How am I going to get my horse down South?

[Deleted]

One of the things that is worrying me most about our move is how I'm going to get Ona there.  I bought this old horse trailer last year.  It has a "manger" in the front.  I don't know why it's called a manger - it's kind of like a shelf - like a place for the horse's head to go?  Sorry for sounding dumb, I hope you understand what I'm talking about.  When I hauled Ona 20 miles in it once, it was really scary.  She got her front legs up on the shelf part.  She was freaking out, trying to get out.  It's dark in there and there's a little tiny vent where she could see light and I think she wanted to crawl out through it.

I'm assuming horses eventually get used to them, or else why would so many have been made that way?  I've never hauled a horse more than 30 miles and this is going to be around 800-1000 miles.

 

[Deleted]

Manger = to eat, in French. Is it meant for feeding but missing some bars?

[bluejeans]

I don't know your horse or your trailer...nor am I even close to an expert.  I'll just share what worked for me when I had a mare who disliked being loaded and hauled.   For awhile, I fed her in the trailer...and only in the trailer.  Soon she connected the trailer with FOOD...and ever after would load into any open trailer she saw.  Even a stranger's trailer.

[Deleted]

IDK hometostay - it seems kind of high to eat out of. I'll have to take a picture.

[wildhorseluvr]

Is the horse a problem to load as well, or just freaks when you haul her? 

Is that a one or two horse trailer? Looks like a 2- horse but can't tell for certain. 

If she's hard to load, I agree with feeding her in the trailer, although if she's really terrified of the trailer I'd start out with putting her feed on the floor near the back of the trailer where she can reach the feed without entering the trailer to begin with. Be sure to fasten the door open so it doesn't blow shut and hit her. Every few days, keep moving the feed further in until she will load in the trailer. Keep feeding her in there until she's very relaxed about entering the trailer. 

If the trailer has a center divider, take it out! Some horses need more space to spread their feet and balance properly, especially on turns. The divider keeps them off balance. Some horse prefer being hauled without being tied (they can position themselves at an angle like in a slant load trailer) and some ride better backwards. I knew one lady who had a very bad hauler. We turned the horse backwards in the trailer, no more problems.
What kind of trailer was she hauled in before you got her, 2 horse, stock trailer? Some horses feel very claustrophobic in a 2 horse. 

Was she a bad hauler when you got her? If not, how much experience do you have hauling horses? ONE bad experience can create a serious problem. I've seen inexperienced people just take off down the road, never slowing for curves, stopping and starting too quickly, or hitting the gas on a turn before the trailer has completed the turn, which can really throw a horse off balance.
One horse I'd owned and hauled many years suddenly started scrambling in the trailer. He reached the point where he'd break into a sweat and start shaking before even loading.   I tried everything but couldn't figure out what his problem was and wasn't having any success curing him.  Finally had someone follow me home from a show one day, and they reported that the new horse I'd been hauling with him was picking on him in the trailer, biting, kicking, pushing him against the wall, etc. Poor horse couldn't keep his feet under him with all that going on, and at one point he even fell in the trailer. I made sure I never hauled him with the aggressive horse again, and hauled him VERY slowly and carefully on many short trips with the divider out and no other horses with him. Took a long time but he eventually got over it. 
Another problem hauler was scrambling because the owner's trailer mats were old and had become rather slick, making the poor horse scramble for footing. New mats, no more scrambling.   

I've hauled a stock trailer full of absolutely wild, never been hauled before mustangs on a half day trip, and never had an issue with any of them. Obviously couldn't tie any of them, and they positioned themselves how they liked and rode quietly all the way home. Most hauling problems are likely man-made in one way or another.  Try to figure out the cause and resolve it. 

[Deleted]

She's only 3. She was 6 months when I bought her. I was a beginner and did not know better. I have her living with a good trainer now, and she's starting training under saddle next week. We're probably not moving until this fall or winter and we're not taking my horse until we're all moved in down South, then we'll make a trip back for her. Until then she's going to be getting lots of training. I will also be getting as much training as possible. I have hauled a horse twice. Both times were very scary for me, and only 20-30 miles.

I think the problem is the trailer.  The other horse freaked out too.  My neighbor told me the problem is that horses hate dark places and I should have got an open stock trailer without a manger.  I wish she would have told me that before she DROVE me to her friend's house to buy this "really great deal".  

She's only been in a trailer maybe 4-5 times and she's not really awful to load. Not easy either. She's only been in my trailer once. It's a 2-horse straight load. She did OK in the other trailers but they were the open stock type trailers and this one is closed, plus this one has that manger thing up front, that she can get her front legs up on.

I think the problem is that she's scared of being in the dark trailer when it's light outside.

I like the idea of hauling her backwards....

