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  Discussion on Gelding rubbing his tail while in trailer only
Author Message
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 9:24 am:

I recently started hauled my 7 yo QH gelding, Blue, to go work cattle, trail ride, etc. and plan to show him this summer. When we get to our destination, I open the door and he has rubbed the hek out of his tail and manure is plastered all over the back door. I can feel all kinds of movement coming from the trailer when I am towing too. I can feel the trailer rocking and jumping, but when I stop and check him, he is standing there calm as can be.

He never rubs his tail at home, so I can't quite figure out why he is doing it in the trailer. The only thing I can think is he is leaning against the back door to 'brace' himself or something. It doesn't seem to help if I haul another horse with him either.

Anyone have any ideas on why he is doing this and how to stop it? Thanks!
Member:
stek

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 10:27 am:

Jennifer, he is likely 'sitting' back against the butt bar or trailer door to help balance himself while trailering. We have a gelding that does the same thing, even though our trailer rides very evenly (I've been a passenger back there) and I am an absolute granny style trailer driver. I think some horses just prefer to sit back for balance.

I would recommend a neoprene tail wrap, it won't stop the behavior but your horse won't have half his tail missing when you get to your destination either.
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 11:05 am:

Thanks Shannon, I am glad to hear someone else has a horse that does the same thing. Since I saw what happened the first few hauls, I have been wrapping his tail. He has a gorgeous thick tail that drags the ground so I def. don't want him to lose it. But even still, all that commotion in the trailer when I am driving, freaks me out. LOL I feel bad for him that he feels the need to lean on that door and butt bar.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 11:30 am:

Hi Jennifer,

What kind of trailer do you have and have you tried giving him more room ( putting the partition over with a longer butt bar or wrapped chain).

I have a mare that rides perfectly fine going to the races ( except when stopped in traffic or for red lights) and rides home like a lunatic after she races.

The last few times I raced her I tried tying her a little shorter in the trailer and that seemed to help. She also rides much better with a hood with cups and earplugs ( This tends to relax her)

I was using two ties (like crossties) but I think it was giving her too much room for her head to move around. Now she is on one expandable safety tie about 18" long, and she seems much better.

Good luck
Rachelle
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 7:46 pm:

Thanks, Rachelle. I have a side by side two horse trailer... it's a pretty generous, tall and wide, trailer. It also has a lot of padding on the sides as well as the chest and butt bars. I wonder if he trailered in a slant load if he would do the same thing? They say horses feel more stable in slant loads. Unfortunately a new trailer is not in our budget right now.

He is a really, really laid back horse and is very calm in the trailer. He actually stood in there for a few hours yesterday waiting on the vet to draw a coggins on him. When I checked on him he was actually sleeping and resting one of his back legs. He loads easily too, so I don't think it is necessarily the trailer as much as it is the movement. The roads here are hilly and curvy so that probably doesn't help either.

I have tried tying him a little shorter thinking it would keep him off the back of the trailer, but it doesn't seem to have helped either. I think I may have to just keep his tail wrapped and hope that over time he will not feel the need to sit back on the door so much.
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