Posted 2012-08-06 12:54 AM (#146121) Subject: A few lessons learned the hard way
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Los Angeles,ca
Most on this forum already probably know these do's and dont's... But I ( and my poor horse)had to learn the hard way way. I just bought a two horse straight load Logan with ramp.I loaded horse #1... Put up the butt chain, subsequently attached the tie to his halter.Horse #2,(still new to trailering) decided she wasn't going to load easily.20 minutes later horse 1 decided he was sick of standing in the trailer waiting for neurotic horse # 2 to load,so.... He pushed back on the butt bar, broke it right out of the wall, Pulled back on his rope and panicked ... Beat the crap out of his head , giving himself a "black eye" before we were able to pull the quick release.Lesson learned- 1 difficult horse first 2. Don't rely on butt chain to keep them in 3. Use a break away safety rope 4. Do not tie until the actual door is shut.Today ( second time trailering) I learned- use a slow feeder so they cannot gobble hay that will cause choking!!! Unloaded a choking horse! $350 he is ok... But damn choking is scary.AND ( I had a bad day) get a non skid treatment for the rubber lined ramp which gets VERY slippery when you horse has manure in their feet. My other horse slipped and fell when unloading. She is ok, just a few scrapes.I am now considering selling this trailer to get a slant without a ramp and manger.
Posted 2012-08-06 5:35 AM (#146124 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Veteran
Posts: 282 Location: southcentral pennsylvania
Sorry to hear about your "lessons learned." Most of us have been there, and can sympathize. Many years ago, I had a very smart Appy gelding who would squat down, jerk back and back out under the butt bar! He was just 14.2, but always determined. I had to get the rear door shut fast! He hauled great once the door was closed. If you do a search, you will find this forum filled with folks' trailering preferences. Just my 2 cents, I like a butt BAR, straight load, no ramp, no manger. On long hauls, horses can get their heads down to clear nasal passages w/o manager. Also, I do not like the huge step up some trailers have to get the horses loaded. Also, a high and wide trailer allows you to haul most sized horses comfortably, and adequate air circulation around their bodies, especially on hot days, and of course, lots of vents.
Posted 2012-08-06 6:33 AM (#146125 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: MD
That's a tough day with horses!
To me, loading and trailer work is just as important as riding work, particularily with a new trailer or horse. We sometimes park a farm trailer in the middle of the riding ring for new/green horses to play games around, loading and backing horses in, hiding carrots or feeding meals in it, playing touch that spot on it, etc. It's amazing how quickly they get comfortable.
I can setup a beach chair at the rear to read a book and my horse will walk in to it on his own. I read a book and he'll hunt for carrots.
Posted 2012-08-06 8:30 PM (#146146 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Los Angeles,ca
Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one with trailer problems! The story about the appy is pretty funny!I finally had my mare loading and unloading so well . It was not her fault she fell. She backed out carefully... But those ramps are so slick and she had poop in her hind feet. Poor girl, she went down hard on the ramp and street. Luckily she was ok. I was more worried about what came out of door # 2... A choking horse with about a gallon of slime coming out of his mouth and nose. He was convinced he was going to die... Throwing himself onto the ground! Omg- what a screwed up day... It was all going so well too. We were so excited about how well the mare was loading... Went for a leisurely ride . Then the crap hit the fan ugh!!! I'm seriously traumatized with that trailer. I think I'm selling it and buying a slant. A friend has a nice aluminum sundowner for sale... It's not warmblood height but I think my mare will be ok she is only 16.1...
Posted 2012-08-06 10:47 PM (#146150 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Expert
Posts: 1877 Location: NY
wow that is a bad day for you have a glass of wine or something stronger It dose not madder what trailer you have this could of happen with any trailer
Posted 2012-08-08 1:49 AM (#146172 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Its probably not the trailer's fault any of this happens. Stuff happens with horses!
Maybe a funny story will lighten things up.
My gelding has been shown since he was 3 and hauled all over, from Texas to Washington state. He's now 12, been there and done that and is an easy loader and hauler. I have a slant load trailer with mangers and no ramp, which he backs out of just fine (can't turn around with the mangers). My trainer had a slant load with no mangers and a ramp, my horse would turn around and unload down the ramp just fine also. Recently I started hauling short hauls with a girlfriend who has a slant load without mangers or a ramp, so my horse can turn around and walk out. However, in his 12 years he apparently had never walked off a trailer without a ramp. His first time unloading he paused, squatted down real low like he was on a cow, and leaped out of the trailer. My friend and I cracked up. Was the funniest thing we had ever seen. My horse has since adapted to a less dramatic unloading style out of her trailer. That first time was pretty memorable. Just goes to show that different styles of trailers can provoke pretty dramatic reactions from even the most experienced haulers.
Posted 2012-08-09 9:14 PM (#146225 - in reply to #146121) Subject: RE: A few lessons learned the hard way
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: cleburne texas
I have a 16 hand TB mare and had her in the rear of a two horse slant trailer last week when she scared me to death! I wasn't driving, we were trailer pooling with a friend who had just got her brand new trailer and we were going to work (with our horses) in 107 degree Texas heat. Now, friend has never pulled a trailer but a time or two, and I kept telling her to slow down, don't take curves so fast, etc etc...well when I opened the gate to let my mare out, she backed out about a half horse length from the trailer and just flat fell over! I thought she done died on me, but evidently she was dizzy from the ride as she got up and started eating grass.
A few lessons learned the hard way
wow that is a bad day for you have a glass of wine or something stronger It dose not madder what trailer you have this could of happen with any trailer