The lady who's training her said I should just sell this trailer and get a different one. Unfortunately, I paid more than it's worth and I don't know if I can afford a better trailer with all of the costs of the move coming up. It has good tires and a very solid bottom. The back doors were removed and replaced with a ramp that goes up in place of the doors.

I imagine some people will advise me to sell her and get an older, more appropriate horse when I get down there.  It's crossed my mind but I've seen some really awful treatment of horses and even if I sell her to a good person there's no guarantee she won't end up in the wrong hands in the future.  My trainer seems convinced that she'll be just fine for me and I'll be able to handle her.

[Deleted]

How does the horse do stalled by herself? Does she not like being alone? Alone in the dark? Spend a lot of time with her and the trailer, make it a good experience, treats. Lots of calming time. Can you remove a slat in/on the side so she can see out? Some trailers have a narrow removable slat. Many short trips to get her used to travel. Drive slow in a pasture or driveway to give encouragement. Is that a side door/escape door, you can ride with her giving reassurance that everything is ok. Don't ride in a trailer without an escape door with a skittish horse. Sounds like she needs to get to trust you, horses need to feel they can, only time with you gives them that. Time, treats and reassurance....James

[Deleted]

She's fine stalled by herself, does not mind being alone. She's been stalled alone at night a lot. I will go look and see if we could remove a sland on one side. No escape door - I can't ride with her. There's a tack room up front - maybe there's a way she could see me through there, I'll look. Obviously I haven't spent much time in this trailer LOL

ETA actually yes I guess there is an escape door after all.  I'm going to try to get a pic.

[Deleted]

Looking at the picture again, the trailer is bigger than many. Full side door, is it an escape door? When you hauled the horse, did you cross tie it? I wouldn't haul a horse backwards in that trailer a long distance. Can you remove the "manger"? Many horse trailers used the space under, for saddle and tack storage and didn't have a strong floor under there. With the windows, I don't see it as dark in there. Is the horse high headed? Meaning does it throw its head, hitting the top? Does it jerk back on rope? Just some thoughts from someone who has hauled many horses, most not mine, being first time I saw them....James

[Deleted]

Posts crossed. Walk in tack room and manger?

....James

[Deleted]

yes jwaln it's a walk-in tack room and manger setup. I'm trying to post a better pic but my computer abilities are lacking.  Oh - and yes, she is high headed when she's nervous.

[bluejeans]

Just my opinion.  It seems to me your trailer has enough light/openings...unless your horse has other issues.

Nice trailer, BTW. 

[Deleted]

Apr 10, 2015 19:17:50 GMT bluejeans said:

Just my opinion.  It seems to me your trailer has enough light/openings...unless your horse has other issues.

Nice trailer, BTW. 

That's good to hear.  The girl who's training my horse is in big with the show crowd and I think she's scared I'll embarrass her by showing up in her driveway with it again LOL.

The latches are held shut with wires and it has some rust on it and it's heavy but.....I was with the trainer in her feather lite the other day and she blew a tire and the tire ripped the fender right off the trailer.  I don't think that could happen with this trailer.

[Deleted]

Escape door and a head tie door, nice for a 2 horse trailer. Sounds like horse needs lots of work around her head, easy on the ears at first. Time will get her to love head rubs and ear scratches. The trailer is just new to her. Is she Arabian or part Arabian or maybe just a little high strung? Get her to trust you, lots of time will get her there. Lot of time around the trailer, smell it, get used to it, never push, let her figure it out in her time. Slowly advance....James

[Deleted]

Thanks, James She likes her head rubs and ear scratches. I've been rubbing down every inch of her body regularly since she was 6 months old. That's pretty much the only thing I knew how to do at first....I'm slowly learning other things. She's not part Arabian but she is a little high strung, that's for sure.

[Deleted]

She will come around, it's all about trust....James

[mollymckee]

We hauled horses all over the country in a two horse trailer similar to that one. It is fine, yes the slant loads may be a little better, but yours will work just fine. If you are worried about loading your horse,she will know it.

Be sure the hitch on your truck is the right level so the trailer sits level when loaded. Do not stop suddenly, unless you absolutely have to. Tap your brakes to let the horses know you will be stopping before you stop. Don't go around curves or corners too fast or sharply. The way you drive will make a difference in how well your horse trailers. If your horse Is not used to trailering tie it with a fairly short lead or trailer tie. A short lead will help keep her from rearing. If at all possible trailer with a horse that is calm and trailers well. Put hay in the manger-that's what it is for. Do not leave your horse untied or trailer her looking backwards. If she goes up she could jump or fall out.

We had several horses that would go to sleep in the trailer, especially on the freeway going home from a show. If we forgot to tap the brakes as we came off the off ramp, they could fall. We also had a 8 horse slant load, the horses rode very well in it, but the old two horse hauled our horses thousands of miles. We sold the big trailer when we
stopped showing, we still have the two horse.

[mollymckee]

Horses learn to load well and enjoy trailering. We can load ours with a neck rope, our DD does a lot of trail riding and working cattle that all she has to do is open the trailer and whistle. All five horses and the mule come at a trot, in line, and hop in her trailer in the right order. They don't even have halters on!

[aoconnor]

I don't know where my original reply went, so am going to try again.

The most concern I have is your mare getting her legs up into the manger area. That can cause severe injuries and that isn't something you want. Can you tighten up the trailer tie so she can't move forward or get her head up enough to get her legs up that high? I am not explaining it well...I tie my lead rope with just enough play to let my horses keep their heads level, never enough for them to move around much though. Are you giving too much slack in the lead rope when you tie her in for the ride?

That trailer is a nice little two horse, nothing wrong with it that I can see. Plenty of ventilation, good condition, etc. When you haul, don't stop suddenly or start out quickly. Slow and steady on both starting and stopping will help somewhat. Put hay in the manger, get her mind off traveling.... If you are going longer than a half hour trip, pull over for a few minutes to let her rest. Go for slightly longer periods of driving each time you haul, she will get used to being trailered over time.

[mollymckee]

And as someone else said, be sure the floors are in very good condition and floor mats will help her footing.

[manygoatsnmore]

Apr 12, 2015 5:11:33 GMT mollymckee said:

Horses learn to load well and enjoy trailering. We can load ours with a neck rope, our DD does a lot of trail riding and working cattle that all she has to do is open the trailer and whistle. All five horses and the mule come at a trot, in line, and hop in her trailer in the right order. They don't even have halters on!

Molly, could I hire you to give my mare a refresher course?  She loaded when we bought her, but her trips in the trailer since have been to the vet and back.  I can't get her to set foot in the trailer anymore.  Abby can get her to do just about anything, but not load up.  We have an older trailer with a center post and no ramp.  It has floor mats and a good solid floor.

[Deleted]

I really appriciate all of the advice and the reassurance that the trailer is fine for her. The floors are in excellent condition with good nonslip mats. I have plenty of time to practice with her and will get lots of practice in before we go. Thank you so much!

[mollymckee]

Apr 13, 2015 3:00:47 GMT manygoatsnmore said:

Apr 12, 2015 5:11:33 GMT mollymckee said:

Horses learn to load well and enjoy trailering. We can load ours with a neck rope, our DD does a lot of trail riding and working cattle that all she has to do is open the trailer and whistle. All five horses and the mule come at a trot, in line, and hop in her trailer in the right order. They don't even have halters on!

Molly, could I hire you to give my mare a refresher course?  She loaded when we bought her, but her trips in the trailer since have been to the vet and back.  I can't get her to set foot in the trailer anymore.  Abby can get her to do just about anything, but not load up.  We have an older trailer with a center post and no ramp.  It has floor mats and a good solid floor.

It's probably the trips to the vets! We usually have the vet come out, it's easier and cheaper with multiple animals. Even tho at the moment we have only one horse, we are looking for another. Our DD and DNiece live nearby so we share vet and blacksmith call for regular things. We trail ride, work cattle, the girls show. The horses like to go.

I would see if I could get your mare to eat with the grain feeder in the trailer and move it a little farther every day. If you can get her in the trailer take her for a short ride, give her a little more feed when you get home. Repeat. Take your DD somewhere to ride, or unload and ride home. Just don't go to the vets unless really necessary until she is loading well. Then take her for a trail ride or just a short ride when you get back. Once you break the thinking she is going to the vets when she gets in the trailer you should be okay.

[Deleted]

I would load her and unload a bunch between now and this fall when you move her. In and out over and over and over until she doesn't think anything of it. Then start taking short drives 10 mins or so, bring her home and load her in and out several times again. Then haul her someplace safe and unload her there and put her in and out a few times. Then haul her home. Rinse and repeat. If it were me I'd do this over the course of a week or so and then just make the drive down to your new place.

When I start colts after the first 5-10 rides or so they get hauled constantly, to them it just becomes part of life. They get so used to getting in the trailer and going to work somewhere that there's never any silliness about strange sights or sounds. I haul green colts to rodeos and ride them around, I take them to go check cows, I take them to any arena I can find and ride them there, we go down the trail, I take them to team sortings and use them to help switch out the cattle in the pens once they have a bit of handle. In short I take them to do anything I expect a broke horse to do, it just may take a bit more time to do it with them. But if you treat them like babies forever that's all they'll ever act like. Plus my colts just don't freak out over much of anything, new scary things become old hat to them. Everything is new and scary but they learn not to worry about it all because they have a job to do. It works for me

Sorry super long semi on topic answer kinda wandered off on my training thoughts too!

