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  Discussion on Floating stress
Author Message
New Member:
Afrench

Posted on Monday, Dec 30, 2002 - 2:56 pm:

I have an 11 yr old crossbred mare that floated perfectly for several years but last (NZ) winter suddenly developed severe stress when floated. She started to lash out with her front feet & moving around, tossing her head & getting so sweated up she was white with lather after a 30 min trip on flat roads. She trod on all feet causing minor wounds & scraped her right fetlock joint on the wall such that even now there is horrid hard thickened & bare scar over the outside bulb. The float had hoof scuff marks up to the height of the front bar. I tried both short & long tie ups with no effect
It is as if she no longer can get her balance & no matter how slow I drive she still gets agitated. I have since given her masses of Magnesium in the form of Epsom Salts on vet advice, despite blood tests confirming no deficiencies or problems....but last night I floated her again for the first time since & although is slightly less stressed, it was obvious the problem has not gone away.
She travels perfectly OK in a friends 6 horse truck where she is still confined but travels angled.
Does anyone have any suggestions on cause or cure or even some suggestions to help with the fetlock scar tissue? Replacing the float with a truck is a long term goal but just not affordable yet.
Alma
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 1, 2003 - 7:57 pm:

Is a "float" a small horse trailer? If it is, are you sure that a bad experience didn't trigger it? A friend's horse was trailered last summer. The horse was a seasoned campaigner, and all conditions were those the animal was used to. The same senario you describe took place - the horse panicked in the trailer he always rode in (weekly). It was discovered later, that wasps had moved into a tiny opening in a seam of the trailer. The owner's had to get rid of the trailer - the horse would ride in any trailer but that one from then on.

As far as the scar tissue goes, if you run a search, you'll probably find lots of info on this site. I'd really make sure that your horse's legs are heavily protected with shipping boots that come down over her hoofs.

My 2 cents.
Member:
Tdeaster

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 1, 2003 - 8:55 pm:

I recently purchased a 3 yr old paint gelding that was suppose to load/travel easily. I owned and loaded him in a two horse bp straight load (side by side) trailer. As we went down the road he would push my truck forwards and backwards. After about 30 min we ck him he was okay, but within about 5 mile of ck him, he flipped himself over backwards in the trailer and to my horror, he was on his back with all 4 legs straight in the air. I thought I had killed him. My husband (non-horse person)had thought he had jumped out of the trailer till he saw him laying in the bottom of the trailer with his neck pinned up against the ramp. We closed the doors and kept him disorentated (cs) till we got to the vet (about 20 min) down the road. When we opened the trailer to get him out-much to our surprise- he had somehow rolled himself over and gotten his legs back underneath him self and was now standing looking out the back of the ramp. He was very lucky with only 8 stitches in his forehead and minor cuts and scrapes. I will never haul in a straight load trailer again. We discovered later that he was to tall (15.3)and the area to narrow for him to reasonably stand up in the trailer and keep his balance. My smaller mare (14.3 HH)was fine in the trailer because she could spread her legs and brace herself. He was just to young and to large to do so. He is currently being loaded in a slant and doing great. Also, the divider in the front load went all the way to the ground with a butt bar on each side. The slant load is not divided to the floor therefore he can brace himself better. With alot of hours and alot of patiences he is loading in the slant load trailer.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 2, 2003 - 6:45 am:

I too would like a description of the trailer. These problems can be difficult to address because many horses are reacting to the movement of the trailer and it is unsafe to be around them in the trailer while moving. Yo might try feeding the horse in the trailer. Start with the food on the step and gradually move it into the trailer as the horse learns.

The scar you describe sounds like a keloid and if so it will take surgery to remove it. However it will grow bit smaller as time goes on.
DrO
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