galadriel
2nd Nov 2003, 07:15 PM
The past four times my horses have been in a trailer, they left their home and never came back (with one of them being the 12 hour trailer trip moving to FL). I'm sure that makes them feel somewhat insecure about trailering. A new friend of mine here in FL invited me to come over and ride the trails next to her property. So Katherine, Duchess, my husband and I loaded up and went on a ride.
I was so pleased with the girls. They got right on. If it had been me, I'd've looked at the trailer and said, "AGAIN?? I don't want to move again." They stood patiently while I (oops) filled up with gas halfway there, and weren't at all idiotic and hyper on being unloaded once we got there. For the trip home, they also walked right onto the trailer and unloaded calmly.
They're such good girls. They trailered there well, they were both remarkably calm for a while (the group was larger than I expected, and any time the group started cantering it set Kat off--but we mostly walked relaxedly, as I was asking). And Kat will do better as she's worked more. Already she's much calmer than when we first started riding again.
It was a longer ride than we're used to, and we're all going to feel it tomorrow...but this is exactly what I want for them at this stage of their training/re-fittening. Going somewhere, long ride, mostly easy, coming home...relax, relax, relax, get more secure about going on trips and coming home, and long (mostly) walks.
It was bright and sunny out there, and what with getting set off and hopping around every so often, and also being requested to canter a bit to catch up to the main group every so often, our mares got a bit sweaty. After the ride, we put them in a large triple-stall-size run-in shed, and let them hang out for a bit with water. I went back to check on them later, and Kat looked awfully tucked yp. Pinch test: failed. Oh dear, my horse was dehydrated.
We put an additional water tub in with them, hoping that perhaps Duchess had just been bossy and kept her away from the water. 20 minutes later, she passed the pinch test. Phew. (I have to go away or she won't drink--she's very prissy that way.) Note to self: in a smallish enclosed area, Duchess will hoard water and we need an extra water tub.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I also was in a position to observe different horses and different riding and handling styles (though I think mine was the most noticeable! Kat getting set off was VERY noticeable). Most people rode Western, and a lot of them arrived fully tacked up. Only my husband and I, our hostess (tho not her husband) and one child wore helmets (all the other children wore no helmet). The child who did wear a helmet also wore a body protector.
Everybody had nicer trailers than I did, and a noticeable number had OTTB's (including the Western riders). I think mine were the prettiest horses there ;) and I'm pretty sure that they were the tallest. I don't think anyone else had a horse over 16hh, maybe not even 15:2 (Kat & Duch are 17 and 16:2). Lots of things to see.
But mostly...we had a happy time, my horses are GOOD horses, and we all got much-needed exercise too.
I was so pleased with the girls. They got right on. If it had been me, I'd've looked at the trailer and said, "AGAIN?? I don't want to move again." They stood patiently while I (oops) filled up with gas halfway there, and weren't at all idiotic and hyper on being unloaded once we got there. For the trip home, they also walked right onto the trailer and unloaded calmly.
They're such good girls. They trailered there well, they were both remarkably calm for a while (the group was larger than I expected, and any time the group started cantering it set Kat off--but we mostly walked relaxedly, as I was asking). And Kat will do better as she's worked more. Already she's much calmer than when we first started riding again.
It was a longer ride than we're used to, and we're all going to feel it tomorrow...but this is exactly what I want for them at this stage of their training/re-fittening. Going somewhere, long ride, mostly easy, coming home...relax, relax, relax, get more secure about going on trips and coming home, and long (mostly) walks.
It was bright and sunny out there, and what with getting set off and hopping around every so often, and also being requested to canter a bit to catch up to the main group every so often, our mares got a bit sweaty. After the ride, we put them in a large triple-stall-size run-in shed, and let them hang out for a bit with water. I went back to check on them later, and Kat looked awfully tucked yp. Pinch test: failed. Oh dear, my horse was dehydrated.
We put an additional water tub in with them, hoping that perhaps Duchess had just been bossy and kept her away from the water. 20 minutes later, she passed the pinch test. Phew. (I have to go away or she won't drink--she's very prissy that way.) Note to self: in a smallish enclosed area, Duchess will hoard water and we need an extra water tub.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I also was in a position to observe different horses and different riding and handling styles (though I think mine was the most noticeable! Kat getting set off was VERY noticeable). Most people rode Western, and a lot of them arrived fully tacked up. Only my husband and I, our hostess (tho not her husband) and one child wore helmets (all the other children wore no helmet). The child who did wear a helmet also wore a body protector.
Everybody had nicer trailers than I did, and a noticeable number had OTTB's (including the Western riders). I think mine were the prettiest horses there ;) and I'm pretty sure that they were the tallest. I don't think anyone else had a horse over 16hh, maybe not even 15:2 (Kat & Duch are 17 and 16:2). Lots of things to see.
But mostly...we had a happy time, my horses are GOOD horses, and we all got much-needed exercise too.