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Discussion on Problems with right hand turns in trailer | |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 8:10 am: I have a Arabian mare (14.3h) that has problems with right turns while riding in the trailer. She will fall down. It doesn't seem to matter which side of the 2 horse trailer she's in. She has no problems when turning to the left. The trailer is a Thoroughbred sized trailer (we also have a 16h Thoroughbred). Unfortunately, to be able to ride we need to trailer. Any suggestions?Thanks - Karen |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 11:33 am: Hmm. Maybe it's a matter of not having enough room to spread the legs out to balance? Have you tried removing the center divider and having her ride alone (just as an experiment)?Now I have questions: How do you get her up when she's down in the trailer with another horse in there too? How in the world do you get her to load? I guess, if I'd ruled out physical problems that might cause this, I'd try letting her ride facing backwards. (I've read that horses prefer to ride either diagonally or facing the rear.) Some people don't use mats or bedding in their trailers--and their horses seem to ride ok, but I think it's a good idea to pad the floor--floors can get pretty slick. Good Luck. |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 1:49 pm: Karen can you give us a complete history of this horse and problem and if any exams for the problem have been done and what the results are.DrO |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 3:03 pm: I trust you are driving exceptionally slowly, like at 5 mph, when you go round right turns knowing she falls over? I'd also try letting her face backwards as it has been proven that horses balance better that way. I agree with Eva that thick bedding is needed on the floor, like a non-slip rubber mat covered in shavings.How does your TB travel? Doesn't he freak when she falls down? |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 6:58 pm: I'll try and answer all the questions.- She doesn't fall completely down. It's more like a stumble. It seems to be her backend more than her front end. She has no problems getting back up. A gradual curve to the right does not bother her. It's usually only when it's a sharp right or taking a ramp (like to an Interstate) to the right. - We've had no medical issues with her. She has no problems moving or turning to the right when riding. I've had our farrier and another horse person watch her while we're moving or turning to the right and they haven't noticed anything unusual. - She was never trailed before we got her about 1 1/2 ago. We didn't get a trailer until about 3 months ago and haven't really used it until mid March. I don't remember having any problems getting her home in the trailer when we bought her. We actually used the trailer we have now. - This trailer does have thick non-slip mats. I wouldn't trailer without them. The trailer is open above the ramp in the back, so I'd be concerned with trailering her backwards. I do put some straw in for her since we don't use or have any shavings. - She'll load when asked with no problems and the TB could care less she's next to him stumbling around. - I have not been able to get the Vet out as of yet. Our usual vet has retired and the gentleman taking his place has his hands full. I'll call and try to get him out ASAP. - I make a lot of people mad when I make right turns because I go so slow. I've decided to not trailer her until I get the problem under control. One of my friends suggested I try moving the center divider over to squeeze her butt. Could this help? She has an allful lot of room in the trailer to move around (front to back and side to side) Thanks! Karen |
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2000 - 11:03 pm: Karen-You are the first person who I have ever found with a horse that dose this too. Our Appy won't do left turns, but only if he is on the right hand side of a straight load trailer. He would scramble to beat hell, falling down etc. Yet with all that he never hesitated to load, no sweating or any signs of distress. Go figure... He just started doing it one day and no matter how gental we DrOve ,... BANG BANG! We finally just said to heack with it, bought a slant load (we were planning on buying a new trailer anyway) and he hasen't done it since. I tried everything and never could determine why he started or why he continued. If yo do find out let me know... If buying a new trailer is not an option I would suggest that you modify your trailer to make the middle devider go all the way to the floor to protect the other horse in the trailer from injury. Emily |
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2000 - 7:28 am: Hello Karen,The partition issue has two sides: (one) if narower it may provide more support for her butt but (two) It will also narrow the base of support the horse can establish with her feet. I know of no way to tell which is more improtant without experimenting. A small stock trailer with no dividers might solve the problem. DrO |
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2000 - 2:15 pm: Unfortunetly, we don't have the money to invest in another trailer at the moment. The divider in this trailer does go all the way to the floor. Should I try to pull the top of the divider tighter against her butt and leave the bottom part in the center? The divider and side walls are padded along the top.I'll have to see if anyone I know has access to a stock w/no dividers or a slant load to see how she does in them. Thanks everyone! Karen |
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