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horse tearing trailer down

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ghbb41
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2010-10-19 10:59 AM (#125993)
Subject: horse tearing trailer down



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I have a Rocky Mt. Pleasure horse approx 18 years old. I have had him 10 years. We have trailered togather many hundreds of miles. The last three times I thought he would tear the trailer apart. He loads easily, never hesitates, gets off the trailer same way. He first started getting his halter off and turning around. That took some real manuvering.We placed the trailer tie clip under his chin ring and he can no longer do that. He kicks, paws, rears, paws the bars on the window. We have inspected his riding area. He has plenty room, no bees or sharp points, nothing that we can see that could cause this. He even fell under the stall divider and under the horse in the next stall while fussing. We were lucky the other horse was not hurt. It does not seem to matter if it is a long haul(3 hours) or 1 hour. He does not act up immediately but after about 30 minutes. We have 3 horse slant load. I put him in the first stall as it is larger. I cannot hobble him as we live on very winding mountain road.

I unloaded him once when he was acting up really bad. He got off the trailer, I walked him around and he got right back on the trailer.

Could this be his age or what?
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CTRider
Reg. Sep 2009
Posted 2010-10-19 3:21 PM (#126019 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Really need more info but just grasping at straws. I am assuming you havent changed anything such as trailers, new horses, different driver hauling him some? It could be that he has developed something that is causing him to hurt from the trailer ride, such as the vibrations from the road or the balancing, making him hurt. Either arthritis or perhaps a beginning neurological issue such as EPM. Perhaps his sight or hearing is starting to get bad and the trailer ride frightens him. Only other thing could be a wire causing an electrical shock to him. Perhaps when the trailer starts moving, the wire touches and shocks him. Does he tie fine when not in the trailer? Sometimes older horses will suddenly develope a phobia. Maybe he fell down the pecking order and is being bullied and feels trapped in the trailer. I would carefully go over the trailer again and then probably consult my vet and have him looked at to rule out an arthritic or neurological issue.
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2010-10-19 10:10 PM (#126046 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Teach the rascal to stand still hobbled, then hobble the rascal. Winding roads will make no difference at all.

He is probably getting bored and looking for some entertainment. Give him some. Standing hobbled will give him some entertainment and he'll need to learn to stand balanced, even on the curves.
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laurie
Reg. Jun 2004
Posted 2010-10-20 5:49 PM (#126070 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Why not haul him backwards and see how he does? If given the choice that is how they would rather ride.
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loveduffy
Reg. Feb 2006
Posted 2010-10-21 10:26 PM (#126137 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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I would check the eyes If he is having eye trouble that could send him crazy
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ghbb41
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2010-10-22 9:34 AM (#126146 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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There is nothing wrong with his eyes, he has been hauled backward, he tore up the back door a little, not too bad. I just finished winterizing and cleaning the entire trailer. I found he had completely torn out the window, it was just sitting in the frame, he broke the side padding, put dents in the stall dividers, He is a fabulous trail horse. He will not be going on any more overnite trips. He will travel in the stock trailer.
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gliderider
Reg. Nov 2009
Posted 2010-10-22 5:25 PM (#126153 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Just a shot in the dark but about 40 years ago I remember this horse that wouldn't get in a trailer, the horse normaly loaded perfect..... The trailer floor was BAD,,, to make a long story short if that horse had gotten in would have probubly been his last haul..
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ridingarocky
Reg. Aug 2008
Posted 2010-10-23 3:34 PM (#126176 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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the only thing i can think of is maybe heat or vibrations from the floor.. Is the bedding fairly deep? I know some people don't bed their trailers.. but a deep bedding will muffle road noise and slow heat transmission from road to trailer floor to feet.  this is an expensive option, but maybe boot him?
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jackbrat
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2010-10-27 2:05 AM (#126300 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Since he is getting older, I would have his hips and hocks checked out. Could be really hard on him to balance if he has something that is starting to bother him. Maybe even his stifle? Have you noticed ANY change in his loading or unloading at all? Is he having ANY change even if barely noticeable? Like he is slower about it or trips up a little? Maybe even rushes at it a little more than he used too? These would be signs of his hips and hocks truobling him. Oh- I forgot to ask, Is your trailer a step-up or ramp? You wouldn't notice these things with a ramp load.
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mmry1257
Reg. Mar 2006
Posted 2010-10-27 7:59 PM (#126338 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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My horse started doing the same thing when she was 25. Finally figured out after trying several different things she was losing her balance due to her age. She is now 36, cant be hauled anywhere, anytime. I was scared she was going to hurt herself really bad before we figured it out.
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pasobeth
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2010-10-28 12:48 PM (#126363 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Wow – I thought about this some and it truly is a mystery.  I am going to say an eighteen year old trail horse being ridden and exercised regularly does not have leg/hip problems that do not show up while being ridden.  Couple of things to check

 

1st - his ears.  Have a vet check them out.  It could be affecting his balance.  This could be why he is losing it in the moving trailer.

