too long?

[`kcym]

Well my trainer and our show team are going to new hampshire for the lancaster fair and it is a 7 hour drive. My friend is taking her horse who is deathly afraid of the trailer due to improper trailer training from her last owners. She has been getting on the trailer but we took her for a 15 min ride and she sweated a lot (drenched). Do you think the 7 hour drive would be too much? The show is in 2-3 weeks.. thanks - kcym

[Alwaysridin09]

well, there are ways of overcoming trailer issues. for instance, make the trailer a good experience, leave it parked and practice walking the horse in the trailer, once she gets in, give her some treats. even show her that there are treats involved by putting a bucket in there and making it known that are treats in there. practice for 20 or 30 minutes each day. you dont want to over do it. once she is comfortable in the trailer, take it for short drives. just a block at a time. dont be angry or disapointed if it doesnt work, nothing happens over night. also, try putting another horse friend of hers in the trailer, who doesnt mind being in there, to show her there is nothing to be afraid of. whatever u do, do not get angry and hit her or try to force her to go in there, im not saying u will, im saying that will just worsen her trailer experience.
if that doesnt work in time for the show, than going to a farther away show, may not be the best idea. hope it helps. ;) good luck

[DixieGirl]

What you should do is try to load the horse up everyday up to the day you are leaving. That way he won't be afraid of it. He will be fearless. Also my trainer says once the horse has taken a step forward release the pressure and praise him. Just do that 3 times and he should be okay. It really worked for my horse. :)

[cursivenight]

I'd work with the horse on the trailer ALOT. For a few days, let her sniff it, walk around it, eat near it, groom her near it, the whole deal. Then PAITENTLY practice loading and groom her inside (if big enough) or give her treats. Drop treats an let her find them. Make sure you remain happy and calm. I'd stop every hour, just to check on her and give her some treats. I guess thats all you can do, really...

[iluvcreek4vr]

What my friends are going to do is load their horses up in the trailer slowly giving them treats and praise and everything than once they get into the trailer leave them in there for 5 minutes than 10 than 15(but watch the weather if its hot) than after they have been in for 15 minutes turn the car on and let it run for a minute than drive a few feet than stop check on the horse and if doing ok than if he is drive around the block.

[silverleprichuan]

yes this is to long. If the horse is drenched after 15 minutes she will have either seriously injured herself or will have sweat to the point of dangerous dehydration after 7 hours. Even if she makes it there chances are that the horse will be so nervous she wont eat or drink for the first few hours increasing her risk of dehydration and impaction.
If this show was several months away then I'd say she should definitely work towards it as a goal but I really think 2-3 weeks is asking to much of this mare if she is really that afraid of trailering.

[mhoney05]

i agree with silver. i know this horse and shes really nervous about our trailor and now she just developed this new habit of pawing in the trailer and she ended up getting a big gash.but ya nervous horses just arent good in trailors if they are scared

[cursivenight]

I was thinking about this, and I wanted to know:

What kind of trailer do they/you have?

Also how is the driving - fast/slow, whatever

And what is the landscape like around you're place and where you are going?

[`kcym]

thanks for all the tips, but the horse's owner has been practicing getting on the trailer every day and she feeds her horse breakfast and dinner in the trailer. yeh i was also thinking that the trip is way to long.. umm the trailer is a two horse slant trailer. we would be driving on a lot of highways and stuff so i guess most of the time 50mph and the landscape is really hilly going up to new hampshire. thanks everyone

[DixieGirl]

I'd work with the horse on the trailer ALOT. For a few days, let her sniff it, walk around it, eat near it, groom her near it, the whole deal. Then PAITENTLY practice loading and groom her inside (if big enough) or give her treats. Drop treats an let her find them. Make sure you remain happy and calm. I'd stop every hour, just to check on her and give her some treats. I guess thats all you can do, really...

I agree with cursivenight on that. Thats kind of what I said though. But I beleive the two things we said will help your frien's horse a lot!