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Post by nrly on Sept 18, 2009 15:51:34 GMT -5
reason I am asking this is because i have been told that they tend to sweel in the legs if trailered, and when Stormy has her foal we will be moving up to the mountians shortly there after(we hope anyway) and I worry about that issue...
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Post by nrly on Sept 18, 2009 15:54:21 GMT -5
sorry did not apy attition to trailering, cause i had this on my mind, so many different opinions on trailering...
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Post by fantasykiger on Sept 19, 2009 17:10:12 GMT -5
I guess it depends how far you got to go. I loaded Fantasy up in a trailer when she was 3 weeks old to transfer her to a grass pasture to live on until she was weaned. Granted it was just 3 miles down the road. I made some BIG MISTAKES I will share them so you don't make the same ones. I am not afraid to admit I made mistakes as a first time foal owner and have learned my lessons well.
1. I loaded her alone without her dam, I was worried Salsa would squish her in the stock trailer so did not load them together I took them seperately. Salsa first then came and got Fantasy. Load them together the mare will not hurt the foal.
2. I tied her in the trailer. She pulled back as soon as the trailer started to move and reared and put her hoof thru the opening at top of the trailer. Of course I got in and helped her out and she was not hurt but I was to afraid to allow to run loose in the trailer. I now know she would have been just fine with free run of the trailer. DO NOT TIE your foal in a stock trailer, or any trailer if they do not fully understand standing tied and giving to pressure.
3. I did learn a good sense for what the horse experiences in a stock trailer when I rode the full trip with Fantasy in the trailer, to keep her calm. I DO NOT RECCOMMEND THAT. It is loud scary and I am so thankful for what I know now and that Fantasy has never had any fear related to trailering she pops right in a trailer no problem even though I fumbled badly with her first time.
Whitney's horse Cleo' was loaded up loose in our slant trailer at 4 months old when we bought her. We put the dividers back and let her have the whole trailer to herself, she arrived safe and sound. Again it was not a long trip, but a much happier one for all of us.
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Post by nrly on Sept 22, 2009 18:34:16 GMT -5
thank you Tiffany, the trip will be about 3 and 1/2 hours on switchback type roads...now Stormy was trailerd from oregon to arizona, but that was 3 years or so ago...and she loads and unloads wonderful...now from what I get I should take her and the foal up first then the other 4 after they are up their, two trips...
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Post by fantasykiger on Sept 22, 2009 20:27:30 GMT -5
That is what I would do, or take the first four up first. Then take Stormy and the foal up, I am not sure it matters which order. You haul them up. Sense it is such a long haul I would get both Stormy and the foal used to a few short trips in the trailer together around the block so to speak ..to town and back. To see how they handle it, before commiting to just load one day and haul out. It will reduce the amount of stress as well if the ride to the mountians is not the first trailer ride.
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Post by DianneC on Sept 22, 2009 20:36:59 GMT -5
Sounds good to me Tiffany. Do be sure to drive carefully, taking the curves, stops and starts slow and easy.
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Post by JoanMRK on Sept 22, 2009 23:56:02 GMT -5
Another thing just about pulling a trailer - we live on the other side of a very steep and winding pass and a good piece of advice is to pull over when you can... so you can let the crazies by and so you don't feel you have to speed up with a train of cars behind. It's just good etiquette.  |
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Post by kristi on Sept 23, 2009 8:25:19 GMT -5
We were forced to trailer Sky at 6 hours old for 2 hours and he did fine. When trailer mom's and babies we do not tie, I think you are asking for trouble with a baby running lose if you tie the dam. Never tie a baby who is not use to trailering. Especially on windy roads because if they lose their footing it can be deadly. So, I'd advise to turn both lose in the trailer to roam at will. Also, when we haul for more than about two hours we load the trailer down with shavings. Shavings help take some of the vibration (for lack of a better word right now) of travel off the horses legs and give them some cushion. We did have a mare come in from about 2 hours away for breeding one time with her week old foal and the poor babies legs did swell so definitely use shavings. Actually, not that I think of it we trailered both Sky and Marvel before they were 1 month old for 2 hours each time but with the shavings we never had a problem with their legs. Be sure to pull over and give both horses a break since they will be using their muscles a lot on the windy roads. Okay, that is all I know - good luck!!!
Kristi
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Post by nrly on Oct 1, 2009 12:31:00 GMT -5
thank you all for the excellent advice, I feel better, and I also feel between the rubber mats, and the shavings, the legs should be fine... Kristi good to see you again welcome to the board....
stormy is starting to look pregnant, in about 5 months we will have a new Kiger....
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