07 January 2008 10:46
Our eight-year-old mare has started to get very upset when she travels in a trailer, and reacts violently when we try to load her (she sits down on her hindquarters like a cat).
Answer
By Your Horse
TTEAM practitioner Claire Marr says:
Avoid travelling your horse for the time being as it sounds as though she’s frightened.
You need to have the trailer checked out for soundness – is the floor solid and the rubber matting secure, for instance? Also, get your mare’s teeth and back checked as both can affect her balance, behaviour and comfort while travelling and loading.
As this is a new problem, you need to think about the events surrounding this turn
in behaviour. Travelling issues can relate to poor balance and tension through the back, shoulders and wither areas.
Start with some in-hand work, asking her to walk over different surfaces such as rubber matting, carpet, cardboard, etc. She needs to be able to walk calmly and slowly over all surfaces to build confidence and trust, and treats can be given to encourage this.
Once established, you can move on to work with plastic – asking your mare to walk calmly between plastic sheets held trailer-width apart by helpers. You can then progress to walking her under the plastic sheets held by helpers (standing on jump blocks).
Remember to reward and reassure her at all times. If she can do all this then introduce her back to the trailer.
I would suggest you take the centre partition out of the trailer, leaving only the breast bar as this will give her space to balance herself when travelling. A TTEAM practitioner can also help with these exercises if you don’t feel confident – visit www.tilleyfarm.co.uk to find one in your area.