Travelling

[wdf]

Prior to our continual episodes last year it never appeared to bother Doc going backwards however; post episodes he seems to really struggle turning 90 degrees to get into the correct position for me to shut the partition, just curious which direction you guys travel when going on outings (forward, backwards, herringbone) and whether you had a period of difficulty loading?

We're now 6months azoturia free & much MUCH stronger in the hindend but he just doesn't seem happy turning; do you think with more time he'll be better and travel how he used to?

[harveydales]

I was concerned about travelling Harvey for quite a while after his initial muscle episode but he was absolutely fine and enjoys his outings. I have a normal Ifor WIlliams trailer but travel without the partition in and Harvey likes to stand diagonally with his hind legs spread very wide. I think he spreads them wider now than he used to but he seems happy enough - people following me often comment on how happy he seems in the trailer and likes to watch out the windows. At first I was very careful travelling him, resting him well both before and after travelling and taking it very steady but I never had any problems. I think it is a case of building it up.

My gut feeling is that he would travel even better herringbone but copes well with the Ifor Williams. He doesn't have problems turning. Have you tried travelling Doc without a partition?

[wdf]

Mar 3, 2014 20:14:44 GMT -1 harveydales said:

Have you tried travelling Doc without a partition?

It HAS crossed my mind TBH, I know people like you who travel without the partition in an Ifor but I'm not sure that having a box which is wider he'd have TOO much room?

I'm getting it ready for plating ATM so it's been on the yard car park most the weekend; I tried loading Doc (1st time since probably June when as soon as he was ON he'd rush OFF at speed) to my utter amazement he loaded calmly, stood eating the hay (diagonally) & I even had to pull a little to get him back off - we did this for about 30mins, on/off calmly No dramas, No arguments - he made it perfectly clear he WAS NOT moving across to stand lengthways. I'm hoping with a bit more time he MAY feel safe enough to do so?

[harleydales]

Harley is MUCH happier without a partition.

I bought a new, bigger box in 2011 and he travelled fine in that with the partition, on the right hand side. Then suddenly last year he totally refused to go in the right, threw numerous hissy fits and broke my fingers in the process - but then loaded perfectly on the left side!

Partition is now out and will stay out.

[wdf]

I know people travel without partitions in trailers but not sure about in rear facing box, would he have TOO much room & which way would you travel him; he'll happily stand on BOTH diagonals but which one would be better - head on drivers side/rump behind passenger OR head on passenger side with rump behind driver ?

I think long term I may need to change to a herringbone box BUT for now I just want to make it as comfortable for him as possible.

[harveydales]

I only know about travelling in trailers and I've always been told that if you are travelling with only 1 horse in a double trailer, then you should use the right hand side partition to aid balance of the trailer. So, although I have no partition in mine, I tie to the right hand side. Some people will say that if travelling without a partition, then you should pillar-tie so the horse can't turn round too much but I know Harvey is a good traveller and my way, he can stand diagonally.

If you were to travel rear facing, You would need to alter the way the breach bars are set up. I wouldn't be happy doing this unless it was a trailer designed for rear facing travel.

[wdf]

Mar 17, 2014 8:25:20 GMT -1 harveydales said:

I tie to the right hand side. but I know Harvey is a good traveller and my way, he can stand diagonally.

so he's head is behind driver - rump on passenger side travelling forward? sorry for being a bit thick, It's Monday! Got to say I'm not too happy with him having SO much room but I suppose if I try him short distance's on each diagonal at 1st and just see how he is OR my hubby just got to understand this box doesn't suit him like it did Shian & I need another!

[harveydales]

Yes, head behind driver.

[harleydales]

Harley is tied on the right but also with a looser rope to the left - to prevent him turning. He starts off on the right side, but usually by the end of the journey he has moved his head as far over as he can to the LEFT, with his rump jammed in the RIGHT hand side back corner, ie same side as driver!

Lady starts off in the middle, and by the end of the trip her head is still in the middle and her rump is to the RIGHT. So mine certainly favour bum to the right!

Travelling them on the right hand side is (I think) to do with the camber of the road - but I knew a cob who would only travel safely on the left side. As long as you are aware and not flying round corners it'll be OK. I don't think any of us fly on with our horses on board!

[maesfen]

Mar 17, 2014 8:25:20 GMT -1 harveydales said:

I only know about travelling in trailers and I've always been told that if you are travelling with only 1 horse in a double trailer, then you should use the right hand side partition to aid balance of the trailer. So, although I have no partition in mine, I tie to the right hand side. Some people will say that if travelling without a partition, then you should pillar-tie so the horse can't turn round too much but I know Harvey is a good traveller and my way, he can stand diagonally.

If you were to travel rear facing, You would need to alter the way the breach bars are set up. I wouldn't be happy doing this unless it was a trailer designed for rear facing travel.

I know this is an old thread but just thought I should warn you about something that happened to us when only tying on one side and not from both.
Opening Meet, hunter fit and well, they had a good day, loaded and coming home when driver had to brake suddenly for some other idiot; he felt the horse 'jink' in the trailer behind him.  Got home, horse seemed fine, cleaned off, ate up and all well.  When I got there in the morning, horse was a bit subdued and not right in himself, a bit stiff, hard to bend; I cussed the boss for giving him too hard a day which boss denied; kept an eye on him while I went over him thoroughly, nothing to see at all, not lame just not right.  Rugged him up and turned him out for a leg stretch, moving OK but stiff not lame; got boss to phone vet who said to leave him out, he'd see him later on (I only did mornings).  Boss rang in the evening; poor horse (lovely Cleveland Bay 7 yr old) had been put down.  He had severed two vertebrae just behind his poll caused we think by that emergency stop throwing him forward and into the trailer side at an angle; if he had been cross tied that wouldn't have been able to happen as in front of the breastbar there wasn't room enough for him to reach the front with his head.  A terrible needless waste but it taught me never to tie only one side if you travel without a partition even though we had been doing just that for many years without accident.  I now leave ropes ready tied in the trailer, I just have to hook them on and take off the leading one so no faffing about.