From: rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca (Ruth Vale)
Subject: Re: Scrambling in the trailer
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 13:45:41 GMT

In rec.equestrian, melanie@cayman.amd.com (Melanie Typaldos) writes:
>    Anyway, now that I am free to travel with my horses I
>    am having a problem with my mare.  She loads into the 
>    trailer beautifully and unloads just as well.  The problem
>    is that while she is in there she is scambling.
> 
>    She loaded right back up
>    with no problem but began scrambling even while the
>    trailer was just parked there!  She seemed to be throwing
>    herself from one side to the other. 
>
>    A couple of other facts which may or may not be related.
>    She used to rub her tail out when trailered, even 
>    through a tail wrap. 
>    ----Melanie
>
What you've got there is a scared horse who has never learned
to keep her balance in the trailer.  It will take some time,
a *good* driver and a very stable trailer to solve the problem.

>I took out the center partition.  Problem was solved instantly.
>Of course, I can only trailer with a very small horse or foal
>along with my mare.
>
>You might try 1> take out the center divider.
>              2> find a large trailer to give your horse more room
>              3> find a slant load or reverse loading trailer.

All of these solutions will work, some more temporarily than others,
but the bottom line is that you've got to take time to show the
horse how to keep her balance.

Taking out the centre divider is a temporary fix, but effective.  It
means they have nothing to lean against and can get on to the business
of staying on their feet, without holding on somewhere.

Mine did some serious damage to two trailers before we realized that
what was setting her off was the miniscule movement of the trailer
when we closed the ramp and anticipation.  

Solution:  I stayed with her from the
first step on to the trailer and when she started to lean, told
her "no, stand up" and we didn't move *anything* until she stood
up again.  Took about two trips to lose that trigger.  We did some
travelling with me in the trailer as well, telling her to stand up
whenever she started to lean, so that she never really had the 
chance to get down low or seriously climb the outside walls
with her feet.   She still moves around in the trailer, but
scrambles no more.

Second, try putting her on the other side, if she's leaning, the
outside wall is more stable than the partition.  Also, she can
spread her feet further under the partition (you haven't got a
solid partition right? - those are for scramblers in the making!)
until she starts to get her balance.  Your partition should be
moved out far enough that she can spread her feet, especially
at the back.  Also it should have some space underneath rather
than go right to the floor.

Also, separate the slowing motion from the turning motion.  She has
to learn to ride them - it doesn't usually come with instinct.  Slow
down carefully, stop then turn.  Put somebody she trusts (human or
animal, human on the first few trips) in the trailer with her.


Ruth

-- 
=============================================================================
  I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am
    not sure you realize that what you understand is not what I meant.
=========================== rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca ======================
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian