| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 8:32:01 PM
|
I'm fascinated to find out how people prefer to travel their horses and the reasons for it.
One of my horses doesn't like travelling forwards (in a trailer) but is happy enough sideways.
Some say facing backwards is best for their stance only we very seldom do that in Britain.
Does travelling sideways compromise one side of the body? I mean so every time the vehicle gets to a corner, roundabout or junction or the brakes are applied, it means the horse has to brace that particular side.
Do you travel with sections up or loose; which is best? I'd be grateful for all ideas, theories and experiences as I'm trying to decide which is the best and most sensible way to travel my lot! 
|
Roseanne |
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
Lisa
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2611 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 8:48:37 PM
|
| Mine face backwards so when you brake they have the wall to lean on and you don't accelerate to any great degree which means they are not jolted forwards towards their heads which they are obviously protective of. They travel brilliantly and in my opinion better than sideways and much much better than forward facing. |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
egzotyka
Gold Member
England
1427 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 9:23:46 PM
|
| We have a trailer and most of them tavel fine..only one that does not travel in a trailer is our big coloured mare which is 16hh she tends to lean on the partition which makes her loose her footing, but she is fine in a lorry and in a large tralier without a partition... I do prefere lorries though |
   
*I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here
*When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with
it. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
pat day
Moderator
United Kingdom
5324 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 08:19:10 AM
|
Mine travel backwards, in an equitreck. Never had any trouble with horses never having done this before, which I suppose is quite strange.
When I did lots years ago, my little transit lorry was made for them to travel backwards too.
Having said that, my tb mare went all over the country in a rice europa, with no problems what so ever.
I suspect its what the horse feels best with, and also the quality of the ride the driver gives them.
|
       
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREASURES AT TEMPLEWOOD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
traceyjoanne
Silver Member
England
496 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 10:16:34 AM
|
following on from this what do you put on your horses to travel
boots, bandages or nothing |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Erica
Silver Member
England
456 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 12:49:40 PM
|
i prefer to tavel mine sidewards!!as one of my old horses didnt like traveling facing forwards in a trailer and leaned on the partion and lost his footing too!!so we bought a lorry and he was comfortable travelling sidewards!!bearing in mind all the rest of my horses are okay traveling in the trailer as well as my wagon!!
when travelling them i always put boots on them a lightweight rug (if it is not too warm) and a tail bandage!! |
XxXericaXxX
erica.mercer@hotail.co.
uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
cassy
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 1:24:06 PM
|
| mine travel in anything facing any direcion no problem, they are all tied apart from foal but mare is tied, i pref bandages to boots as boots always seem to slip no matter what make or size, leather headcollars, tail bandages and l/w sheet, in hot weather i do not use the rug though |
Angie
  |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 1:57:48 PM
|
Mine travel facing forwards in an Ifor Williams but I would like to save and buy and Equi-Trek as I feel they travel better going backwards. When we took mhy gelding to Bell Equine with colic he travelled loose in the Ifor Williams (all partitions and bits removed). He found his footing and travelled backwards all the way, and by the time we got him to hospital the travelling obviously dispersed the wind he had as he was fine and did not need any treatment!
My boy does not like anything on his legs though so I take the risk and travel him without bandages etc.
Incidently, we find that our horses travel better with an automatic and not a manual car. Smooth transitions through the gear change I suppose.
Nicky |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 9:50:42 PM
|
Pat I'm interested in your experiences with the Transit, which is what I have. I think my horses would prefer to travel backwards, but how did you get them in like that? Through the side ramp? I could probably only get my boys in up the main ramp and turn them round. But there would be no partition for support. Perhaps I should go for an Equitrek?
I'm not bothered about boots, although I sometimes use a short set to protect the hoof/fetlock area, but I do put a tail bandage on and a tail guard. No rug in this hot weather but a fleece when it's colder. |
Roseanne |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Jingo
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3632 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 10:03:14 PM
|
Roseanne, at the moment we have a herringbone set up in our lorry. Whenever we travel mares and foals we take the partitions out and let them travel loose. It is amazing they ALWAYS travel facing backwards Think they're trying to tell us something
|
Jude
www.auchmillanarabians.org.uk
      
photos:Anthony Reynolds,Sweet,Deano,Real Time Imaging |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Lisa
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2611 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 10:13:01 PM
|
| There was alot of research done to determine stress levels and how horses preferred to travel and they were put in a lorry loose and nearly always travelled facing backwards through their own choice. You've just got to make the gear changes smooth, brake slowly and carefully and have eyes in the back of your head for the idiots on the road!! |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 9:05:08 PM
|
| Def going to try it backwards! But Pat, I still want to know how you sorted backwards in your Transit? |
Roseanne |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
pat day
Moderator
United Kingdom
5324 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 10:05:33 PM
|
Sorry Roseanne,
I am up to the neck with our show.
Anyway,.... I had the transit made for me with a ramp at the side, (almost as big as the back, not like the narrow exit one), which they went in, and out at the back.
The box area was the large box type, not the small stock one.
It worked very well, everything that went in it travelled well, (as they also do in the equitreck). It just got that I couldnt justify a lorry standing when I became ill, so it was sold.
When I saw the trailer that travelled back wards, I started saving.
I am really pleased with it, but its a trailer when all said and done.
Hope you understand.!!
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREASURES AT TEMPLEWOOD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 