 

2nd – check for some sort of electrical wiring problem in the trailer.  If other horses are being hauled at the same time and not reacting, then this theory is most likely a dead end, but it could be something is “shocking” him.  It almost sounds like that kind of reaction.

 

I would really like to hear if you solve this problem.  I will ponder on it some more.  I agree that hobbles are a good answer, but I’d sure hate to hobble the guy if indeed something else is troubling him physically.  The thing is… you say this horse always hauled fine.  Something is different/wrong and these darn horses never learn enough English to tell us straight out, so we have to learn enough Horse to figure it out.  Good luck

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jackbrat
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2010-10-29 12:11 AM (#126392 - in reply to #126363)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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My gelding showed no signs of pain in his hips or hocks while under saddle. Except the down-hills. But....the first time I noticed him having problems....was loading up in the step-up trailer. He was having problems getting in. The pushing off with the hind legs.He got to the point where he didn't want to load for a while. I had never had problems loading him before. Nothing was different about the trailer or my driving. After a while, I started noticing it while riding him. Now, when we arrive after a long haul in the trailer, he is very stiff.
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ghbb41
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2010-10-29 10:50 AM (#126417 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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he had his vet check, nothing can be pin pointed. Yes, it is a step up, he hops in just like he always did. does not put up a fuss of any kind. He unloads just as easy. no matter where I unload him. We even unloaded during a long transport to check out the trailer and him. He had broken the bars in the window. He got off just as easy and got right back in after we checked everything out. I would think that if something in the trailer was bothering him, he would not get in.He does not even hesitate to get in. any body want to buy a good trail horse, rockymt. pleasure horse.
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sinful
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2010-10-31 9:42 AM (#126474 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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Get in the trailer with him and have a friend drive you somewhere.  Maybe then you'll be able to see what is happening.
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gliderider
Reg. Nov 2009
Posted 2010-10-31 3:59 PM (#126483 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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What a good idea sinful.  I would suggest bring along an extra person in the truck so you can both have your cell phones on in communications while hauling..
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pasobeth
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2010-11-01 1:46 PM (#126519 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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OMG - is that too smart.  I cannot BELIEVE I did not suggest this!!!!  Way to go sinful
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sinful
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2010-11-02 5:04 AM (#126544 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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Your  both welcome.  Everyone should take a ride in a trailer. Some I've been in......hmm  makes you wonder why the horse gets in at all.  Just take a cell phone with you and when you've had enough you can have the driver stop.
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2010-11-02 8:55 AM (#126553 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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I still say teach him to hobble. Teach him to stand still while hobbled.

Then hobble him in the trailer and drive the curviest roads you can find. That's solved many of our ignorant horses that have tried to tear the trailer apart. He'll spent his time staying balanced rather than being bored and tearing the trailer apart to find something to amuse himself.
You can also muzzle him, to stop him from tearing things up with is teeth.

Riding with him will most likely tell you nothing. He'll know your there and concentrate on the human. It might tell you something, so try it.
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pasobeth
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2010-11-02 11:38 AM (#126562 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate

Sinful - yes, I agree everyone should take a ride "in back" of their trailer one time just to find out what it's like and how a horse needs to balance, etc. 

Bob - yes, every horse needs to hobble and yes, I have had a couple "pawers" but have never had a horse begin tearing up the trailer after hauling it many times without incidence.  THe gal says this horse hauled just fine and this behavior is recent.  I say it's something physical and not mental but I could be very wrong. 

 

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farmbabe
Reg. Nov 2003
Posted 2010-11-02 12:31 PM (#126572 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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If you plan to ride in the back of a trailer keep in mind that you walk on TWO legs and a horse on FOUR. You cannot compare how you balance and shift to that of a horse. Also- if the horse is that aggressive in the trailer then make sure you are out of harms way. I agree with the hobbles...
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Z71
Reg. Oct 2004
Posted 2010-11-02 1:54 PM (#126579 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Use a wireless baby video monitor so you can see what is go on in the back, and you won't be in harms way. My son's monitor has sound and picture and was around $135 and is good for around 350 feet.
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2010-11-02 7:46 PM (#126598 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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Baby monitor is great idea. Good suggestion.
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ghbb41
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2010-12-01 1:37 PM (#127683 - in reply to #125993)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down



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just an update. I took him riding last week on a three day trip. I rode about 4 hours each day and did not ride the day we came home. He never made a sound in the trailer. Maybe he has just been too tired and cranky from the long rides we had been taking.
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CTRider
Reg. Sep 2009
Posted 2010-12-02 9:45 AM (#127710 - in reply to #127683)
Subject: RE: horse tearing trailer down


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This probably tells one of 2 things. That he had a pain issue from a subtle injury such as a mild strain, that hurt while trailering or he was associating with trailering, and it has healed itself with less riding and he now ready to go back to more riding. Or the long riding caused a pain issue from a developing arthritic condition or something similar and allowing a day of rest before trailering alleviated the pain. I am glad you chose not to hobble him because this history just really says this horse was having a pain issue and not a training/mental phobia/issue.
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