip we’ll be on our own meeting up with a large group later. I’m wondering if he’d be okay alone in a 16’ stock without having the divider out, or would that leave him too much room to jump around? The reason I’m considering doing this is because enclosing him in the small space in the front of the trailer may prove very difficult. I’ve been doing some practice loads and left him alone in the trailer for 5 to 10 minutes yesterday singing his praises, but he never quite calmed completely down being in there by himself (worse when I wasn’t visible). Am I being nervous Nelly, over-eager to take a longer trip, or is this just what you go through as you learn? Any quick advice much appreciated! |
Member: Sswiley |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 7:40 pm: CP,If your at all worried about his nerves I would hold off on the sweet feed till you got there. Less energy is better in a new trailering situation. Otherwise a 1 1/2 hour ride is not a problem as long as he stays cool. Some times a good long trip will bore them enough to make trailering something ho hum. It would not hurt putting him in the trailer friday and going off to do some barn chores just to keep an ear out for him. They all paw, stomp, and whinny at first(at least all my horses!). Then they usually start eating. Of course once they see you coming back to them they start in all over again. I guess my point is they can be patient when they are not expecting anything from you, as long as you are there they will be waiting for you to unload them. My horses have taken anywhere from 5 min to 30 to settle down and figure you are not going to come and "save" them. Why cant you close the divider? Every horse is different as far as liking more room or less. I had a TB that was happiest in one of those teensey old two horse trailers with almost no head room. Otherwise he would paw until there was a pile of shredded rubber between his legs. I am a straight load trailer person so I have no tricks for a slant or stock type trailer. |
Member: Sswiley |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 7:46 pm: One more thing, anyone who cares about their horse is nervous about trailering them the first few times. I have known people who wont admit it, but they are nervous. So, dont feel like your the only nervous Nelly out there, we all are.Shelley |
Member: Lilly |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 9:08 pm: CP,I have a good friend who owns a gelding who used to be very nervous about being in the trailer. He actually kicked out a window and caused about $500 worth of damage! She helped him calm down by making the trailer a "good" place to be. She would work him and then load him in the trailer to rest. He soon related the trailer with a relaxing place to be. I don't know if this trick would work for you or not. I like the trainers who emphasize making the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. Ann. |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 9:45 pm: The nervousness should fade, but always be cautious. Drive slowly and carefully; easy around the corners, easy stops, etc. and soon your guy will just take it in stride. And, so will you. |
Member: Cpacer |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 7:18 am: Good to know Shelley, everyone else seems so calm about it!As for the divider, I had the front of the trailer converted into a tack closet which brought a diagonal wall to the front of the horse space. This makes it possible to load 3 smaller size horses in more of a slant configuration if you don't put the center divider out, or close the divider and put one horse in the front and one in the back. I could close it and leave him in the back portion, but I'm not sure if the weight distribution would be an issue (although he can't be more than 900 lbs)--? I just don't think I could close him in the front yet since he's still at the jumping in phase of loading. |
Member: Sswiley |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 9:21 am: I see what you mean about the weight distribution being a concern, you certainly don,t want to unload the tongue excessively. Without seeing the trailer, I dont want to comment on that. But if he is free in the trailer couldn't he stand in the back portion and put you in the same situation anyway?I would try him in the front, try it today. Most horses don't have that many options and they do fine. Just make sure he always backs out and don't let him turn around. Some horses always jump in, I am not sure if it was the way they were trained or what. I have always trained my kids with the one step in, then back out. Two steps in, then back out. etc. Anyway, thats whole-nuther subject. And definitely what Sara said. Go painfully slow on the turns the first few times, especially when you first start out. I just figure I am going to be a major annoyance on the road and everyone is just going to have to deal with it. And have a good time Saturday !! |
Member: Alden |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 10:32 am: CP,The trick to getting your horse comfortable with the trailer is to make it a 'happy' place. I know people that use the same concept with their roping horses and making them comfortable in the starting box. The easiest way I know is to work your horse outside the trailer then let them rest inside. You have half the job done because he already loads. Use his desire to back right out to your advantage, do some light lounging outside the trailer then load him, let him rest until he wants out. As soon as he wants out back him out and repeat the work/load/rest routine. You'll find that he will want to rest longer and longer, I find that a horse that already loads will figure it out pretty quick. The longest this has taken was teaching a mustang mare, she took about two hours (I didn't think that was bad considering her first trailer experience). But at the end she loaded like a pro and stood nice and quiet. Good day, Alden |
Member: Cpacer |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 11:51 am: Actually I had a cowboy come teach us how to load, a natural horseman. The first thing he taught me was that there's nothing natural about putting a horse in a trailer.In the lesson he did just what you're saying about all the work he must do when not in the trailer. I lost track of how much time it took before four feet got in but they were both drenched by then. When we load now I do some circles to get the hind-quarter, then give the go forward queue (kisses) and he hops right in, then out. He likes to stand backwards and diagonal once in. Shelley, you're right about the moving to whatever end of the trailer anyway. I think I may just close him in the back-end unless anyone speaks up about that being a bad idea. |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 4:31 pm: I don't know what your towing with, but with most vehicles and a bumper pull trailer, you need to be careful about where your weight in the trailer is. If you have the weight too far back, your trailer will have a tendency to switch back and forth when you pick up speed and when you apply your brakes. This could be really dangerous as it could cause your rig to "jack knife," the trailer possible come unhitched, and cause a rollover. So, be careful about weight distribution! |
Member: Cpacer |
Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2005 - 8:57 am: Thought I'd share the results of my trip--All that anxiety ended up being for nothing! Turned out that the convoy I was driving with was running late, so to avoid succumbing to the pressures of driving faster than I was comfortable I decided to hitch a ride with another group. Mr. did good in the trailer with friends but the whole loading experience was rushed and a little forced, so I hope he's not traumatized for next time.It was my and Mr's very first organized ride (about 50 horses and a mule) and was much more strenuous than I was expecting, but he did so good considering he's never ridden with that many horses, or for that long. All in all a very good experience, and now I can do more local practice runs before the next long haul. Thanks for the advice! Oh yes, and back to my original question--how long of a trailer ride would it take before you'd consider not feeding grain? Just curious for when the time comes to take a really long trip. |
Member: Brandi |
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 4:51 pm: CP, I'm glad you had a good trip. As for your question, there's no rule about it, that would depend on your horse. To be clear, never feed your horse grain inside the trailer, as it can predispose them to choke--I dont' think you were asking that, I just wanted to be sure it was said.If I'm trailering my horse for more than a couple of hours, I want their routine to be as close to normal as possible, the less stress the better. Because it's not just the ride itself that is stressful, most of the time you're trailering to a new place, and doing new and exciting things...your horse is not likely to drink or eat normally during the entire trip not just the trailer ride. So stick to your routine but consider the following adjustments: I personally don't feed grain, so I don't have to worry about the "excess energy" but I would consider feeding less if he normally gets a fair amount, but I would feed it soaked in water. You want your horse as hydrated as possible. Also, my horses regularly take a good long drink in the morning after breakfast, and I do everything possible to be sure they have that drink before loading. A horse needs energy to withstand a long trailer ride, but he should get adequate energy from his hay. If it were my horse, I would give him just enough grain that morning to make him feel like he didn't miss out and that's it. You can always give him a bit more when you "land", again I soak it in water, if you think he'll need the energy. No horse I know has ever complained of getting a bonus snack! I have trailered my horses all over Northern California for the past 5 years as far as the 8 or so hours it takes to get to LA for my drill team riding, and none of them drink well while on the road or at the grounds, so I worry most about the water. Hope you find some of this useful. Good luck. |
Member: Cpacer |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 9:41 am: Thanks Brandi I was wondering if anyone was going to answer--I guess cause as you said there's no rule about it. I wasn't sure of the reason why you don't feed grain before a long trailer ride, what makes them more prone to colic if you do?Turns out he did get a little traumatized by the loading experience so I had to get our trainer to help us start from the beginning again. Unfortunately in one of my practice drives around the block last night he kicked a ledge in the trailer and managed to rip a good chunk of his hoof nearly off. It's all taped up now and he's on Bute and antibiotics upon vets advice--so today I'm coordinating with the vet and farrier to see how it can best be treated. I just hope we've done enough to starve off any infection--it was kind of bloody. UGH...so true, if there's a way for them to hurt themselves they'll find it. I obviously need to better horse proof my trailer. But this is exactly the type of thing I was so nervous about--him hurting himself SOMEHOW!?! |
Member: Erika |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 10:30 am: Hey CP,You are so right. Horses are like toddlers, when it comes to injuries, they'll find a way! Hope you don't mind a funny story: My warmblood filly always walked right on the trailer for training--you had to hold her back--she knew there was food in there. The first time I trailered her anywhere, she rode so well and so quietly. I would stop and listen for pawing, never felt any movement in the trailer. Half hour later when we got to our destination, I opened the trailer to find the filly with one foot stuck all the way up in the manger. She probably did it right away and rode the whole way on three legs! No wonder she was so quiet. Erika |
Member: Corinne |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 11:09 am: Erika,I was just reading your post and I thought you were going to say you got all the way there and she was so quiet because you forgot her at the barn! Did that with the dog a month ago....(I bring him to the barn to run the fields) got half way home and got a call from the barn, the barn owners wanted to know if I had realized that I forgot something...I said no....I have my wallet and phone! LOL....She was like...no...your dog is standing here. Terrible Mom...I was a bit frazzled that day. Poor dog was waiting at the end of drive way of the barn for me when I returned...as if to say...Mommy I am no wallet! Luckily he loves the barn....Needless to say he got extra treats that night. I hope your filly's leg was okay! Take care and good trailering CP. v/r Corinne |
Member: Brandi |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 7:30 pm: CP, I'm not sure if there is a known determined link between large grain meals/trailering long distances and colic or if its just a theory. But isn't grain meant to give the horse quick access to carbohydrates for energy? They need just the opposite for a long stressful trailer ride. So I can only imagine that its like a kid on a sugar high, but it's a nervous horse who then gets shut in a trailer for xx number of hours, stressing it's entire system (lungs, emotions, major muscle groups, etc). Stress always increases your chance of colic, or colicky behavior due to ulcers, which are exacerbated by stress, right?The horse needs sustained levels of energy throughout the ride to help its body cope with the stresses, not a "loading dose" (no pun intended) of energy that waxes and wanes while the body is under stress. Or maybe it's just plain and simple that the excess energy creates too much anxiety for a horse locked in the confines of a trailer, and that stress increases the chance of colic, during a time when the chance of colic is already high. This is all just my own opinions based on my experiences, I'm sure others have their own ideas. By the way, I'm really sorry your horse got hurt. Please check your trailer very carefully for any other ways he can hurt himself and take measures to prevent what you can. I hope he heals well with no issues. Good luck. |
Member: Imogen |
Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 2:00 am: Just keep driving slowly, and especially round the corners... never mind people on your tail, it's good for them to learn patience!All the best Imogen |