Our 6yr old is being driven from Cornwall to Surrey tomorrow in a trailer. At the moment it has a partition down the centre but when travelling a mare and foal in the past we bought the breastbar to give them the wider space. We are having a brisk discussion as to which way to travel him, divider or breast bar and both have a different view. He is happy in the trailer but has never had a long trip before - do horses given the chance ever lie down? Our cows will settle down and apparently happily chew the cud as if at home. If it had been possible to buy a rear facing trailer at the time would have gone for that but that's life. Please advise quickly as we might have to rearrange the innards before 5.30pm ish!!
Definitely take the partition out and put the breast bar in, this is how we travel ours if only taking one in the trailer - it allows them to stand diagonally which they seem to prefer. They are much happier
Haven't had one lie down in the trailer, but years ago my mare untied herself, turned round, had her head out over the back ramp and was trying to eat the hedge as it went past - luckily only a short journey and nothing bad happened to her (like a telgraph pole).
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta) Linda East Sussex
How close to the telegraph poles do you drive Linda lol? But I agree, take the partition out to allow him to stand comfortably. I have never known an adult horse lie down whilst travelling.
Second the advice already given, generally the more space the better. I brought home a filly from Wales to the Midlands and travelled her loose in the lorry, all partitions out. She spent the first 20-30 minutes working out whether facing front, back or side was best then calmly lay down and stayed that way till we got home!
I haven't used the partition in my Rice since 1992. It is still at the yard I left in 1999! I have travelled 14hh to 16hh and all have travelled well. Only problem with the smaller ones is that it enables them to poo over a bigger area - Sam practically covered back ramp to breastbar when we fetched him from Scarborough!
How would you arrange the trailer?
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 1:54:59 PM
- luckily only a short journey and nothing bad happened to her (like a telgraph pole).
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
