Problems while in the trailer

Question
Hi,

I looked through many postings on this site to see if anyone had already asked a similar question, but I did not see one.  Sorry if I missed it.  Anyway the problem is my otherwise well adjusted and well trained 18yr QH apparently has a problem with riding in a straight load 2-horse trailer after riding many years in a slant.  And even before the slant trailer, he rode in a 2-horse just fine!  I discovered the problem while we were going down the road...if I make a right turn, even a slow gradual turn, he scrambles and freaks out like he's going to fall down.  The trailer bounces and bucks.  I didn't have a ton of pulling experience, but I did have some and I was confident.  Not now...it scared me to tears especially when I took him out of the trailer he had blood running down his leg and a piece of the wood side shoved down inside his hoof wall! (did take to vet...ok now).  Anyway, I was wondering if you have heard of this problem in other horses and if so, do you have any ideas for helping us?  Or will I just have to take the divider out of the trailer?  Do you think that would fix his mental perception of being off balance or something?  FYI, he is still not afraid of the trailer even after all that!  He still loads in it...strangest thing.
Any help would be appreciated.  My trailer has been sitting in the field with brand new tires on it for two years! :(
Thanks!

Erinn

Answer
Hello,
I have met several horses who had trouble in the trailer. Firstly, I would start at the beginning and work on your trailer loading, it sounds good so make it great! Can he load at liberty? Is he Really wanting to go in the trailer or does he like you enough he is just trying to please but is not that comfortable? Work on loading him with you outside the trailer with a long rope. When he goes in does he stay in or is his next thought to get out. Then I would make sure to wrap his legs and put bell boots on before you work on the real issue. You just want to find a creative way to break the pattern, perhaps load him leave turn and stop, you could even let him out load him and start again. You could load him and then shake plastic bag next to him (if you have already made him comfortable with plastic bags) so that other pressure are around for him to desensitize to. Once I heard one of my great trainers who I greatly respect be asked about a horse who kicked like crazy in the trailer. He said when he felt the trailer rock he would take his steering wheel and do a small zig zag to put the horse off balance- not enough to drive off the road mind you! He said that pretty soon the horse starts to get their feet underneath them for balance and not get busy in their mind and kick and smash around. Try everything you can think of to get your horse into claustrophobic situations and then help him out, hopefully soon he will let go of his natural instinct to push against pressure.
Let me know how it goes,
Caitlin Day Huntress