[wolfmom]

Lots of good advice here.

First, some trailers are built with a ramp instead of doors, so your's may not have been a make over. Make sure the ramp is solid ....

I'd paint the inside of the manger white if it's maroon. 

I'd also begin to train her now. The more comfortable she is the less problems you'll have. I used to begin training my babies from the day they were born.

Maybe your trainer can train you and your horse. The calmer more confidant you are, the easier it is to handle the horse. Hauling one that far is a learning situation. What happens if your vehicle overheats on a hill... questions like these need to be answered. 
Your horse needs to be "sacked out" if she's high strung as you say. Take a plastic bag, rub her all around with it. When she begins to get nervous,Go back to doing what you were before she  started getting nervous. Don't stop though. Only stop when she is quiet. Take that bag and flap it around, make noise, honk a car close by... She needs to learn that strange things won't bother/hurt her, especially for the trip as you never know what the situation will be where she has to be unloaded. 

You'll also have to have a plan on when/where to stop on your trip - have you made plans so she can get a little exercise?

Lastly, you can buy a padded leather like hat for her to wear if she hits her head. 

[wolfmom]

Duplicate post.

[here to stay]

I agree that wolf mom's idea. If the inside is dark, then paint the inside white. And with doing short hauls now. And look to the divider. Is it solid to the floor? Some horses want to spred their legs apart to balance when traveling and get upset when they can't. So a partition that allows this might help here.
I also believe in teaching horses to enter the trailer by themselves, leaving the escape door closed until I open it from the outside to tie the head. I always have something tasty for them to nibble.

One of the things that can happen with a long haul is respiratory issues, especially with a trailer with a manger. So I try to limit how long they are in one without getting a break outside where they can drop their heads. Also a few horses will not pee while the trailer is in motion, so stopping gives them a chance to relieve themselves. And water breaks are important too.

One thing I try to make sure to do with a nervous hauler is to be ready to go right away. Gates open, truck loaded, people ready, etc so I load the horse, get in the truck and go. The need to balance gives the horse something to occupy its mind.

And I agree with driving slowly and steadily. Start slowly. I take curves steady and stop gradually. Like I was driving with people standing up who will pitch forward with each sudden move. I am very willing to move over when I am not hauling but when I have horses in the back, I drive very selfishly, giving them the breaks.

[mollymckee]

If you think you may have trouble loading the horse, don't unload her. If you stop every 2-3 hours for 30 minutes or so and give her water, and let her rest, she will be fine. If you do want to unload her, there are plenty of places you can stay overnight and board your horse. Our DS and family have moved cross country 4 times and he would call me about noon and tell me how far they wanted to go. I never had trouble finding a B&B that had either a barn or an agreement with someone to keep horses. They ran into a snowstorm in upstate NY and went to a chain motel, the manager told them to just back up to a fenced area and let the horses out if they wanted to. A lot of Cabelas have areas to put horses as well. You can camp there or stay in a neighboring motel.

[Deleted]

If I put hay in the manger, should I have it in one of those nets or feed bags? Should I just remove the divider entirely? It's just a 4X6. I think I'll make a list of horse friendly campgrounds along the way, where we can stop and take a break and let her out for a while. The inside of the trailer is light grey so maybe I won't have to paint it. She was supposed to start getting broke last week but we got snow etc. She'll be getting worked 3-4 X per week until winter or until we move, whichever comes first.

[wolfmom]

I'd have it loose as you already have it in a manger. The less things that could possibly cause an issue I'd eliminate to begin with. Not really a big issue, but good to ask.

I'd take the center divider out. My way of thinking is that the more room she has to balance her body, and be comfortable, the better. Actually, one of the best ways to haul a horse is with a slant trailer, so giving her more room will let her swing her butt to a slant. Why? you ask. Because in a front load trailer, all the weight is on her front legs in slowing or stopping. In a slant, it's distributed more evenly. She has more room to maneuver to help herself.
Others will say to leave the divider in as it gives them more stability. There are arguments with merit on both ways.
I've had a two horse straight, actually, wider than norm, like a box trailer. And a 4 horse slant. The 2 horse I used without a divider if I was hauling just one horse. If you look at the old cowboys you'll see many use a stock trailer & just "load 'em up" letting them settle where they want. Another poster said not to baby her - very true. Once she figures out she has the strength to do what she want's, you can have a problem. 

I used to feed my babies in a trailer so they got comfortable going in and out. One used to always turn around with his butt forward. And that's the way he wanted to ride! Funny guy. By the time they were 6 months old, they had good ground manners and trailered well. 

If time gets short and you haven't had a lot of practice trailering with her to be comfortable on the long haul, there are horse haulers to do the trip for you. That may be something to look into for a fallback position if you get into a pickle.